‘Best used car of the year’ isn’t an Audi, Mercedes or Volkswagen
As Britain’s car industry continues to struggle and the cost of living crisis persists, more people are turning to the second-hand motor market to buy their next vehicle. With this change, the prices of some second-hand cars also increased. However, it is still possible to find some jewels among the wide range of options.
To that end, a group of automotive experts have come together to identify the best second-hand cars for sale in the UK today. The group comes from the respected automotive publication Auto Express. Together they came up with a verdict on what is the best used car on sale in Britain today.
They did this through a number of factors, including what the cars were like when new and the experiences their owners had driving them.
Overall, the best used car of the year was the BMW 3 Series, according to unanimous decision. As for why this was chosen, automotive writer Alex Ingram explained that it’s not just a matter of driving dynamics, but also the wide range of body shapes and trim levels available to buyers.
He explained: “Whether you’re in the market for a fuel-sipping diesel, a fire-breathing M3 or anything in between, the 3 Series range has you covered.
“Plug-in hybrids enable purely electric driving for urban journeys, and six-cylinder petrol engines are both smooth and powerful. There are also a variety of body styles.
“But whichever variant you choose, the rest of the package leaves you feeling like there’s no compromise. The ride and handling are as good as they come, making even the most affordable models a pleasure to drive.”
BMW was named the most used car in the UK, just ahead of Jaguar’s I-Pace. Jaguar’s electric vehicle finished second overall behind BMW, but also won awards for best-used electric car and best-used executive car.
The CEO of SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) made a statement about the state of the second-hand car market at the beginning of this year. Mike Hawes He said: “Growth in the second-hand car market is good news given where most drivers buy their next vehicle, but their choice ultimately depends on evolving demand for new cars.
“The ongoing recovery in the new car market means almost 100,000 second-hand buyers this year have been able to purchase cars less than a year old.
“These nearly new acquisitions help drive business activity and economic growth while providing consumers with access to more affordable, increasingly zero-emission pre-owned cars across the country.”
This comes after another auto shop (Carwow) named it the new Car of the Year. They chose the Chinese engine Chery Tiggo 8 as the best; this was a full £50,000 cheaper than its BMW rival.
