A hatchback and £15k purchase price are ‘top of the wishlist’ as CarGurus reveals driver must-haves in their next used car

• Survey finds majority of drivers want to pay less than £15,000 (58%), or £299 per month (52%) if financed, for their next used car
• Hatchbacks (40%) and family SUVs (37%) are the most in-demand body styles
• The majority of respondents would choose a used car that is up to five years old, with less than 50,000 miles on the clock
• Respondents will compromise on fuel type and luxuries like voice activation to maintain their ideal budget, but won’t budge on mileage, age, or key tech features
• Drivers are most likely to give up eating out, non-essential shopping, and their daily takeaway coffee in order to afford their ideal used car
• CarGurus has listed the best used cars for £15,000 that meet respondents' preferences, including the Ford Focus Mk4, VW Golf Mk8, and BMW 1 Series

17 December 2025 – The majority of British drivers are willing to pay up to £15,000 for their next used car, according to new research on what consumers have on their shopping wish list.

CarGurus – a leading automotive marketplace in the U.K. for shopping, buying, and selling used vehicles – surveyed 1,000 U.K. drivers on their top priorities and areas for compromise when looking for their next car on the used market, revealing preferences for price, mileage, age, and features.

The results found that most respondents (58%) were aiming to pay no more than £15,000 for an outright purchase, or £299 per month when financing (52%) their next used car. Hatchbacks emerged as the preferred body type, with 40% choosing this over other options. Meanwhile, medium-sized family SUVs were favoured by 37% of respondents.

Out of the top-10 best-selling car brands according to the SMMT(1), Ford was the most desired by drivers (13%), followed by BMW (12%), and Volkswagen (11%). Despite these selections, nearly a quarter (23%) said they would compromise on brand if it meant securing a car that fits their budget or desired specification.

When asked about ideal age and mileage, 73% of respondents would look for a car that was no more than five years old, with 70% aiming for a car with less than 50,000 miles. Just 3% said they had no preference regarding age, and 8% reported that mileage wasn’t a concern.

The findings also revealed that fuel type isn’t a dealbreaker for many, with around one-in-four respondents saying they’d compromise on whether a car is petrol (28%), hybrid (25%), or electric (21%). This suggests that price and condition often outweigh preferences around fuel type, despite broader EV mandates and incentives.

Upgraded interior features are another place where drivers are willing to make compromises—57% of respondents said they would adjust feature expectations if it meant securing their ideal car at the right price. In terms of specifics, voice activation (41%), a sunroof (39%), and a heated steering wheel (38%) topped the list of upgrades people are happy to forego to stay within budget. On the other hand, parking aids and navigation technology ranked highly as must-have features, with parking sensors (36%), reversing cameras (33%), and satnav (28%) being critical.

Core elements of a vehicle remained non-negotiable, with ideal mileage (25%) and vehicle age (21%) being among the factors those surveyed were least willing to compromise on. Another top non-negotiable was having an automatic gearbox (22%), reflecting recent CarGurus data that found the number of new cars available to U.K. motorists with a manual gearbox is at its lowest in 10 years, marking a 57% decline from 2015.

In regard to how drivers expect to pay for their next car, the majority are willing to compromise to get their ideal vehicle within their target budget. Nearly a quarter (21%) would only purchase their vehicle outright, whereas 76% would consider buying on finance. Eight in ten say they would try to negotiate with a dealer, while 60% would delay a purchase until they could increase their savings. Nearly half (47%) said they would switch to financing over buying with cash if it helped them secure the right car within budget.

Drivers were also willing to make lifestyle sacrifices to fund their next car purchase. Eating out or ordering takeaway (38%), shopping for non-essential items (37%), and the daily takeaway coffee (30%) were the top three items drivers would be most willing to give up to help with savings. Almost a quarter (23%) indicated that even gift giving would be impacted if a buyer needed extra funds for their ideal car. However, not everyone is prepared to compromise, as 18% say they wouldn’t give up anything.

Chris Knapman, Editorial Director at CarGurus U.K., said: “Our research paints a clear picture of what matters most to U.K. drivers on their next used car purchase: age, mileage, and essential technology. Interestingly, hatchbacks remain a very appealing body style for shoppers, despite the well-documented popularity of SUVs. While many are happy to compromise on extras like a sunroof or voice activation, buyers remain firm on the fundamentals. A budget of around £15,000 and desire for well-known brands, demonstrates that value and reliability remain top priorities for used car buyers.”

“With these criteria in mind, our experts have named 10 models that should be on the radar of used car buyers. Each secures excellent ratings from expert and user reviews on CarGurus.co.uk, and offers a strong opportunity to find a great deal in today’s market.”

CarGurus has compiled a list of top models based on these driver preferences. More information can be found here. In addition to this guide, the CarGurus platform empowers shoppers to buy with confidence through a broad selection of listings, transparent and unbiased deal ratings, and detailed filters that help drivers prioritise the features they value most.

THE BEST USED CARS FOR £15K, BASED ON RESPONDENTS' PREFERENCES