BRITAIN’S BEST USED CARS Family car
OUR PICK Citroen C4 Cactus 2015 (15) Puretech 110 Feel, 31,417 miles, £7,980
IT’S two in a row for the Vauxhall Insignia, because this spacious five-door hatch has taken our Best Used Family Car award for the second year on the trot. And it’s easy to see why, because few cars in this class of the market offer such striking value for money.
The Insignia was affordable to begin with, and with an incredible array of cars to choose from – many of which have taken the biggest hit from their depreciation curve – it represents a great used buy thanks to its roomy interior and economical engines.
Residual values have never been that strong, so it’s definitely a buyers’ market. This means you can pick up a nearly-new model for almost half price. The fact the version you see here has now been replaced by the new Insignia Grand Sport means there are even more appealing bargains to be had by buying used.
The Vauxhall’s interior quality is acceptable, while the comfortable ride and hushed engines – praised by owners in our Driver Power satisfaction survey – make mincemeat of long motorway slogs. The powerful and punchy 138bhp 2.0-litre CDTI diesel claims more than 70mpg, as well as offering a decent turn of pace.
This is where our money would go, while opting for the SRI trim adds sportier looks to the package without sacrificing value. Even when upgrading to the flashier Elite Nav model, which gets sat-nav and leather seats, a used Insignia is temptingly priced.
A 530-litre boot and a good level of room in the rear, despite the sloping roofline, mean there’s plenty of practicality, too. However, with so many used cars
THE Citroen C4 Cactus was crowned our favourite small SUV at the 2017 Auto Express New Car Awards, and it takes another gong in our second-hand showdown. As prices tumble, the French crossover represents exceptional value for money – with individual looks, a spacious interior and a range of fun and frugal engines.
It’s instantly recognisable thanks to its innovative plastic Airbumps that were designed to prevent door dings in car parks (still keep an eye out for cars that have suffered impacts here, though). The C4 Cactus is an urban-friendly small SUV that is compact enough to navigate busy streets easily, yet it doesn’t feel out of its depth on the motorway. Unlike many rivals, it has been unashamedly optimised for comfort, making it an excellent companion on Britain’s broken roads, and time shouldn’t have altered that trait on a used model.
Individuality was key to its appeal when new, meaning used car buyers have plenty of trim and spec choice when it comes to picking up a second-hand example. However, our money would go on the well equipped Feel version, which features Bluetooth, DAB and air-conditioning. We’d opt for this trim level in conjunction with Citroen’s 108bhp 1.2-litre Puretech turbo petrol engine, too. It’s a punchy three-cylinder that offers claimed economy in excess of 60mpg.
Much of the Cactus’s appeal stems from its interior, too. All cars get a seven-inch touchscreen, digital radio and Bluetooth, but the way this equipment is integrated thanks to the funky design means this used SUV feels thoroughly fresh. Or it should do, as plastics are robust; steer clear of tired-feeling examples.
It’s even pretty practical. It can’t rival the newest compact SUVS for outright boot space, but the 358litre load bay offers more than a mundane supermini. The low roofline doesn’t harm headroom, with enough space for tall adults to get comfortable – although they may find the pop-out rear windows a little frustrating.
FAMILY SUVS are hot property, so what if you could get one of the best around just a few years after it drove out of the showroom for £10,000 less than its new price? With the Renault Kadjar, you can.
The Kadjar picked up our Best Crossover award in 2015 thanks to its versatility, with plenty of space, a decent-quality cabin and, in the Dynamique Nav trim we’ve picked here, a list of equipment that includes sat-nav, Bluetooth, cruise control and keyless go.
In conjunction with Renault’s 1.5-litre dci engine, it’s the one to go for. Years of development mean the 109bhp unit offers enough performance, and with 99g/km CO2 emissions and claimed economy of 74.3mpg on 17-inch alloys, it’s one of the most frugal family models available. Having run one on the Auto Express fleet (averaging well above 50mpg), we can vouch for its flexibility and long-distance cruising ability, while the Kadjar was ranked third overall in our Driver Power 2016 survey of the best cars to own.
The seven-inch R-link infotainment system is fairly simple to use, while the 527-litre boot will swallow all manner of kit if you’ve got an active lifestyle, or the weekly shop if that’s all you need. The ride is relatively refined and the engine quiet at a cruise. Keep the revs low otherwise the motor gets a bit noisy, but despite a few jarring bumps, the Kadjar is comfortable and composed, making it the consummate crossover.
Of course, price plays a massive factor, and with examples of our chosen spec starting from less than £12,500 it’s a great choice. That’ll buy you a Kadjar with around 26,000 miles and at less than two years old, it’ll have more than half of Renault’s four-year warranty and roadside assistance package left. What’s not to like?
“Having run one on the Auto Express fleet, we can vouch for its flexibility and long-distance cruising ability”
IT’S overdue replacement and has started to fall behind the executive clclass leaders as a new buy, but as a second-hand purcpurchase the fourth-generation Audi A6 makes a very ststrong case for itself.
The company’s evolutionary styling means that even a five-year-old example doesn’t look particularly dated, with a classy imimage and solid build quality even at this age. There’s a rereal premium air to the interior, too, with plush materials, a decent level of kit and an excellent driving position. The tech is easy to use as well; Audi’s ergonomic excellence shines through and (mostly) belies the A6’s years, particularly when it comes to the intuitive MMI infotainment set-up, even if the screen size and graphics could do with a boost.
SE models come witwith all the essentials for a reasonable outlay, with the example we picked out costing £10,980, albeit with 60,000 miles on the clock.
There’s plenty of rooroom in the back for even the tallest adult passengers, while the 530-litre boot is still very competitive compared with more modern rivals.
The A6 is available wwith a variety of petrol and diesel engines, but the best blend of performance and efficiency is delivered by Audi’s 175bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel. It’s easily powerful enough for most people’s needs, but is capable of nearly 60mpg, plus refinement is pretty good for a four-cylinder.
This car doesn’t quite have the dynamic ability of the contemporary BMW 5 Series, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good to drive. Limited steering feedback aside, it’s agile and offers decent body control, while the option of quattro four-wheel drives makes it incredibly surefooted in poor weather. It’s a quiet and comfortable motorway cruiser first and foremost, though, so the A6 is a fantastic car in which to soak up long distances without aches or pains – and even at this age will have plenty of years and motorway miles left in it.
“Audi’s evolutionary styling means even a five-year-old example doesn’t look particularly dated, with a classy image and solid build quality. There’s a premium air to the interior, too”