Best reliable cars under £5,000

Making sure that you’re driving a reliable car is so important, ensuring that your journeys are hassle-free while taking the stress out of starting your vehicle each day.

While looks might be a primary concern for a lot of drivers, you really shouldn’t neglect reliability when you’re looking at a new car. While it’s never a dead certain thing that a car will be completely faultless, an AA vehicle inspection can make sure that there are no issues with the car before you start driving. Here, we’ve picked out the 10 most dependable car choices which come in under a £5,000 budget.

Toyota Yaris

Toyota has an excellent reputation when it comes to reliability, with this Japanese brand’s cars consistently proving a hit with buyers who want a car which won’t fail them. While this is constant for much of Toyota’s range, it’s the smaller Yaris which would prove a great fit for buyers on a budget.

You could go as low as £1,000 when shopping for a Yaris, but if you’d like something a little higher-end then you could use our entire £5,000 budget and get a third-generation car - introduced in 2012 - with around 80,000 miles on the clock.

Honda Civic

Honda is another car company seen by many drivers as a go-to when it comes to reliability. This firm’s range of cars has consistently proven its worth when it comes to dependability and while this may mean a small premium when new, makes for a truly superb used purchase.

The Civic is thought of as one of Honda’s ‘core’ models and, with its spacious cabin and efficient engine choices, it does showcase the best that this company has to offer. Like the Yaris, you could pick up an early Civic for as little as £1,000, while the full £5,000 budget will stretch to a smart-looking ninth-generation car, which was sold between 2012 and 2017.

Suzuki Swift

Suzuki is yet another Japanese brand that reigns supreme when it comes to reliable cars. Its line-up largely centres around efficient and cheap-to-run models and the Swift - which we’re looking at here - is a prime example of this.

There’s lots to like about this smart-looking supermini. It’s packed with features, is great to drive and easy to park, too, while overall running costs will be low thanks to good insurance groups and excellent efficiency. While you can grab a Swift for £1,500, we’d advise opting for a third-generation model (which was introduced in 2011). Available from £4,500, they get more modern features and feel a little more refined than earlier versions.

Lexus RX

If you’re after something a little larger and more spacious - but still very reliable - then the Lexus RX could be a fine path to take. Traditionally, large SUVs aren’t that dependable, but the RX shuns this trend with a great back catalogue when it comes to reliability.

Our pick of the bunch would be the RX400h. With its hybrid setup, this large SUV is cheaper to run than many rivals and while, at this price point, you’ll be looking at post-2005 models with around 130,000 miles on the clock, these cars can last a long time when properly serviced and cared for. If it sounds like the car for you, then you may want to look at a used car warranty to make any repair bills less painful on the pocket.

Skoda Citigo

When it comes to reliable cars, often simpler is better - and that’s just where the Skoda Citigo comes in. It’s an affordable sibling to the Volkswagen Up! and Seat Mii - the three are virtually identical underneath - and though it may have been on our roads for more than a decade, the Citigo remains a superb choice in terms of build quality and all-round usability.

It’s often a touch cheaper than its Volkswagen-badged stablemate, yet gets the same great design and interior features. Prices at the moment start from around £2,800, but our £5,000 budget is enough to get a very clean example from 2015 with around 75,000 miles on the clock.

Toyota Auris

Yes, we’re back to Toyota and another one of its ever-reliable cars. The Auris replaced the Corolla back in 2007 and while charm and charisma may not be this car’s strong suit, you can certainly lean on it for its efficiency and dependability. Inside, it’s well-made and well-equipped, too.

To drive, the Auris is quiet and refined while rear-seat space is particularly good. Prices for the Auris start from a budget-friendly £1,695, though our full £5,000 budget will get you a 2011 model with around 63,000 miles on the clock. These later versions get upgraded engines and a more upmarket interior, too.

Kia Picanto

A car company knows that it has form in producing reliable cars when it issues them with a seven-year warranty - and that’s just the case for Kia. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense car from the South Korean brand that won’t cost the earth to run, then the Picanto is right on the money.

You’ll find this compact model will prove to be very inexpensive to keep on the road thanks to excellent fuel economy and a low insurance group while its driving style is far more upmarket than you might think.

While a popular choice for first-time drivers, the Picanto will suit all types of motorists. We’d avoid this first-generation Picanto and skip straight to the more premium second-generation version, which was introduced in 2011. If you’re not too worried about mileage then you could pick up a decent example for around £2,800, while our £5,000 budget will get you a higher-spec version with more equipment and lower mileage.

Mazda6

If you’re after a reliable and spacious model that’ll tackle those big motorway journeys without breaking a sweat, then the Mazda6 is an often-overlooked option. It’s brilliantly spacious and its refinement makes it into a very relaxing cruiser.

You can get it in saloon, large hatchback and estate layouts, too, with our pick being the final guise - it’s great for all situations and has the big boot that lots of drivers want. We’d also opt for the second-generation Mazda6 - produced from 2008 - and while you can get one from £1,600, our £5,000 budget gets a 2013-year model with just under 100,000 miles on the clock.

Honda CR-V

Again, if spaciousness is what you’re after then the Honda CR-V might be a good option. It’s both reliable and very safe, which makes it a great fit for all types of drivers. Its curvy and interesting design still looks fresh today, too, even if the third-generation CR-V - which we recommend checking out - was first introduced in 2006.

The CR-V also benefits from loads of standard equipment, with EX-specification cars getting plenty of high-end features like a panoramic sunroof and a full leather interior. You’ll be able to get one for the £5,000 budget, too, with mileage of around 112,000.

Skoda Superb

Choosing a car that’s popular with taxi drivers might not boost your street-cred, but it’s often a great indicator of a vehicle’s reliability – they’re not going to buy a car unless they can rely on it. And given Skoda’s Superb is a desirable choice for this market, it means you can trust it too.

For £5,000 you can get behind the wheel of a second-generation Superb, on sale between 2008 and 2015. These are available as both a hatchback or an estate and offer a vast amount of interior space, loads of standard equipment and a very refined and comfortable driving experience. Used Superbs of this age are available from £4,000.

Skoda’s Superb is a true all-rounder. Beloved by high-mileage drivers who appreciate this car’s excellent refinement, the Superb is available as both a hatchback and an estate, with both being brilliantly spacious and well put together. The Superb is also a car which isn’t known for throwing up faults, even on very high-mileage cars.

This £5,000 budget will get you the keys to a second-generation Superb, which has plenty of in-car features and a good level of build quality. At this price point, expect to see mileage of around 110,000 - though if you’re happy to shop on a smaller budget, you could get a Superb of the same age for around £3,200, though with around 144,000 miles on the clock.

Prices correct at time of publication [04/2024].