Second-hand value: The best value used car bargains revealed

The prices of second-hand cars have risen due to COVID-19, but there are still some great deals out there if you know where to look. See the list of the best cars.

Used car prices have crept up in recent months as some people shy away from public transport due to the pandemic.

Reports of a 20 to 50 per cent increase in retail prices are wide of the mark, but Ross Booth, the general manager of valuations giant Red Book, says a lack of supply of near-new used cars has resulted in higher prices for some models.

“From what we see, some prices are up but they’re not up significantly,” he says.

There are still bargains to be had, especially if you aim for the unloved sections of the used car market.

These unfashionable “ugly ducklings” can often represent solid buying, Booth says. So too can models that have been killed off due to lack of interest. “A discontinued nameplate can be a fantastic way to pick up a bargain … because there’s a perception around service levels, so they become less desirable.”

Here are some used cars worth considering.

Ford no longer sells the Mondeo, but it is big, reliable and cheap.

FORD MONDEO

2012-2014 (about $12,000)

In the shadow of the (fractionally) larger Falcon, the Mondeo was never a big hit but its excellent interior space and relatively efficient four-cylinder engines make clean examples a bargain.

Suzuki has a reputation for longevity, so you can target slightly older versions.

SUZUKI S-CROSS

2014-2015 ($13-15,000)

Suzuki’s reputation for longevity means even 100,000km-plus cars treated well should have loads of life left in them. S-Cross is unsexy and lumpy but gets the job done in a small SUV body.

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

2012/2013 ($13,000 to $16,000)

Give up the “Golf” and “GTI” badges, replace them with “Jetta” and you’re in for a sporty bargain with a big boot. The Jetta 147TSI (and, later, 155TSI) got 2.0-litre turbo Golf GTI running gear but weren’t nearly as popular.

More practical than the Golf, the Jetta shares the hatches sporty drive.

NISSAN ALTIMA

2014-2016 (about $15,000)

The V6 Altima was plain Jane, albeit lathered with enough chrome to reflect sunlight from space. What it lacked in driving excitement it made up for with equipment and space.

Skoda is often overlooked for its more fancied cousin, VW.

SKODA FABIA

2014-2018 (about $15,000)

Skoda and Fabia are two names many used car shoppers don’t often consider. Plenty of low-km examples means it’s an affordable way to get Volkswagen tech in a thoughtful package. Grab one from 2017 and it’ll still have some of its five-year warranty.

KIA OPTIMA

2014-2016 (about $15-17,000)

With Hyundai mechanicals and a vaguely stylish sedan exterior the mid-sizer is solid buying. For models sold from late 2014 the seven-year warranty means full factory peace of mind for at least another year.

HYUNDAI SONATA

2015-2017 (about $16,000)

The Sonata name has been around since the late 1980s and has always sold modestly, yet the bland but honest four-door delivers on the basics. Optional 2.0 turbo has more zing than the regular 2.4.

MAZDA6

2014/2015 (about $17-$20,000)

The 6 represented mid-sized motoring done well and the current shape is now bargain used-car buying. Five to six-year-old models cost less than $20,000, not much more than the smaller 3. There’s a wagon option for families.

Mid-szie cars aren’t strong sellers when new, so you can expect a bargain on the used market.

HOLDEN VF CALAIS

2012-2014 (about $20,000)

Forget the V8s because enthusiasts are fighting over those but V6 Calais models pack in plenty of space, luxury and comfort for the price. Mechanical work should be relatively affordable, too. If the budget can stretch a little further, the later VF2’s updated interior was superior.

Holden’s V6 Calais is a luxury cruiser at a bargain price.

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS

2018-2019 (ABOUT $24,000)

The large-ish Eclipse Cross compact SUV is a relative newcomer but hasn’t proved a big seller. It has plenty of equipment for the price, although the small turbo engine and CVT auto take a bit of getting used to. Check ex-rental cars thoroughly.

AUDI A6

2013/2014 (about $25,000)

Luxury buyers have shunned sedans in favour of SUVs, so big discounts can be had. The A6 loads up the luxury for the price of a new city hatch. Be wary of high-kilometre cars and potentially costly servicing on diesel models.

SUBARU LEVORG

2016 (about $29,000)

Not all bargains need be vanilla. This stylish compact wagon dishes up enough family functionality, combined with turbocharged performance. It has identical power outputs to the WRX hot hatch and boasts more space, but it’s about $5000 less.