Toyota Corolla

Skoda Scala

BMW 1 Series

New Citroën C4 X

Mazda 3

Volkswagen Golf

New Toyota Prius

Skoda Octavia

best-used-family-cars-for-less-than-pound20000

Once upon a time, buying a used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a>&nbsp;meant ending up with a humdrum hatchback with zero kerb appeal.

Happily, those days&nbsp;are long gone. There’s so much choice on the used family car market these days that you’re bound to find something that will give you the practicality, reliability and space that you need&nbsp;combined with the style, comfort and quality feel that you want.&nbsp;

But which one is best for you? To help you find the right car, we've ranked our&nbsp;top 10 favourites.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Best used family cars for less than £20,000

Hatchback

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

ASTRA

Want lots of car for your cash? Well, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/review/n17347">Vauxhall Astra</a>&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

"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&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Vauxhall Astra 1.2T GS Europe, 8000 miles, £18,900

10: Vauxhall Astra

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Big boot</li>
	<li>Reasonable buying and running costs</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rivals offer more rear seat space</li>
	<li>Ford Focus and Seat Leon are better to drive</li>
	<li>Question mark around Vauxhall's reliability record</li>
</ul>

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

OCTAVIA

A strong combination of comfort, equipment and space have all combined to make the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a>&nbsp;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&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI SE L, 12,000 miles, £19,995

9: Skoda Octavia

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Enormous boot</li>
	<li>Plenty of rear-seat space</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Ride can sometimes be a little too floaty</li>
	<li>Fiddly touchscreen</li>
	<li>Some rivals are more refined</li>
	<li>Reliability can be an issue</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf&nbsp;</a>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.&nbsp;

"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&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Evo Life, 15,000 miles, £19,995

8: Volkswagen Golf

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Neat handling</li>
	<li>Impressive engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very poor reliability record, especially for diesel-engined models</li>
	<li>Some rivals are more spacious</li>
	<li>Fiddly infotainment system</li>
</ul>

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

This latest version of the classy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3 Sportback</a>&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"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&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI SE Technik, 14,000 miles, £19,850

7: Audi A3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Eager handling</li>
	<li>Great driving position</li>
	<li>Punchy and frugal engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Some interior quality disappointing</li>
	<li>Fiddly infotainment system</li>
	<li>Questionable reliability</li>
</ul>

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

A CLASS

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88#introduction">Mercedes A-Class</a>&nbsp;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.&nbsp;It's more in keeping with what you’d expect to find in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-cars/n17020">luxury car</a>&nbsp;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&nbsp;you'll love the A-Class. Its interior made friends of mine&nbsp;swoon. It was one of the first family cars to impress me for its refinement." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found&nbsp;2022 Mercedes A-Class A180 AMG Line Edition,&nbsp;12,000 miles, £19,000

6: Mercedes A-Class

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Classy interior</li>
	<li>Neat infotainment set-up</li>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Some engines can be noisy</li>
	<li>Ride can be floaty at speed</li>
	<li>Rear room limited</li>
	<li>Reliability mixed on diesel models</li>
</ul>

SCALA

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/scala/hatchback/review/n19190#introduction">Skoda Scala</a>&nbsp;is a spacious family car that represents great value for money here because our budget buys a nearly new one. It's&nbsp;longer than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a>, and offers more interior room. A 2023&nbsp;facelift sharpened up its looks and improved the interior, with&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

"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&nbsp;2024&nbsp;Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI 95 SE, 9000&nbsp;miles, £16,995

5: Skoda Scala

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride and tidy handling</li>
	<li>Spacious rear seats and a big boot</li>
	<li>Inexpensive to run</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Interior feels a little cheap in places</li>
	<li>Noisier at speed than the quietest rivals</li>
	<li>Sat-nav only available on higher trims</li>
</ul>

The sportiest Seats have long used the&nbsp;Cupra name, but it's now been turned into a standalone sub-brand, in much the same way as Fiat's sportiest models are badged as Abarths.

Like Abarth, some of Cupra's models including the Ateca and Leon are extensively reworked Seats, but models such as the Born and Formentor are exclusive to Cupra.

Whilst Cupras are closely related to equivalent models from Seat and Volkswagen, they are generally tuned to provide a more engaging driving experience.

CUPRA

Born

The first fully&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;on this list, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>&nbsp;is a great drive and a highly practical family car.&nbsp;The Born has borrowed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3's</a>&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

"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&nbsp;2022 Cupra Born V1, 26,000 miles, £18,995

4: Cupra Born

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good range between charges</li>
	<li>Sharp, capable handling</li>
	<li>Remains comfortable, despite its sporty demenour</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Slightly firm ride</li>
	<li>Fiddly touch-sensitive buttons</li>
	<li>Subpar infotainment system</li>
</ul>

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

1 SERIES

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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a>&nbsp;comes in. It's based on BMW's own<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/used-review/n906">&nbsp;Mini</a>, 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.&nbsp;

"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&nbsp;2022&nbsp;BMW 1 Series 118i Sport, 28,000 miles, £20,000

3: BMW 1 Series

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Superb build quality</li>
	<li>Greater rear room</li>
	<li>Class-leading infotainment system</li>
	<li>Reliability</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Road noise at speed</li>
	<li>Mercedes A-Class has a higher safety rating</li>
	<li>SE model isn't as well-equipped as rivals</li>
</ul>

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

FOCUS

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus&nbsp;</a>is Britain’s most popular family hatchback,&nbsp;and it isn’t hard to see why. First up, it’s&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

"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:&nbsp;2023&nbsp;Ford Focus 1.5&nbsp;Ecoboost 150 Active,&nbsp;10,000&nbsp;miles, £19,500

2: Ford Focus

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Fun to drive</li>
	<li>Punchy yet economical petrol engines</li>
	<li>Roomy interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Sub-par interior quality</li>
	<li>Ride firmer than those of rivals (more so ST-Line)</li>
	<li>The Skoda Octavia has an even bigger boot</li>
</ul>

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

Corolla

Our top choice is this petrol-electric&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a>&nbsp;version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla</a>. The Corolla’s 1.8-litre&nbsp;hybrid&nbsp;system is one of the best in the business, and when&nbsp;we subjected it to a real-world fuel economy test&nbsp;it averaged 50.5mpg. The rest of it's really&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;2022 Toyota Corolla 1.8 Icon, 12,000&nbsp;miles, £18,995

1: Toyota Corolla

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Great economy in the hybrid cars</li>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Top-notch reliability record</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rear-seat space a little tight</li>
	<li>Infotainment not the best</li>
	<li>The 1.8 not as refined as 2.0-litre version</li>
</ul>

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

Family

Whether you're after something sensible, something stylish or just a great all-rounder, £20k opens up a raft of nearly new buys in the family car class

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