Top 10 Used Cars Under £20k That Seriously Punch Above Their Price
In the new car market, £20,000 won’t buy you much of a momentous motor - you can barely get a one-step-above-base model Vauxhall Corsa for that these days. Switch your focus to pre-owned and suddenly there is a veritable cornucopia of car choices. Choose wisely and your next ride could make you feel like a rockstar, a tycoon or Lewis Hamilton.
Of course, all this variety can leave shoppers feeling overwhelmed and slightly confounded. But if you’re looking for something with that little bit extra, adding value not just in its attractively depreciated price, but in its performance, practicality or personality, then you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s our sub-£20k Top Ten cars that punch above their price! These will leave you grinning when you get in, and turning back for another look when you park up.
Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Veloce (2018–2019)
This is Italy’s BMW 3 Series: rear-wheel-drive, sharp steering and a properly thumping 280bhp. Great handling and dynamics, but best of all, it’s one of the sexiest saloons you can buy. It has presence and style.
Get a 2018-onwards as early teething troubles had been ironed out, and beware that the Veloce wears wider rear rubber.
BMW 3 Series F30 340i M Sport (2017–2018)
The BMW 3 Series is, of course, the staple of solid choice when it comes to cars. But while most “Bimmer” buyers might aspire to the Holy Grail of hot cars, the M3 and M4 models, the clever buyers step down a level for the more subtle and smart choice.
The 340i has a straight-six under the bonnet pushing out 322bhp. It’s less than a second behind the M3 to 62mph in standing-start acceleration at 5.2 seconds, yet it’ll have a comfier ride and less aggressive styling.
Ford Focus ST (2019–2020)
Hot hatches don’t come much hotter, or sharper. 280bhp, sticky front-end grip, and a characterful 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine - also used in the four-cylinder Mustang! Immensely practical, the perfect urban warrior, and all-you-need in a package that’ll always have the upper hand at the traffic-light grand prix!
Jeep Wrangler (2014–2015)
This car is like a super-soldier on wheels. It has the DNA of the World War veteran Jeep, combined with a fool-proof, hard-core off-roading setup. It’ll drive straight from the dealer onto a movie set or a muddy field and look perfectly at home in either.
Apart from the occasional leaky roof and door seals, and minor electric gremlins, it’s generally more reliable than the default UK choice and just as rugged. Parts are widely available. Plus, you can use it as a family SUV or take off the roof and doors for full al-fresco adventuring.
Lexus LS 600h 5.0 V8 (2010–2015)
The quiet assassin of the luxury world. When the Lexus LS400 was first revealed to the world 35 years ago, alarm bells sounded at Mercedes HQ. Lexus continued to refine and perfect its most serene and silent saloon, setting new standards of luxury, quality and comfort.
Brutally well-built and dripping with opulence, it makes buying an old Mercedes for this money feel passé, plus you’ll get a lesser or older Benz, but a newer, better, more robust Lexus. They’re rare, though. Still, it adds to the exclusivity!
Lotus Elise (2001–2005)
The Lotus Elise is pure, unadulterated, lightweight sports car magic - engineered to make even the dreariest A-road feel like a section of an Alpine Pass. Forget big horsepower; with a weight barely tipping the scales at 800kg, the Elise dances, darts, and delights like little else.
It’s spartan inside - no infotainment screens, barely a stereo worth mentioning - but that’s missing the point. It’s you, the chassis, and the road in glorious, mechanical harmony. Squeezing into one requires flexibility worthy of a yoga instructor. For this money, you’ll get an early S2, but try to find a Toyota-powered Elise for better reliability.
Maserati Ghibli (2014–2018)
Want to feel like a mafioso don without the messy business dealings? Get yourself into a Maserati Ghibli. With the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 growling under the bonnet - a motor with Ferrari lineage, no less - and those flowing Italian lines, it drips with character and charisma. Mamma Mia!
They’re now tantalisingly affordable at under £20k. Choose a petrol model for the full Italian opera experience (the diesel versions just don’t sing the same aria).
The great news is that reliability improved with these new generation Maseratis, and the electronics and controls on board actually make sense! Nonetheless, a solid service history is essential.
Mini John Cooper Works (2019–2020)
This is what happens when a Mini hits the gym and starts drinking protein shakes. The JCW is loud, lairy, and lightning-quick, with 228bhp stuffed into a chassis that still fizzes with go-kart energy.
We’re not talking the most comfortable of pocket-rockets that’s for sure. The ride will be firm, it’s loud, it’s darty, it’s overtly racy, ready to line up at any start line. But let’s be honest, bonnet stripes, wild spoilers, aggressive bumpers, and that naughty exhaust are quite simply fun.
Porsche Boxster (2010–2014)
Yes, we know, you really want a Porsche 911. But that’s such a cliche. Step back a little and take a look at the Boxster. This roadster is now on run-out as the iconic company wraps up production for good (Boxster/Cayman will probably be replaced by a new EV). Here’s the thing, the 911 has its engine slung out the back, the weight distribution is thus laughable, whereas the Boxster is delightfully mid-engined – like a supercar!
Mated to scalpel-sharp steering, and genuine everyday usability - Boxster is the affordable premium roadster that doesn’t act like a diva. At this money, get a post-2009 2.9 or 3.4-litre version to avoid the infamous IMS bearing issues.
Toyota GT86 (2015–2019)
Take the badges off the little Toyota GT86, and it wouldn’t be hard to convince someone it’s actually a mini Maserati coupe! This wonderful little old-school style rear-wheel drive sports car is the definition of punching above its weight. About 200bhp is enough to get you giggling but keep you out of trouble - mostly! Get it with the sweet manual gearbox, and you have one of the best and most dependable driving machines money can buy.
They’re rare in the UK and already a living legend, so future-proofed collectability is a given. Customisation and modification options are endless with an entire industry serving 86 fans. From a daily beater to show car superstar, it’s as versatile as it is desirable.
Ten for Twenty Bargain Busters
Whether you want Italian style, German engineering, American bravado, Japanese precision, or British roadster brilliance, the cars we've listed here don’t just offer transport - they offer an experience, a grin, and a reason to take the long way home.
The used car world still holds the keys to some truly brilliant cars for the kind of money that would only buy you a bland new supermini. Choose wisely, grab a MotorEasy warranty for peace of mind, and you’ll be practising that “smug face” look every drive you take!
