Best nearly new car deals: full list of latest December 2023 deals
Fancy the latest models but don’t want to pay the price? Save thousands on these nearly new models
If you want the best deal on a new car, buying a brand-new one is unlikely to reap much in the way of savings. The best way to save money on a new car is to look at the deals on nearly new cars. They look and feel like the freshest new models on the market, but they can cost substantially less to buy. What's not to like?
A nearly new car will have been used to some extent, and that might be a problem if you like to know exactly where your car has been. You'll also have your choice restricted to whatever is available, relying on the taste of others who have bought a new car and are now looking to sell. But, if you can find a car that ticks all of your boxes, you'll likely be able to buy it for far less than the original owner paid.
Better yet, nearly new cars are still covered by the initial manufacturer warranty, so even if you're looking at a two-year-old Kia, for instance, you'll have as much as five years of cover remaining. Essentially, you're getting nearly all of the benefits of buying a brand-new car, without losing an awful lot, and saving huge amounts of money in the process.
Nearly new cars differ slightly from pre-registered models, in that these cars will have been driven a few hundred miles to a couple of thousand miles and probably had at least one previous owner. But this does mean you can save thousands of pounds - and benefit from a range of flexible finance options. You'll probably still get most of that new car smell, too.
1. Renault Zoe
Our pick Renault Zoe ZE50 R135 GT Line
Used deals from £13,990
Monthly finance from £234.88*
For the most part, electric cars have always been more expensive to buy than petrol or diesel equivalents, but the electric Renault Zoe didn't cost an awful lot more to buy than a similarly size petrol alternative. The trouble was its sub-100-mile range was far from adequate for anyone who needed to travel long distance on a regular basis.
Luckily, the latest Zoe promises up to 245 miles of range from a 52kWh battery. It comes in two flavours, the 110hp R110 and the 135hp R135. All cars get keyless entry, cruise control, and automatic lights and wipers. Go for a mid-spec Iconic model for rear parking sensors, alloy wheels and a seven-inch media system.
Unlike many other new electric cars, many Zoes have lost a lot of their initial value after a year or so, so you should be able to snap up a good bargain on a top-spec GT Line or GT Edition model.
2. Ford Fiesta
Our pick Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV Titanium X
Used deals from £11,599
Monthly finance from £179.21*
The latest version of the Fiesta has been available since 2017, and while Ford has announced that it will end production of the much-loved supermini in 2023, it remains an incredibly popular car, topping the charts as the most traded used car most years.
Update for 2022 with a new grille and front end, there are plenty of versions available. We would avoid the slightly underpowered 1.1-litre petrol engine in favour of the more powerful 1.0-litre ‘EcoBoost’ turbocharged unit, which comes with mild hybrid assistance in most cases.
Every car gets LED headlights, a heated windscreen, and an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but we think Titanium X is better value with keyless entry, parking sensors, a reversing camera, heated seats in the front, and even a heated steering wheel. That’s if you don’t fancy one of the other countless trim levels available, including the sporty Fiesta ST hot hatch.
3. Fiat 500
Our pick Fiat 500 1.0 MHEV Dolcevita
Used deals from £10,900
Monthly finance from £177.38*
There’s always an abundance of petrol-powered Fiat 500s available nearly new and pre-registered. They use a mild hybrid 1.0-litre engine with 70hp, which Fiat reckons will do over 60mpg, though you’ll more likely get closer to 50mpg.
Buy a new one and you’ll have to part with at least £15,000, but you can usually save over a quarter by buying nearly new.
Value for money comes from the Dolcevita model, which gets a seven-inch touchscreen media system, rear parking sensors, and even a sunroof. Go for the Dolcevita Plus for a digital driver’s display and climate control, among a few other things.
1. Skoda Kodiaq
Our pick Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI SportLine DSG
Used deals from £29,990
Monthly finance from £429.30*
If you need an SUV with seven seats but don’t like the high price tag often associated with these high-riding cars, then you’ll like the sound of the Skoda Kodiaq, which shares many of its parts with the more expensive Volkswagen Tiguan.
Basic SE Drive models are far from basic, because they get all-around parking sensors, a reversing camera, and keyless entry, but take note that some of these only come with five seats. SE L Executive adds a powered tailgate and leather upholstery, while SportLine models get an eye-catching bodykit with huge 20-inch alloy wheels and an upgraded 9.2-inch touchscreen media system.
