Shopping for a high-quality second-hand car is never easy. There are boxes to be ticked, preferences to pander to and a bank manager to please. Yes indeed, all these pitfalls have the potential to be a pain in the proverbial backside. But it’s not as if the market for second-hand cars is in any way limited – it’s actually quite the opposite. And with such a wide range of options, the paradox of choice can be more debilitating than a flat tyre. With tens of thousands of cars to choose from, where to start?
Best then, to defer to the experts – those who know what safety, reliability and value for money are all about. So if you’re looking to pick up the kind of second hand car you can count on, here are 10 IDEAL second hand family cars.
FORD FOCUS
A reasonable, reliable option, and that’s what it’s all about, right? Bag yourself a decent Ford Focus; it’s a winner of multiple awards and a five-star crash test rating, it’s everything a good family car should be.
Read: 5 reasons why buying a second hand car is the better choice in 2021
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
If you can find a decent Golf at a reasonable price, there’s not really much point looking any further. In terms of reliability and long-term value for money, the VW Golf really is in a class of its own. It’s also a joy to drive.
FORD MONDEO DIESEL
Ford gets two entries to the list, and for a very good reason. The diesel variants of the Ford Mondeo are perhaps the best of the bunch to go for if looking for a family car, which delivers great fuel economy along with all the usual conveniences and safety features.
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
The Passat is an outstanding and surprisingly affordable family car that’s also masquerading as a luxury ride. Spacious, safe as can be and capable of deceptively powerful performance, a well-priced Passat represents an investment opportunity not to be overlooked.
TOYOTA CAMRY
Arguably the workhorse to end all workhorses, the Toyota Camry is no less than a legendary piece of engineering across the United States. Pick up a decent Toyota Camry cover to protect your investment and you’ll also be looking at impressive resale value.
Read: 6 IDEAL things to consider before buying a second hand car
SKODA OCTAVIA
The Octavia is the kind of car that delivers exponentially more than you would ever expect for this kind of money. It may not be particularly luxurious or mind-blowing in terms of technology, but it’s nonetheless a great family car and an absolute bargain.
Read: 4 IDEAL luxury cars to buy that are best to get secondhand
SKODA SUPERB
The same also going for the Superb, which ups the ante with things like climate control, touch screen entertainment and a nifty storage space for your umbrella.
HONDA CIVIC
Another absolutely legendary workhorse for families across the US, the Honda Civic typically experiences massive depreciation whenever a new model is released. Hence, outstanding older models can be picked up for next to nothing.
KIA CEED
The great thing about the Ceed is that if you pick one up that’s less than seven years old, it’ll still be covered by the initial transferable seven-year warranty. It’s also just a brilliant family car…period.
MAZDA 6
Last up, the Mazda 6 is roomy, powerful and surprisingly economical. You might pick up on a few squeaks and rattles when checking out old models, but it’s a small price to pay for this kind of value for money.