As new car prices and sales in Australia cool down, there is good news for used car buyers as well - there are great deals and bargains to be had for used cars, SUVs and utes.
Motoring
The best used cars, SUVs and utes in Australia under $30,000
From small hatches and SUVs to medium SUVs and utes, drivers shopping for a used car can find plenty of solid and impressive vehicles for less than $30,000.
Competition is heating up in the new car market with discounts back in vogue and offers getting increasingly sharper. The efforts being put into luring buyers means car prices have retreated in many instances - and this means more competition in the used car market, too.
For buyers looking to nab a used deal, there’s no shortage of impressive second-hand cars, SUVs and utes, many of them below $30,000. There's also a host of underrated and affordable used cars from niche and luxury brands slightly above this price point.
While there are cheaper used cars out there, for the purposes of narrowing down some great reliable buys we’re focusing on cars built from 2017 or later. We’re also only looking at examples with an auto transmission and fewer than 100,000km on the odometer.
More: How to buy a used car with confidence
Australia's best used cars, SUVs and utes under $30K
Best used small hatches under $30,000
Suzuki Swift
They were less than $30,000 brand new, so there’s lots of choice on the used car market for much less than that with the Suzuki Swift. Small in stature and evolutionary in its styling, the Suzuki Swift has a well-earned reputation for standing tall over time. There are plenty of great examples of the zippy five-door hovering around $15,000. That’s mostly for the basic 1.2-litre engine. Splash out a bit more for the 1.0 three-cylinder turbo and there’s more driving fun and character. Sure, back seat space and boot capacity are tight, but the Suzuki Swift works beautifully for singles and couples after an affordable and reliable city hatch.
More: 2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid vs MG3 Hybrid comparison
Mazda3
The former top-selling car in the country, the Mazda3 is prolific on the used car market, making it a great place to start shopping for a reliable small car. It helps that Mazda was one of the first brands to stack its affordable models with technology and safety gear, keeping some of the older variants ahead of their direct rivals from the era. Go shopping with $15,000 and you can get a decent 2016 Mazda3 with low kilometres. Or step the budget up to $20,000 and you can get into the latest generation Mazda3 BP series model that stepped up the styling and attention to detail. All Mazda3s drive sharply, although the 2.0-litre engine is only adequate rather than outstanding. If the budget stretches to a 2.5-litre Mazda3 variant you’ll find the driving experience to be more effortless. Upper Mazda3 variants benefited from a punchy Bose sound system and higher-grade finishes.
If you don't need a lot of boot space, the Suzuki Swift is a reliable city hatch for singles or couples.
Kia Cerato
The Kia Cerato car has muscled its way into prime position on the used car market, in part because of its excellent seven-year warranty. It means Kia Cerato examples from 2018 or later can still have factory warranty coverage, providing that additional peace of mind for used car shoppers. Throw in a nicely presented cabin and the choice of sedan and hatchback bodies, and the Cerato makes for a tempting small car buy. The 2.0-litre engine in most variants is nothing special but gets the job done, teaming with sound driving manners to cement the Kia Cerato as an excellent choice. And with plenty of used Ceratos priced below $20,000, there’s also no shortage of options.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
If you’re after hatchback practicality with some driving spice then the Volkswagen Golf GTi has long been at the pointy end of the hot hatch field. While the price of a brand new Golf GTi has crept up to about $60,000, used examples from 2018 and 2019 are now selling for less than half that. With a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine powering the front wheels, the Volkswagen Golf GTi is an accomplished small hatch that’s loads of fun to drive. Occasional barks from the exhaust and a slick-shifting twin-clutch transmission add to its driving talents. Throw in a cleverly thought-out cabin, good build quality and impressive everyday comfort, and it makes the Golf GTi a compelling proposition that doesn’t have to break the bank.
More: Downsizing your car - what you need to know
Kia Cerato models from 2018 onwards still have factory warranty coverage thanks to Kia's long warranty.
Best used small and medium SUVs under $30,000
Toyota C-HR
It’s a compact SUV but one that prioritised style over functionality, something that made the original Toyota C-HR a hit with those wanting to stand out. Sharp angles, a coupe-inspired silhouette and some funky colours – along with concealed rear door handles - add to the Toyota's five-door’s visual appeal. Inside, the C-HR's sharply rising rear window meant visibility wasn’t great for shorter folk, but elsewhere there’s respectable practicality. The tiny 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo is also nicely suited to the Toyota C-HR – although it needs to be fed with premium unleaded - especially when paired to the CVT auto transmission. There are plenty of Toyota C-HRs below $25,000 or you can splash out a little more for the proven hybrid system borrowed from the Toyota Prius.
Nissan Qashqai
While some rivals were available with all-wheel drive, the Nissan Qashqai was front-drive only, something that limited its usefulness to on-road situations. The Qashqai's 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is also about getting the job done rather than tingling the senses, although the CVT auto helped maximise its modest outputs. A decent boot and practical five-seat layout – remembering it’s a small compact SUV – also worked in the Nissan Qashqai’s favour. Lesser-equipped ST and ST-L models were also more supple on taller profile tyres than the Ti with its leather and snazzier extras. In any guise, though, for less than $20,000 the Nissan Qashqai makes for decent SUV buying.
The Nissan Qashqai is a decent used small SUV that gets the job done for families, couples and singles.
