British motoring magazine What Car? has named 10 second-hand models in its 2026 Used Car Awards that save UK drivers between £18,025 and £67,010 compared with buying new.
The consumer publication dubbed the winners its "half-price heroes" because buyers can find used examples that are at least one year old for less than 50 per cent of their showroom "on the road" list prices.
The awards come as the average list price of a new petrol car in Britain has risen by 67 per cent over the past decade, outpacing both consumer price inflation and wage growth. Analysis by vehicle services group Cox Automotive using Cap HPI valuation data shows the average new petrol car cost £27,035 in 2015, compared with £45,218 in 2026.
Rising showroom prices have pushed more British motorists toward the second-hand market. UK used car sales increased by 2.2 per cent in 2025, marking a third consecutive year of growth even as new car registrations remained below pre-pandemic levels. What Car?, founded in 1973, tests and rates new and used vehicles for British buyers.
Skoda and Kia family SUV savings
The 2024 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI e-TEC SE L seven-seater won the What Car? award for best used seven-seater of 2026. While a brand-new Kodiaq costs £43,025, a used 2024 example sells for about £25,000, giving families who need three rows of seats a saving of £18,025. Skoda, a Czech manufacturer owned by the Volkswagen Group since 1991, is known for value-focused family cars.
Second on the list is the 2022 Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 3, which saves buyers £18,395. A new Sportage costs £31,395, whereas a used 2022 model can be bought for £13,000. South Korean carmaker Kia Motors launched the first-generation Sportage in the UK in August 1995, and the compact SUV range received a 30th anniversary facelift in 2025 while retaining a strong reputation for reliability and cabin technology.
Toyota Corolla hatchback and Skoda estate deals
Drivers looking for a traditional five-seat hatchback rather than an SUV can save £19,845 on a 2019 Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Icon Tech, which won the What Car? best used hatchback title. A new Corolla carries an on-the-road price of £30,845, while a 2019 hybrid example with average mileage costs £11,000 on the used market, cementing the model's status as one of the world's best-selling cars.
The 2021 Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology offers a saving of £19,990, dropping from £34,990 for a zero-mile car to £15,000 used. Although it lacks the performance image of a BMW M3 Touring, the diesel estate features an upmarket cabin and a 690-litre boot that makes it one of the largest family load-luggers in its class.
Skoda recorded a third win in the 2026 awards with the 2022 Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI 150 SE, dominating the annual rankings for the Czech brand. The compact crossover costs £32,125 new, but used buyers can purchase a 2022 model for £12,000, representing a listed saving of £20,135 alongside generous interior space, brisk petrol performance and low fuel consumption.
Volkswagen Passat hybrid and Toyota GR Yaris
The 2024 Volkswagen Passat 1.5 TSI eHybrid 204 Life delivers a £22,285 saving, costing £22,285 second-hand compared with £44,285 new. German carmaker Volkswagen has sold more than 34 million Passats worldwide since introducing the nameplate in 1973.
The latest generation of the Passat is sold exclusively as an estate with a choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains. The eHybrid version provides a 510-litre boot and an electric-only driving range of up to 81 miles.
For performance drivers, the 2020 Toyota GR Yaris 1.6T GR Circuit offers a £26,795 discount off its £48,795 new list price, selling for £22,000 used. Developed with Toyota Gazoo Racing for World Rally Championship homologation, the sub-four-metre hot hatch has gained a cult following for its raw, driver-focused setup. High demand means the GR Yaris is currently unavailable to order new, leaving the second-hand market as the only route to ownership.
Used electric cars from Tesla and BMW
Surging fuel prices linked to ongoing global conflicts have revived buyer interest in battery-electric vehicles and lifted Elon Musk's carmaker Tesla after two years of falling sales. The 2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD won the What Car? best used executive car award for 2026, offering up to 322 miles of range on a single charge and costing £12,000 used, a £37,990 discount off its £49,990 new price.
In the electric SUV category, the 2021 BMW iX3 M Sport Pro was crowned What Car?'s best used electric SUV. While BMW's newest iX3 overhaul promises a range of up to 500 miles, the previous-generation model retains the styling of its petrol and diesel X3 siblings and sells for £17,000 used, saving £40,520 compared with a new price of £57,520.
Range Rover Sport luxury SUV depreciation
The largest saving on the What Car? list belongs to the 2018 Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 HSE, which was named best used premium SUV.
A brand-new Range Rover Sport costs £87,010, whereas an eight-year-old 2018 example with average mileage sells for about £22,000, cutting £67,010 from the showroom price, though buyers take on a vehicle that is well outside its manufacturer warranty period.
The 2018 facelift updated the Range Rover Sport cabin with leather upholstery, satin finishes and metal accents alongside standard air suspension for a smooth ride.
Despite wide industry scepticism over the dependability of vehicles built by British luxury manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, What Car? reported that this generation of the Range Rover Sport achieved a 96.6 per cent reliability rating.
