CAR experts have shared their picks for the best automatic models you can buy for under £4,000 – including the UK’s favourite Ford.
Specialists from CarGurus urged drivers to take advantage of the low asking prices to snap up a real bargain.
5
Brits can find everything from fan-favourite hatchbacks to affordable MPVs all on a shoestring budget.
You can even get hold of a luxury “executive model” within the price range.
Plus, all are cheap to maintain and insure to keep you on the road for less.
Hyundai i10
5
Model years: 2007-present
Example price: 2011 i10 with 53,000 miles for £3,250
This little city car must be doing something right, having stuck around for nearly 20 years.
Chris Knapman, of CarGurus, gushed over the model, saying: “It isn’t quite as fun or as fashionable as retro offerings like the Fiat 500 or MINI hatch, but the Hyundai i10’s beauty is more than skin-deep.”
He praised the i10’s surprisingly roomy interior and considerable boot, as well as its smooth gear changes.
And not only is it cheap to buy, but it’s also cheap to keep as it also made the list of the cheapest cars to insure.
Toyota Verso
5
Model years: 2009-18
Example price: 2010 Verso with 133,000 miles for £3,995
It seems almost ludicrous that you could pick up a seven-seater MPV within our price range but the Verso is just that.
You certainly get plenty of car for your money.
Appropriately enough, Verso is short for versatility and it gives drivers that in spades.
With a five or seven-seat spec available, a vast boot and gentle handling, it’s ideal as a family car.
Ford Fiesta
5
Model years: 1976-2023
Example price: 2012 Fiesta with 57,000 miles for £3,999
There was a reason that Fiesta was the UK’s best-selling model every year from 2009-2020.
Despite sadly being discontinued in 2023, it retains its iconic status as a true car of the people.
£4,000 will get you a well-to-do low-mileage model but if you’re willing to take an extra zero on the clock you could get one for as little as £2,850.
And like the i10 it also sits on the cheapest to insure list so it’s an ideal commuter car or perfect for a small family.
Lexus IS
5
Model years: 1998-present
Example price: 2002 IS with 66,000 miles for £3495
This is a real find at such a low price point, with the Lexus badge carrying its own prestige as a high-end brand.
Marketed as a luxury “executive car”, the IS is a completely different animal to things like the titchy i10 or cumbersome Verso.
With a sleek design, plush leather interior and brazen 143mph top speed, it’s a great way to cruise around in style without breaking the bank.
Chris added: “Your money buys a high-quality executive saloon that will still have years of reliable motoring left in it.
“If you’re after upmarket and reliable transport with a high level of specification on a budget, the Lexus IS is hard to beat.”
