The best (and worst) value used cars of 2025: Lexus CT, Mazda MX-5, Honda Jazz, and more

With new data revealing the most and least cost-effective motors, we explore how you can get the best bang for your buck.

Whether you're after a city runabout, a family-friendly estate or something a bit more fun to drive, there are plenty of top-quality motors to suit every budget.

In fact, you can snap up a second-hand car that’s cheap to run from just £2,000 – if you know where to look.

But with today’s market full of hybrids, electric vehicles and crossover-SUVs, it can all feel a bit overwhelming.

With this in mind, consumer champion Which? has examined the most and least reliable models on offer.

If you’re looking for a top-of-the-range older model over a 10-to-15 year period, the Lexus CT hatchback hybrid tops the tables, with a selling price of £7,328 and just 13% of owners reporting faults.

How reliability was calculated

Feedback was based on an online survey of 60,448 drivers who spoke about 71,002 cars they owned, with interviews conducted between April and June 2024.

Drivers reported on faults, breakdowns and overall satisfaction, and the results are grouped by age: zero to four years, five to nine years and 10 to 15 years.

So, which 10 to 15 year old cars are performing best?

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Source: Which?

As the top model on the list, the Lexus CT was first introduced in 2011 and discontinued in 2020.

If there is an issue, these cars typically spend just over a day off the road – far less than the average 4.5 for models this age.

That said, some owners have complained about a lack of rear legroom and boot space.

The least reliable older cars

But, which models in this age range are most likely to let you down?

Here are the findings…

Source: Which?

According to the researchers, Audi’s A4 Saloon put in a particularly poor performance, with 59% of drivers reporting faults

Vauxhall Zafira also failed to impress.

Some 30% of drivers reported that their vehicles had broken down in the past 12 months.

Likewise, 55% of cars had at least one fault during this period, with the most common issues relating to the exhaust system (23% of reported faults).

Worst of all, when this car did develop a fault, it was off the road for a whopping 16.9 days, almost four times the class average.

The surprising secret to the most reliable older cars on the road

They might not grab headlines like flashy new electric vehicles, but full hybrids – often called self-charging cars – continue to punch above their weight when it comes to reliability.

Big warranties, fewer surprises

According to Which?, Lexus and Toyota lead the way when it comes to peace of mind.

Both brands offer manufacturer warranties of up to 10 years, as long as you keep your annual servicing within its official network.

Regular check-ups often catch small issues before they become major ones, helping to prevent costly repairs.

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Have your say

Have you ever owned any of the cars on this list?

If so, what was your experience?

We’d love to hear your comments below.