Safe yet cheap used cars
We’ve picked some of the safest used cars in five popular categories. All of them have got stability control as standard, all have been awarded the 5-star safety rating by Euro NCAP and all of them cost less than you’d expect.
It’s well documented how features such as Electronic Stability Control can help make brand new cars safer on the road. However, even a well-chosen used car can look after you and your loved ones while saving you money.
First, we present you with a 5-star “city” car in the guise of the Toyota IQ. The IQ was released in 2009 and has no less than nine airbags including the first ever to be fitted across a car’s rear window. Euro NCAP gave it the thumbs up for its overall strength and high number of airbags. Brand new these rock-hard city cars would set you back a cool £11k. However, if you look on the second hand car market then you could quite easily pick one up for less than half that price. The IQ is a frisky fun little car and despite being less than three meters long you can still squeeze four people in. The IQ has a vague clutch at the best of times and the early models were known for being a bit weak. So, make sure the clutch feels as sharp as it can and doesn’t slip. The one downside to the IQ is that if it’s luggage space you’re looking for then you may want to look elsewhere.
Next up is a car which fits into the “family hatch” category. For this category we have selected the 2006 Honda Civic. In 2008 Honda further improved the design of the Civic’s airbags and seatbelts but the top Euro NCAP mark applies to every single model which is pretty impressive. As of typing the Honda Civic can be bought for as little as £4.5k and even today it looks like something out of a science fiction film. In our eyes the 2006 Civic is more interesting than the current brand new Civic and better still it’s more than £10k less. Civics are known for being extremely reliable but do test-drive them before you buy because the rear spoiler gives you a whacking great blind-spot and the ride is well known for being pretty harsh.
For the “estate car” category we have plumped for the Mazda 6 which has been on sale since 2008. Euro NCAP give this car particular high praise for how well it looked after child passengers. Brand new Mazda 6 cars are still on sale for upwards of £20k. However, you can find earlier examples where you’d needn’t spend any more than £5k! The Mazda 6 is somewhat an unsung hero of a car. It’s based on a Ford Mondeo and drives as well as one too. However, unlike the Mondeo, it looks less mundane and a lot more unique. The 2.0 litre diesel engine is certainly the sensible person’s choice but there is one piece of caution you need to keep in mind and that’s to do with the oil level. You need to keep a close eye on the oil level because it’s known for creeping up as diesel enters the engine which ultimately damages the motor.
Next we move on to the “4x4” category which are now known as one of the safest categories of cars. For this group we have selected the Volkswagen Tiguan which went on general sale in 2008. It was one of the first 4x4s to be given a 5-star rating with older SUVs often struggling in the Euro NCAP tests. The Tiguan did brilliantly across all tests but really excelled in the side impact tests. The Tiguan, as you might expect, is a little more expensive than the cars in the other categories. However, even though you’d be looking to spend somewhere near to £10k for a 2008 model it’s still less than half you would need to shell out for a new model. Tiguans are still a little too new to develop too many serious problems but the electronic handbrake can be a little temperamental.
Finally, a 5-star car for the “family”, the Citroen C4 Picasso. This has been one of our favourites since it went on sale in 2006 and it’s not just us that rate it so highly. In fact Euro NCAP also praise the car for its overall strong performance. The C4 Picasso is still for sale today and a new one will cost you upwards of £20k. However, for a used 2007 model you can get your hands on one for around £5k. For a super safe way of transporting a family about it really is a steal. If you’re in the market for one then there are a few things you might want to check. Firstly, the bumpers are quite expensive to repair so you need to make sure they are in good condition. The other thing is that the automatic transmission of the C4 Picasso wasn’t really that good so you’re better off opting for a manual instead.
In conclusion this article shows that you don’t really have to break the bank to keep you and your family safe on the road. Take a moment to take a look at some of the Toyota IQ, Honda Civic, Mazda 6, VW Tiguan and Citroen C4 Picasso used cars we have for sale on DesperateSeller.co.uk today.