Hyundai Santa Fe
It’s a large SUV but towards the smaller end of the seven-seat scale, something that makes the Hyundai Santa Fe a winner for families who only plan to use the third row of seats occasionally. The fourth-generation Santa Fe TM model from 2018 brought with it big improvements, and there are plenty of examples below $30K. The 2.2-litre turbo diesel is the pick of Santa Fe variants, in part because it brings an all-wheel drive system, but also because the grunty diesel is better suited to hauling families than the petrol engines (both four-cylinder and V6) that use more fuel.
More: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe review
Ford Escape
There’s nothing like the discontinuation of a nameplate, like the Ford Escape, to help send used car prices down. While it’s not a guaranteed way to make a car less appealing, it’s often the case that something no longer top of mind may end up being better value on the used car market. The last of the Ford Escapes was the ZH model and it is now solid buying, at the very least for its hearty 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Throw in sharp driving dynamics and it made the Ford Escape one of the more engaging medium SUVs on the road. And what it lacks in wow factor in the cabin presentation, the Ford Escape makes up for with solid practicality and functionality.
Subaru Forester
If you like to adventure but don’t want to transition to a purposeful off-roader SUV then the Subaru Forester treads a nice middle ground. With standard all-wheel drive and more rough road nous than key mid-sized SUV rivals, the Subaru family favourite doesn’t mind getting its tyres dirty. There are plenty of well-presented 2019 and 2020 Subaru Foresters for less than $25,000, while a slightly bigger budget will get you into a 2021 model that’s still covered by the five-year factory warranty. While the Forester's 2.5-litre engine is nothing exciting, solid cornering dynamics and a practical cabin make the Subaru Forester a terrific choice if you’re chasing a solid all-wheel drive mid-size SUV.
More: 4WD vs AWD - what's the difference?
The Subaru Forester is a legacy mid-size SUV and excellent used car option.
Honda CR-V 7-seat
The Honda CR-V has long been a popular mid-sized SUV, and the addition of a third row of seats to some variants in 2017 made it even more appealing. These days you can pick up a circa-five-year-old seven-seat Honda CR-V for less than $30,000 providing the additional seating flexibility that families love. While a 1.5-litre engine may sound undernourished, the addition of a turbocharger matched to a CVT auto transmission made for thoroughly acceptable performance. Throw in excellent build quality and it partially makes up for the CR-V's occasionally skinny levels of standard equipment. Honda was slow on the fitment of blind spot monitoring, for example.
Best used sedans under $30,000
Holden Commodore
The last of the Holden Commodores – the only imported Commodores – didn’t quite live up to expectations for the nameplate when compared with the Australian-made cars. That made the front-wheel-drive, European-made Commodores less popular on the used car market, something that has negatively impacted prices. So much so that those 2017-2020 models have dipped below $15,000. For that price, you’re getting a lot of car for the money, especially if you can get one of the roomier Commodore wagons. Shop for the Holden Commodore with a V6 engine and you also get all-wheel drive, making for something of a large sedan bargain given the price.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry is a popular choice with rideshare operators, so there are plenty of high-mileage examples of this medium sedan. Look for Toyota Camrys that have been confined to family duties, though, and you’ll get something that’s spent more time in the garage than charging around the suburbs.
In either instance, with the Toyota Camry you’re buying a car that’s got longevity and reliability at its heart, so assuming the service history is in good shape there should be many more kilometres in its future. While the 2.5-litre engine will be more affordable to get into, shop around and there are plenty of current generation Toyota Camry examples with the efficient hybrid drivetrain going for less than $25,000.
The Mazda BT-50 is good used dual-cab ute for less than $30,000, though most in that price point are 4x2 models.
Best used hybrid under $30,000
Lexus CT200h
The hybrid-only Lexus CT200h hatch was effectively a Toyota Prius in a nicer suit. That means proven mechanicals and a simple but effective hybrid system that makes for low fuel bills. Like a Prius, there was nothing overly exciting about the driving experience, but the Lexus CT200h delivered on its promise of honest motoring. Similarly, the in-cabin technology in a CT200h is far from groundbreaking – there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the joystick to work your way around the main screen can be frustrating. However, the Lexus delivers the basics that make for a good used car buy for those new to hybrid motoring.
More: Hybrid vs PHEV vs EV - what's the difference?
Best used utes and off-road vehicles under $30,000
Mazda BT-50
Want a Ford Ranger ideally for less money? The previous Mazda BT-50 is a great place to start. Beneath the skin, the BT-50 shared its hardware with the popular Ranger, but is often priced a bit below it on the used car market. The Mazda BT-50's 3.2-litre engine is a solid workhorse with decent performance. A good mix of on-road liveability and off-road capability make the Mazda BT-50 an honest choice for those looking for a ute. While it’s mostly 4x2 models priced below $30,000, there are occasional 4x4 models that are also available second hand at that price point. As well as the usual used car checks also look for evidence of hardcore off-road work in a Mazda BT-50 - excess dust in seals is one telltale, and scars on the underside can also be a good indicator.
LDV D90
The LDV D90 lacks the heritage and reputation of rivals such as the Toyota Prado or Isuzu MU-X. The LDV D90 also misses out on a diesel engine, instead making do with a relatively thirsty 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. But beneath the large wagon body is solid off-road hardware that makes the LDV D90 popular for getting out of the city. That’s where the D90 does its best work, easily able to pound over gravel roads and get to that remote camp site. The LDV D90 is less convincing on the bitumen, where its weighty body and chunky suspension give it a somewhat ponderous driving dynamics. Still, with seven seats and a decent list of features, the LDV D90 packs plenty in for a used car for well under $30K. It wasn’t until late 2022 that LDV started offering a seven-year warranty, with five years of coverage for cars sold prior to that.
