Best used family cars for less than £20,000

Our top choice is this petrol-electric hybrid version of the Toyota Corolla. The Corolla’s 1.8-litre hybrid system is one of the best in the business, and when we subjected it to a real-world fuel economy test it averaged 50.5mpg. The rest of it's really good, too - it's incredibly reliable, there’s plenty of room and the Corolla has a cosseting ride. It's also good to drive and decently refined. Entry-level Icon trim is our pick of the range, and comes with a long list of standard equipment, including adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and sat-nav.

"I thought at first the Corolla would be a bit of a middle-of-the-road drive, but in fact it's quite sprightly and impressively quiet. It feels like it will last forever, too." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2022 Toyota Corolla 1.8 Icon, 12,000 miles, £18,995

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The Ford Focus is Britain’s most popular family hatchback, and it isn’t hard to see why. First up, it’s cheap both to buy and to run. It’s also great to drive, with a lively chassis and responsive steering. Ford's excellent range of petrol engines are peppy enough for most people, too. What’s more, there are loads of examples out there to choose from, so finding a good one shouldn’t be hard. Reliability is looking good, too. 

"If I was to choose just one of these cars to drive all day, slow roads and fast, and wanted to have a bit of fun in the process the Focus would be it." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2023 Ford Focus 1.5 Ecoboost 150 Active, 10,000 miles, £19,500

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Fancy the quality, image and exciting driving style of a BMW but in a family hatchback package? That’s where this third-generation version of the BMW 1 Series comes in. It's based on BMW's own Mini, and if it isn’t quite as spacious as some rivals the payback is a high level of driver involvement combined with all the quality and kudos of a BMW. It's extremely reliable, too, more so than most of its rivals in this class, and used prices are really competitive. 

"There's something really appealing about this 1 Series. I think it's sharp to look at and to drive. That infotainment system's really good, too." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2022 BMW 1 Series 118i Sport, 28,000 miles, £20,000

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The first fully electric car on this list, the Cupra Born is a great drive and a highly practical family car. The Born has borrowed the VW ID 3's best bits and added to it in some new and welcome ways. You'll find it has a slightly more upmarket interior and sharper handling. It comes with a good range too, as well as a pleasingly effortless performance and a comfortable ride. Add in its stylish demeanour and you've got one very desirable electric car. Finally, add in its used prices, which are now temptingly low. 

"She is electric, can I be electric too? Well with the Born, anything's possible. It's a great car and if it fits into your lifestyle it's a winner." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2022 Cupra Born V1, 26,000 miles, £18,995

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The Skoda Scala is a spacious family car that represents great value for money here because our budget buys a nearly new one. It's longer than a VW Golf, and offers more interior room. A 2023 facelift sharpened up its looks and improved the interior, with updated tech and other additions, making this easily one of the frontrunners in this class. If you can stretch to the facelifted models they are worth it for the step up in interior quality, but even the earlier cars are impressive inside. Reliability is stronger than other models in the Skoda range, too. 

"So neat, so cute and best of all it's nearly new. The Scala hides its light under a bushel because it does things bigger cars do for half the price." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2024 Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI 95 SE, 9000 miles, £16,995

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The Mercedes A-Class is a classy, comfortable and good to drive family car that comes loaded with kit. In short, it's one of the best premium-badged family cars you can buy. Its forte is motorway travel, where it eats up the miles efficiently and with the minimum of fuss. Its ride is well judged, and it handles well, too. The star of the show is the eye-catching interior, though. It's more in keeping with what you’d expect to find in a luxury car than a hatchback family hatchback, thanks to lashings of gloss-black plastic, faux leather and metal inserts.

"You like a little bit of mink, don't you, so you'll love the A-Class. Its interior made friends of mine swoon. It was one of the first family cars to impress me for its refinement." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2022 Mercedes A-Class A180 AMG Line Edition, 12,000 miles, £19,000

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This latest version of the classy Audi A3 Sportback is one of the best family hatchbacks around. We think it's great as a used buy, too. It's a premium product with a spacious and practical high-quality interior, superb ride and handling and an excellent range of engines, of which we'd seek out one of the smooth petrols. The only fly in the ointment is a rather poor reliability record, with a number of non-engine electrical issues.  

"We make no bones about it, the A3 would definitely be higher up the list if it weren't for its reliability record. Still, it's better this year in that regard than the Octavia and the Golf." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2022 Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI SE Technik, 14,000 miles, £19,850

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The Volkswagen Golf is a fantastic all-rounder, combining excellent comfort, enjoyable handling, enough space for most families, a high-quality interior and quiet road manners. Of course, the smart styling and VW badge make it a desirable car, and it's now possible to find used versions of this latest Mk8 car for our budget. Reliability is only average, though, otherwise it might have finished even higher. 

"I ran a Golf as a long-term car a few years ago and found it delightful, just right for a family and decently refined. It's a really classy product." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2023 Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Evo Life, 15,000 miles, £19,995

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A strong combination of comfort, equipment and space have all combined to make the latest Skoda Octavia a real favourite with family car buyers. It offers a vast boot and loads of room for rear-seat passengers. What’s more, it drives really well, with composed handling and a comfortable ride, and it’s great value. Reliability is a bit mixed, alas, with problems reported with the infotainment and sat-nav systems.

"I have had a couple of Octavias as long-term cars, and they both impressed me deeply over six months. Nothing was more spacious and abstemious on a long run we made in one of them to Cornwall. " - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found 2023 Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI SE L, 12,000 miles, £19,995

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Want lots of car for your cash? Well, the Vauxhall Astra offers just that, because it’s cheap as chips. Our money buys one of the latest versions with the uprated engines and tech. We’d suggest going for the sprightly petrol engines over the noisy diesels, but on the whole, the Astra is comfortable, spacious and good to drive. Its recent reliability record hasn't inspired confidence, however, although most problems were centred around the car's electrics. 

"Okay so it's not the most desirable family car, but it is quite neat to look at and it's nice to drive. I'd consider one if I had a family to transport." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found 2023 Vauxhall Astra 1.2T GS Europe, 8000 miles, £18,900

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