Small & reliable £5k car suggestions

[BEN_UK]

Hi,

I need a new used car for getting to work. Nothing flash, speedy or exciting. Just cheap to run and reliable.

No more than £5k.

Specs include, small (supermini size), good on fuel, £20/30 year on tax, cheap to insure. Diesel prefered but open to petrol. Looking around a 2012 to 2016 plate with my budget.

Is it mad to speed £5k on a car that's 10 years old and done 100k miles ?? but maybe thats just my budget.

I'm going crazy looking through auto trader need some fresh ideas.

Don't want the very small cars C1, Aygo or Up!.

Thanks Ben

 

[Diddums]

Don't want the very small cars C1, Aygo or Up!

Good luck then.

 

[radderfire]

I would go petrol. In order of preference:

Honda Jazz
Toyota Yaris
Mazda 2
Suzuki Swift
Skoda Fabia

 

[deviation]

I would go petrol. In order of preference:

Honda Jazz
Toyota Yaris
Mazda 2
Suzuki Swift
Skoda Fabia

The gearboxes fail often on Swifts, in both manual and auto form.

Suzuki Swift Common Gearbox Problems % June 24, 2025 - ASR Gearbox Repairs

The Suzuki Swift has long been a favourite among drivers who appreciate a blend of style, efficiency, and practicality. With its nimble handling and compact design, the Swift is perfect for urban driving, and the manual versions with 5- or 6-speed gearboxes offer an engaging driving experience...

www.asrgearboxrepairs.co.uk

 

[telewebby]

Yaris Hybrid - boring to some but economical and very reliable

Alex

 

[dave28]

Clio MK 4

Its a myth that cars like a Golf are more reliable, there not

 

[radderfire]

Honda Jazz is fairly bulletproof and feels spacious inside.

 

[jpaul]

is a civic with bullet proof dtec diesel (dpf wise especially) too large https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507234739607
- perhaps you get that engine in smaller hondas too

 

[Nasher]

Yaris or Jazz. Might be too old for the cheap tax though. They seem to bottom out around 4k. But if you look around you can sometimes find barely used, rust free ones. Probably sat in a old person's garage for most of its life.

The autos with semi-auto (automated manual) gearboxes can have issues. For the Toyota's they often just need the clutch recalibrating.

 

[JonRGV250]

I20 petrol, you’ll not go wrong with that.

 

[radderfire]

I20 petrol, you’ll not go wrong with that.

I almost mentioned that too.

 

[JonRGV250]

For the money they are, you'll not find better.

 

[inflames]

Corolla or Civic would be my suggestion.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

Citybug is your only option
C1, 107, Aygo.
Got Aygo it's 2007 reg wife been driving it for 10 years solid cars may be simple but cheap and easy to fix along with 20 quid tax

 

[deviation]

Corolla or Civic would be my suggestion.

Both have longstanding gearbox issues across various generations, that I doubt have been fixed. I think people just shield this due to both brands previous reliability.

 

[dacads]

Clio MK 4

Its a myth that cars like a Golf are more reliable, there not

I've had a fiesta, civic, 1 series, 5 series and Golf has been most unreliable. Wouldn't say anything really bad, some of it due to the high mileage but ive told myself no more Golf's now. Had a 2.0 TDI before and now GTI which has just had a £1k bill. OEM parts also very expensive

 

[ShiWarrior]

anything Toyota really if you want reliability

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Is an Auris too big?
A bit more space than a Yaris, but probably cheaper as most people have forgotten it existed.

 

[BEN_UK]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Plenty to look at on auto trader.

I20 looking good.

Fiesta with the TDCi engine in a 1.5 but that might be out of budget.

 

[Manbatius]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Plenty to look at on auto trader.

I20 looking good.

Fiesta with the TDCi engine in a 1.5 but that might be out of budget.

Out of curiosity .

What is your mileage to be looking at diesel?

I'd lean something Honda at this price range. (I'd say Toyota but not sure on their diesels)