Best used cars: our 2025 Best Used Car Award winners

It’s that time of year again – the Carbuyer Best Used Car Award winners have been revealed! Each year, our team of experts vote for what they think are the best used cars on the market across a range of categories, with one car crowned the overall winner.

The Best Used Car Awards runs alongside the Carbuyer Best Car Awards for new cars, with the same categories reflected across both. We’ve selected the top models across every major market sector from small cars and family hatchbacks to SUVs, EVs and hybrids, so there’s likely to be something for everyone on this list.

Used cars make a lot of sense for many buyers. They’ve already experienced the worst of their depreciation, so there are some real bargains to be had if you’re willing to look at a model that’s a few years old. We’ve focused on relatively new cars for this list, which means there will be plenty of examples available with some of their factory warranty remaining, while they still have modern safety tech for added peace of mind.

We’ve tested each model in depth, evaluating their ability, quality and, for this list, value for money. Reliability is also a factor, too, something that our annual Driver Power owner’s survey helps to inform. We think the cars on this list offer the best balance of the above, with the overall winner standing as the best used car of the lot.

Just as with new cars, there are plenty of finance options available on used cars to boost that affordability-factor. Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) deals are routinely offered by used car dealers, opening up a wider range of choice for almost any budget. 

Read our guides to the best way to finance a used car and questions to ask when buying a used car to give you an edge during any used car negotiation.

Best Used Car Awards 2025 – the winners

Read on to find out our full list of winners for this year’s Best Used Car Awards and why they deserved the award…

Best Used Small Car: Vauxhall Corsa

15

"It’s no secret that we have a lot of time for the Vauxhall Corsa at Carbuyer. It offers buyers so much choice and value, so it’s no surprise that 2025 is the third year on the trot that the Corsa has picked up this award. Thanks to the fact it has sold in such substantial numbers, there’s always a plentiful supply of Vauxhall’s supermini on the market. Whether you want petrol, diesel or electric, every version delivers in terms of practicality, running costs and a good driving experience”

Read our in-depth review of the Vauxhall Corsa.

Best Used Small Family Car: Dacia Duster

15

“While the all-new Duster has scooped our Best New Car Award, the outgoing model remains seriously capable and offers unbeatable value. Spacious, cheap to run and built to last, if you’re after a dependable small family car then the Duster is our top choice – just as it was last year!”

Read our in-depth review of the Dacia Duster.

Best Used Family Car: Mazda CX-5

15

“The Mazda CX-5 offers something a little different in the mid-size SUV class, and will appeal to used-car buyers who are after SUV practicality combined with style, and engaging driving dynamics. We think it delivers on all those fronts and owners seem to agree – the CX-5 finished seventh overall in the latest Driver Power owner’s survey.”

Read our in-depth review of the Mazda CX-5.

Best Used Large Family Car: SEAT Tarraco

15

“The SEAT Tarraco is one of the best-value seven-seater SUVs when brand new, and it’s only more affordable if you shop on the used market. It’s safe, well-equipped and even fairly enjoyable to drive, giving it an edge over many similar SUVs – including its mechanical twin, the pricier Skoda Kodiaq.”

Read our in-depth review of the SEAT Tarraco.

Best Used Estate Car: Skoda Superb Estate

15

“The estate car might have had its thunder stolen by SUVs in recent years, but when done right these vehicles still make fantastic family cars. The Skoda Superb is all the evidence of this that you need: simple, effective, and massively spacious, the Superb marries executive car levels of quality and user-friendly tech, with used prices that are tough to resist.”

Read our in-depth review of the Skoda Superb Estate.

Best Used Sports Car: Porsche Boxster

15

“The Boxster is one of the best cars to drive in any class and, now that it’s been on the market for a few years, it represents one of the most affordable ways into modern Porsche ownership. It’s sharper to drive than its rivals, offers open-air thrills, and comes with all the prestige and quality associated with the iconic Porsche crest.”

Read our in-depth review of the Porsche Boxster.

