Buy
Sell
Home
My cars
Messages
Notifications
Log in

Compare the best used hatchbacks

High-quality used hatchback cars from rated and reviewed dealers

Not sure what you want?
Rated 4.6/5 from 53,570 reviews

Best used hatchbacks of 2024

The humble hatchback has always made for a great family car, thanks to a clever combination of compact proportions, a usefully spacious interior, comfortable cruising manners and an ability to really put a smile on your face on a twisty country road. Owing to their incredible popularity, there are plenty of used hatchbacks cars that you can score an absolute deal on on the second hand market. Here, we take a look at some of the best used hatchbacks around.

Sell your car for what it's really worth

The free, easy way to get 4,500+ dealers all over the UK bidding on your car

Learn how to sell your car with carwow
Volkswagen Golf

1. Volkswagen Golf

7/10
Volkswagen Golf review
The Volkswagen Golf has always been the consummate all-rounder - it’s handsome, spacious, comfortable, and feels pretty posh on the inside too. We’d say look for a previous-generation model (so you avoid the new car’s fussy infotainment system). You might be able to snap up a saucy GTI performance model for a bargain if you buy used, too.
Ford Focus

2. Ford Focus

7/10
Ford Focus review
The Ford Focus has always been the family hatchback that you can have the most fun in on your favourite backroad. The latest generation model continues that trend, and we think it’s one of the best second hand hatchbacks you can buy. Just don’t expect it to feel as posh on the inside as a VW Golf, however.
Audi A3 Sportback (2016-2020)

3. Audi A3

8/10
Audi A3 Sportback (2016-2020) review
While you could easily score a good deal on a current Audi A3 on the used market, we’d advise you look for a low-mileage example of the previous generation model. Weirdly, that car feels even more luxurious on the inside than the newer ones - though its tech won’t be quite as up to date. Drives nicely, too.
BMW 1 Series

4. BMW 1 Series

7/10
BMW 1 Series review
If you want a posh hatchback that’s also pretty fun to drive, then the BMW 1 Series should be at the top of your list. It can feel a bit firm over lumps and bumps, but as far as used hatchbacks are concerned, it makes for a great buy - particularly as the latest generation model has been on sale for a while now.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018-2023)

5. Mercedes A-Class

8/10
Mercedes-Benz A-Class (2018-2023) review
Battery range up to 40 miles
The Mercedes A-Class looks handsome on the outside, and has a properly flashy interior - at least at surface level. It’s very comfy at a cruise, but space in the second row is pretty tight and its four-cylinder engines can be a bit loud and thrashy at times too.
Skoda Octavia

6. Skoda Octavia

8/10
Skoda Octavia review
Battery range up to 49 miles
The Skoda Octavia is the used hatchback to go for if you need a lot of cargo and passenger space. These sensible cars are by no means the most fun things to drive on a good country road, but they’re comfortable and, as a used buy, represent excellent value for money. Both the current and previous generation models would be a good choice.
Toyota Corolla

7. Toyota Corolla

8/10
Toyota Corolla review
The Toyota Corolla makes for a great used buy if you want a hatchback that’ll be cheap to run and super reliable. It has a petrol-sipping hybrid system that’s super economical around town, and it’s actually pretty fun to drive too. You might not be overly sold on the looks, however, or the rather plain interior.
Mazda 3

8. Mazda 3

7/10
Mazda 3 review
The Mazda 3 is not only fun to drive, it’s posh inside and handsomely styled too. You may find its petrol and diesel engines to be a bit weedy, but it has one of the best manual gearboxes in the game. Rear space is a bit tight, mind, and the boot is a bit of an awkward shape.
SEAT Leon (2013-2020)

9. SEAT Leon

7/10
SEAT Leon (2013-2020) review
The SEAT Leon is effectively a Volkswagen Golf with a sportier look and a sportier drive - particularly if you go for the previous generation model. Some of the on-board tech might feel a bit long in the tooth by now, but it works much better than the glitchy systems you find in new SEAT models.
Kia Ceed

10. Kia Ceed

7/10
Kia Ceed review
The Kia Ceed might not be buckets of fun to drive, and its interior might be a bit plain, but it comes loaded with kit and has a decent-sized boot. With a seven-year warranty, even used examples will still be covered for a serious amount of time too. Talk about peace of mind.

Browse all hatchback cars

Advice about used hatchback cars

Used hatchback FAQs

The main things to take into account here are whether a car’s service history is intact, and if everything is running as it should be. Hatchbacks aren’t the largest cars on the road, so you should make sure to find one that has plenty of room in the second row if you’re planning on carrying adult passengers regularly (trust us, some models are much better than others).

It might be a touch smaller (and older) than a lot of the cars included in this list, but in terms of outright reliability the previous-generation Honda Jazz (on sale from 2007 to 2020) is an absolute winner. Warrantywise awarded it a reliability score of 93.7% in 2022, with the average repair cost coming in at £424.31. Not bad. Toyota also has an excellent reputation for building reliable cars, while if you keep your car serviced by a Toyota dealer, a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty applies; this makes the Corolla easy to recommend if you're after something dependable that won't break the bank if it goes wrong.

Some cars are always better than others, and while all of the cars on this list would make a solid used purchase, you’re probably best to avoid the likes of the MG 3, the Mitsubishi Mirage, and the Fiat 500X. All suffer from so-so interiors, underpowered engines and an average-at-best driving experience.

Popular used car models

Other hatchback cars

Browse other car types