Best used car under 15000 Euro. What can you get on the market?

A sedan, a compact, or perhaps a trendy SUV? Gasoline or diesel engines? Buying a car always starts with a few very important questions. Then, you can start choosing the model of the car. What are the currently best used car under 15000 Euro?

 

European used cars market

The European cars market is definitely different from e.g. the American one. The regulations applied by the EU, but also the practical reasons, result in the most favourite European car being most often an economic compact car with a rather small engine, although equipped with a roomy trunk and advanced safety systems. It’s not only the ecology and low exploitation costs that are important, but it’s also the comfort – comfortable suspension and numerous extras which facilitate travelling and make it more pleasant.

There are plenty of models on the secondary market which meet the above criteria and buying which is worth consideration – Opel Astra, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris… These are just examples of used cars to consider – there are many possibilities. Each time, however, you need to remember to find a well-maintained unit – even seemingly the best model won’t last long and without any issue if it’s neglected. Not all problems – such as excessive oil consumption – have to indicate high expenses, some can be easily and quickly fixed. You just need to know about them in advance when deciding to buy a used car.

 

 

 

Best used car under 15000 Euro – our TOP 10

Looking for a used car under 15000 Euro? Within such budget, you can easily find a few years old car with low mileage and documented service history.

 

You will certainly find a good car – and here are 10 particularly interesting, in our opinion, ones from different segments. You can think of a sedan bodywork, look for a family compact or – with a little imagination – check out the sports cars available on the market.

 

Toyota Yaris

Need a small and pretty universal city model for ca. 15.000 Euro? Toyota has something in offer which has been appreciated by millions of users all over the world. The production of Yaris – in the popular hatchback version – began in 1999, and currently there’s already the 4th generation of this Japanese compact. For 15.000 Euro, you can easily get a nearly new car with minuscule mileage. For those who would like to spend a little less, Toyota Yaris II and III are a good option.

You can choose from the Yaris cars with the gasoline and the diesel engines, or a hybrid version (an extra electric engine). Toyota Yaris GR, in the 260 HP version, which provides sports-like experience of driving, is surely a greater expense – for the everyday usage you can definitely select from the more rational engine versions, such as 1.0 or 1.5 L.

 

Fiat 500

An alternative for Toyota Yaris is Fiat 500 – an inherent element of the Italian automotive landscape. This is certainly an interesting proposition, because at the price of 15.000 Euros you should be able to find a car straight from the showroom – assuming, of course, the exclusion of rich equipment. When choosing a used car, you should be able to find without difficulties a very well-maintained copy which should save you a bit of the budget for possible repairs (or fueling if currently nothing needs fixing – although, the fuel consumption surely won’t be high).

Fiat 500 is a car of a very small size, which has some advantages. Parking in the city shouldn’t be a problem. On the other hand, packing for a weekend trip due to the mere tiny trunk may already require big sacrifices – so it is worth just thinking about what the car you buy is really intended for, because if the priority is low maintenance costs, a “five hundred” will be perfect.

 

Ford Focus

Both the first version and the Ford Focus II have been praised for their excellent drivability – especially the second generation of the popular Focus delighted with this aspect. On the other hand, the bodywork was troublesome, especially at the beginning of the production. The body was not sufficiently protected by the manufacturer and corrosion of the body easily appeared in demanding European conditions. However, times have changed, and currently Ford Focus IV is in offer – and a few years old copy should be within the range under 15.000 Euro.

Drivers worried for long whether the innovative gasoline EcoBoost engine with the capacity of only 1.0 L would turn out to be too weak or not sustainable enough. Time has verified the worries – aside from certain issues, the EcoBoost engine passed the exam by working – especially in cars such as Ford Fiesta or the Focus itself – very well and offering really low fuel consumption. For a person who is interested in family cars which give a lot of driving pleasure, Focus will certainly turn out to be an interesting proposition.

 

Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat is one of the European automotive legends, a dynasty which has existed for already half a century and eight generations so far. The current one – B8 – has been produced since 2014, although another edition is soon to appear. The popular Passat cars are available in the sedan and compact versions. They are often chosen as company cars, but they’re also selected by private users who look for a spacious and a bit more elegant car. The 2-liter engine is very popular in Passat – both the gasoline and the diesel one with various power variants.

Let us remind that Volkswagen Passat is part of a much bigger VAG group vehicle family. Passat has a lot in common with e.g. Skoda Superb. The Arteon model is also interesting, but here – for now – the budget stands in the way (while looking the other way, the used Skoda Octavia will be less “prestigious”, but cheaper). There’re a lot of Passat cars on the secondary market, but a big share of them has an eventful past – so it’s good to have a thorough technical inspection done to make sure that the car is actually in a good condition.

 

Opel Astra

Since the time when the not-so-pretty Opel Astra H (3rd generation) was popular, a lot has changed. The manufacturer has paid a lot of attention to the style, thanks to which Astra J and Astra K look very neat and modern, not being inferior to the competition. In the latest version, the German producer decided to resign from the sedan version of the bodywork – the amateurs of the popular compact can choose from the hatchback and the compact.