Power comes from a 150hp 1.5-litre petrol engine or 190hp 2.0-litre engine. If you’re looking to tow a caravan, the 150hp and 200hp 2.0-litre diesel engines may make more sense. They call come with a smooth-shifting dual-clutch ‘DSG’ automatic gearbox.
2. Volvo XC60
Our pick Volvo XC60 B4 D R-Design
Used deals from £38,000
Monthly finance from £617.82*
Behind the bold Scandinavian design is a very safe SUV with a full suite of safety equipment. In fact, it was awarded the full five stars when it was subject to Euro NCAP's tests in 2017 (the previous version was also awarded five stars).
Expect dual-zone air-conditioning, LED headlights, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, a powered tailgate, heated front seats, alloy wheels and a slick portrait media display in all cars, including entry-level Momentum. Engine choice consists of a pair of petrol mild hybrids badged B5 and B6, a diesel mild hybrid badged B4, and a pair of petrol plug-in hybrids badged T6 and T8.
R-Design models look the part, but you can still get them with relatively economical engines including hybrids. We'd avoid petrol engines simply because the heavy weight of the car means efficiency takes a hit. The B4 D 2.0-litre diesel is a good bet, unless you have the extra cash for one of the PHEVs.
3. Nissan Qashqai
Our pick Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T MH Tekna
Used deals from £15,215
Monthly finance from £200.01*
Nissan is often credited with kicking off the SUV boom with the introduction of its Qashqai. Now in its third generation, it remains just as popular despite a huge number of rivals.
The only engine option is a 1.3-litre mild hybrid petrol engine, either with 140hp or 158hp, and there are even automatic gearboxes and four-wheel drive available. There is a new hybrid model that runs in electric mode all the time that has a 1.5-litre petrol engine to keep its battery topped up, but these are still pretty rare.
High-spec Tekna models get part self-driving tech, a large head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate, and heating for the windscreen, front seats, and steering wheel. They’re expensive new, but there are huge savings to be had when buying used.
1. Volkswagen Golf
Our pick Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Style DSG
Used deals from £20,495
Monthly finance from £301.89*
If you want options, the Volkswagen Golf has them. While most buyers will opt for the hatchback model, there's also an estate version, along with diesel (GTD), petrol (GTI), and plug-in hybrid (GTE) performance models, and a bonkers Golf R.
If it's the normal Golf hatchback you're after, even entry-level Life models come with alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 10-inch touchscreen, and a wireless phone charger. There are a couple of 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines, which you can have with or without mild hybrid technology, along with a 2.0-litre diesel and a 1.4-litre plug-in hybrid.
While there used to be an electric version of the Golf (which you can still buy used here), it has been indirectly replaced with the ID.3.
2. Audi A6
Our pick Audi A6 40 TFSI S line
Used deals from £28,900
Monthly finance from £399.30*
The Audi A6 is often considered an executive saloon, which means it’s a popular car for company car drivers who spend a lot of time on the motorway. It’s also a comfortable family car, especially in estate form with its large boot.
The most popular engines are the 40 TFSI and 40 TDI - they’re both 204hp 2.0-litre mild hybrid units, one petrol, and one diesel. The 265hp 2.0-litre 45 TFSI is far from economical, and it’s only a touch quicker than the 299hp 50 TFSI e - a plug-in hybrid that promises over 200mpg with regular charging.
S line models aren’t that much more expensive than the entry-level Sport models, and as such they have sold well. Vorsprung models are well equipped, but are exceptionally expensive (over £21,000 more than Sport when buying new, which is the price of an entire small car).
3. Peugeot 308
Our pick Peugeot 308 1.6 Hybrid 180 Allure Premium
Used deals from £22,743
Monthly finance from £362.84*
Despite the rise in popularity of SUVs, smaller family hatchbacks remain staples on British roads, especially in a time when efficiency is vital. We think the Peugeot 308 is one of the best looking of the bunch.
In petrol and diesel form, the 412-litre boot is one of the best in a car of this size. There is a trade-off, though: the rear seats are fairly cramped, but are more than spacious enough for a pair of child seats. Plug-in hybrid models get a smaller 361-litre boot because of the placement of the batteries.
On that note, the 1.2-litre petrol engines are excellent and almost as efficient as the 1.5-litre diesel, both of which have 130hp. There’s a pair of 1.6-litre petrol plug-in hybrids with 180hp and 225hp, too.
*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:
48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.