Best Used Convertible Car: MINI Convertible

15

"The MINI Convertible has been a serial winner of Carbuyer Best Car Awards over the years, so it’s no surprise to see it retain its Best Used Convertible crown for 2025. What will be surprising to anyone unfamiliar with the car, is how well it fulfils the compact, fun convertible brief. The MINI has style and desirability in abundance, while its four-seat practicality and value for money are not to be sniffed at either.”

Read our in-depth review of the MINI Convertible.

Best Used Hot Hatchback: Audi S3

15

“Despite sharing much of its hardware with the Volkswagen Golf R, the Audi S3 has a unique character all of its own; it feels more special than ever before and has the excitement to appeal to driving enthusiasts. A recent facelift has improved the recipe, but that has only made older models more attainable on the used market. You’ll get 90% of the hot hatchback thrills for a fraction of the price.”

Read our in-depth review of the Audi S3.

Best Used Small Electric Car: Vauxhall Corsa-e

15

“The Vauxhall Corsa-e takes everything we like about the petrol-powered Corsa but makes it nippier and even cheaper to run. One of our only gripes was its hefty price tag when new – something that the used market has remedied. After several years on sale, the Corsa-e is now a second-hand bargain, offering drivers the ideal, affordable first step into EV ownership.”

Read our in-depth review of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

Best Used Family Electric Car: Hyundai Kona Electric

15

“The Hyundai Kona Electric is one of our favourite used EVs – its punchy performance, genuinely useful range and decent levels of comfort and practicality still stack up today and make it a great all-rounder. The mid-spec Premium model offers the best value for money, in our opinion.”

Read our in-depth review of the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Best Used Large Electric Car: Jaguar I-Pace

15

"The I-Pace was Jaguar’s first EV and while it’s been around for some time, it’s testament to the quality of the car’s design and engineering that it still feels fresh today. Moreover, lots of premium electric SUV makers would love to replicate the nimbleness and driver engagement that Jaguar managed to achieve at the first attempt. As a used buy, there’s not a lot that comes close in 2025.” 

Read our in-depth review of the Jaguar I-Pace.

Best Used Hybrid: Toyota Corolla

15

“The Toyota Corolla is still one of the best family cars on sale, despite the fact that it’s getting on a bit now. As a used buy, it makes a lot of sense – it got a big update in 2023, but cars built before this are still great to drive, impressively economical, cheap to tax, will be very reliable and quiet and comfy inside. Plus, Toyota’s class-leading warranty means used examples will still benefit from years of cover.”

Read our in-depth review of the Toyota Corolla.

Best Used Plug-in Hybrid: Mercedes E-Class

15

“Mercedes has led the way with its plug-in hybrid technology and this supremely luxurious saloon was the perfect vehicle to showcase it in. You know what you’re getting with an E-Class and the PHEV tech brings an extra layer of affordability with its usable electric-only range.”

Read our in-depth review of the Mercedes E-Class.

Best Used Car of the Year 2024: Hyundai Kona

15

“Outright winner of this year’s Best Used Car Awards, the Hyundai Kona has real appeal for people who just want something that’s reliable, cheap to run, good to drive and safe. It achieved top spot in the 2021 Driver Power owner’s survey, only dropping to fourth in 2022, proving that it’s easy to live with and that owners really love it. There are petrol, hybrid and electric models to choose from, all of which are reasonably priced on the used market, bolstering the Kona’s appeal with a wide audience.” 

Read our in-depth review of the Hyundai Kona.

Previous Carbuyer Best Used Car Awards winners

The Carbuyer Used Car Awards always recognise the best used car in each market sector at the time of judging. It means that buyers can always trust our verdicts and that some cars can hold titles for a number of years. Take a look at our previous used award winners below.

Best Used Car Awards 2024

Last year, it was the Kia Sportage that came out on top as our Best Used Car champion. The bigger Sorento was the second Kia to feature, winning Best Used Large Family Car, while electric awards were given to the Citroen e-C4, Kia e-Niro and the Jaguar I-Pace.

Best Used Car Awards 2023

For 2023, our Used Car of the Year was the Vauxhall Corsa, the arch rival of the Ford Fiesta that won in 2022. BMW’s excellent i3 took the small electric car crown and the Mazda MX-5 was our favourite used sports car. Take a look at the table below to see which other models took prizes.