For a price under 15.000 Euro, you can get a few years old copy with a gasoline engine – not a big one, however modern enough to provide good performance during the everyday usage. It also demands less in term of the exploitation thanks to the timing chain. Low fuel consumption, quite roomy on the front and rear seats, spacious trunk and solidly secured bodywork – all this makes Opel Astra a good choice for a reasonable price. It’s one of the used cars which undoubtedly are worth taking into consideration when planning to buy a car.

 

Nissan Qashqai

The Nissan Crossover has gained huge popularity on the European and world markets, being responsible for – to a large extent – the increase of interested in its segment. In 2021, it was the Qashqai model itself that was the best-selling new crossover worldwide. One can easily say that it wasn’t without a reason. It is a fashionable, relatively spacious car which can be equipped with a small and economical gasoline engine – an interesting choice when it comes to family cars.

Qashqai is neither a SUV nor – the more – an off-road car, nevertheless with its versatility it has won the sympathy of many people. Depending on the market, you can find Nissan in various engine versions, so when selecting the car, it’s good to think about its usage. For the city environment, the gasoline version is definitely enough, there’s no need to get the diesel. Is it possible to find a well-maintained item under 15.000 Euro? There shouldn’t be a problem with that – we’re, of course, considering the 2nd generation manufactured between 2013-2021. The copies from the final production should serve for a long time without any problems.

 

Mazda CX-3

The recent years have been an excellent period for the Japanese manufacturer. Mazda focused on a completely new style which resulted in its cars being – according to many – one of the prettiest cars currently offered. But the attractive appearance is not all. Among the offers from Japan there’s Mazda CX-3, a small but spectacular crossover eagerly chosen by European drivers. It’s not over yet, as the CX-3 is placed very high in the reliability ranking. For sure it can be a good choice for those who care about reliability and who are fond this particular style.

Mazda has already decided to cease the production of the CX-3 model without expecting any direct successor. Is it – in the context of buying used cars – bad? Not necessarily – especially considering the many subassemblies shared by the currently manufactured cars. Those for whom Mazda CX-3 seems to be a bit too small can choose the bigger Mazda CX-5. So far, it doesn’t seem like the Japanese manufacturer is going to cease its production.

 

Toyota Auris/Corolla

For all the years of production, Toyota Corolla has gained the title of being one of the best-selling models in history – well deserved. Versatility and high quality have made the compact from Japan the first choice for those looking for a car for a relaxed ride. In different years and on different markets, the small Toyota, offered either as Corolla or Auris, has never provided any excessive emotions. However, it charmed with its reliability. For some time already, the Japanese brand has been aiming at promoting ecological solutions.

That’s why, the hybrid versions of the Auris or the Corolla are interesting options on the used cars market. It’s a perfect option for people who value ecological solutions when purchasing a fully electric car is beyond their reach. The used Auris is available in a hatchback and a compact version, so everyone should be able to choose the perfect variant for themselves – for sure you can find something for yourself as well.

 

Honda Civic

Honda Civic of the 10th generation was presented in 2015, arousing big controversy. Although the style of the Japanese compact already before had stood out, that time the limits were pushed much further than the customers would’ve expected. Opinions are divided, and as a budget under 15.000 Euro has its limits, the discussion on the assets of this particular generation has to be postponed for some other time. So far, let’s take a look at the previous, 9th generation of Honda Civic.

This car’s bodywork is also interesting, although not as extravagant, and it was warmly welcomed and equipped with modern solutions. Honda offered a full range of bodywork types to choose from – coupe, hatchback, sedan and compact (however not every bodywork type was offered on every market). People who look for a slightly bigger and a bit more prestigious model might like the equally attractive Honda Accord – however, when looking for a car of similar age, you need to take into account the increase of the price.

 

Renault Megane

The French vehicles enthusiasts would be unhappy if this list would end without a single French car. A representative example will therefore be the Renault Megane – although one could just as well mention the Citroen Grand Picasso – which, together with the 4th generation currently in production, has taken a huge stylistic step forward. This model was introduced on the market in 2015, and the copies from the beginning of the production easily fit within the budget under 15.000 Euro.

Renault offered a wide range of engine versions, offering low fuel consumption and good performance – depending on the variant, it could reach even 300 HP (this choice, however, is beyond 15.000 Euro and definitely not for the everyday exploitation). The engine can be fueled with gasoline or diesel – the choice is yours. Similarly to the bodywork selection. The French have thought about both the enthusiasts of hatchbacks and compacts, as well sedans. The asset of the last one is a particularly spacious trunk.

 

Is it worth buying a used car?

Is buying a used car under 15.000 Euro a good idea? Definitely yes – for such amount you can get a decent family or city car, equipped with a modern and dynamic gasoline engine which ensures good performance, and often, you can also get a hybrid which lowers the fuel consumption and emission.

 

 

If you don’t dispose of enough cash to easily afford buying a new car straight from a car dealership, selecting a vehicle from the used cars market seems to be a much better option. The first 2-3 years of exploitation is the period during which a new car loses its value the most. After that, a still noteworthy car can be purchased for a much lower price. It’s worth it!

Regardless of whether you’re buying a car for 15.000 Euro, or less, or more, any car should be thoroughly checked beforehand. Both its technical condition and vehicle history are important.