From small hatches and compact SUVs to medium SUVs and dual-cab utes, drivers shopping for a used car can find plenty of solid and impressive vehicles for less than $30,000.
Motoring
Mercedes-Benz C200
Volvo XC60
Genesis G70
Polestar 2
Volkswagen Touareg
Hyundai Palisade
Ford Everest
Lexus RX
Honda Odyssey
Ford Mustang
The best used cars and SUVs in Australia under $50,000
The prices of used cars, SUVs and utes have been gradually falling, meaning there are more great buying opportunities for those prepared to consider pre-owned vehicles for around $50K.
There's plenty of choice available on the used car market for car shoppers with a budget of $50,000. You can choose luxury models, and large family SUVs - or even have some fun in a sports car. There's also a host of underrated and affordable used cars from niche and luxury brands slightly above this price point, and more used electric cars to choose from.
We’ve chosen a selection of some of the best sub-$50K cars and SUVs to buy, focussing on cars from 2017 onwards with fewer than 100,000km on the odometer.
As always, it pays to check the service history and get any car you’re looking at inspected to ensure you’re not inheriting a used car with issues. Keep safety front of mind when buying a used car, and consider that older vehicles may not feature the latest car safety technology. Buyers can access comprehensive Used Car Safety Ratings information to find the safest used car in their budget.
For those with a smaller budget, check out the best used cars, SUVs and utes to buy under $30K.
More: How to buy a used car with confidence
Australia's best used cars, SUVs and utes under $50K
Best used small cars and SUVs under $50K
Audi A3
Small luxury cars don’t have to be bland, as Audi proved with its A3. Long available as a five-door hatch, since 2013 the five-seater A3 has also been offered in sedan guise, adding to the pedigree of what is a great value prestige offering. The new generation Audi A3 model that arrived in 2022 has sharper styling and a more upmarket cabin. A choice of four-cylinder engines and the availability of all-wheel drive (marketed as Quattro) adds to the appeal of the Audi A3. S-Line A3 models get a sportier look and additional trim elements, and with a $50K budget you can even step into the brisker S3 with its feisty 2.0-litre turbo and Quattro system. Quality finishes throughout and sharp driving manners make the Audi A3/S3 an upmarket German option.
More: Downsizing your car - what you need to know
The Audi A3 proves that small luxury cars don't have to be bland. All images: Supplied
Best used medium SUVs and sedans under $50K
Porsche Macan
Medium SUV shoppers can get into a late model Porsche with $50K to spend. And it’s the best-selling Porsche Macan that tops that list. The mid-size SUV is among the best driving of its luxury peers and has plenty of Porsche flavour inside. While there’s the occasional V6 diesel slipping below $50K, it’s predominantly four-cylinder turbo petrol engines that are typically available at this price point - it’s an engine also used in various Volkswagens and Audis. As the Porsche Macan was available with plenty of options, it pays to check what’s fitted to the example you’re looking at; some will have more features and add-ons than others.
The Porsche Macan is among the best driving on its luxury peers.
Mercedes-Benz C200
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was once a best-selling medium premium sedan but has faded as the Australian new car market and buyer preferences have evolved. Fortunately, there are still plenty of C-Classes on the used car market - and it’s the volume selling C200 that is most prolific. An uninspiring 2.0-litre turbo was standard fitment to the C200 until 2018, when a 1.5-litre turbo mild hybrid system lowered fuel use while maintaining the thoroughly acceptable acceleration. Wagon versions of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class added to the practicality of the five-seat sedan with a larger load area (they also looked neat with the longer roofline).
The Mercedes-Benz C200 has plenty of models on the used-car market.
Volvo XC60
The mid-sized Volvo XC60 may be reaching the end of its life – an all-electric replacement is due in 2025 – but early versions of the current generation model are now excellent used car buying. Look for 2018 and 2019 Volvo XC60 models and there are plenty of options around $35K. All Volvo XC60s sold in Australia were powered by four-cylinder engines in either petrol or diesel flavours. Volvo XC-60 R-Design versions have more equipment and bigger wheels, the latter making for a more brittle ride over bumps. If you want extra punch, choose a T5 or T6 XC60 variant.
The Volvo XC60 has plenty of $35K options around the 2018 and 2019 models.
Genesis G70
Hyundai-owned luxury brand Genesis is still a minnow compared with its rivals, but in its quest to carve itself a slice of the market it’s built some value-packed cars. Among them is the mid-sized G70, available as a sedan or wagon. Lashings of quality materials and a long list of standard equipment make the Genesis G70 is a left-field alternative to a BMW 3-Series or Audi A4. Like those two, the Genesis G70 is slick to drive while also providing plenty of everyday comfort. The G70’s 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 is a mighty engine, albeit a tad thirsty. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder should provide ample thrust for most shopping for a Genesis G70, while lowering fuel bills.
The Genesis G70 is a left-field alternative to a BMW 3-Series or Audi A4.
Polestar 2
If you want some electric luxury for less than $50K then Polestar is a great place to start. With links to Volvo, there’s plenty of Swedish familiarity and tech in the Polestar 2. Providing a solid rival to the Tesla Model 3, the Polestar 2 is a fun-to-drive five-door with a sportback body style incorporating a rear hatch. What it lacks in rear seat space – there are packaging compromises because it rides on a platform also used in petrol-powered cars – it makes up for with excellent finishes, materials and attention to detail. There’s a real luxury flavour to the Polestar 2 and even front-drive models provide ample performance; sneak into a dual-motor and it’s seriously quick.
More: How to buy a used electric car
The Polestar 2 provides electric luxury for less than $50K pre-owned.
Best used medium SUVs and sedans under $50K
BMW X5
The BMW X5 has long been a popular large luxury SUV for good reason. The X5 not only looks great but is among the most accomplished of its peers on the road. The BMW X5 cabin is also beautifully presented and thoughtful in its mix of storage options and infotainment. Most X5s had a five-seat layout but there are also seven-seaters available. You’ll have to look at 2017 or 2018 BMW X5 models to find good examples that meet our price target, and it’s the four-cylinders that offer the best value – along with thoroughly acceptable performance. If you want all-wheel drive, then shop for BMW X5 xDrive models, but even the rear-drive sDrive variants deliver excellent driving manners.
Toyota Kluger Hybrid
Toyota’s large city-focussed SUV has long had plenty of punch with V6 propulsion, but those examples were never known for their fuel efficiency. Enter the first Toyota Kluger Hybrid in 2019. Pairing a four-cylinder engine with electric motors delivered V6-like propulsion but with around half the fuel use. Only available in all-wheel drive guise in Australia, the Toyota Kluger Hybrids were never cheap propositions, but there are now some on the used market that limbo under our $50K limit. Most will be entry-level Kluger GX variants with a basic level of trim, but the occasional GXL also makes the sub-$50K cut, bringing a larger touchscreen and blind spot warning, among other goodies.
The Toyota Kluger Hybrid first appeared in 2019.
Volkswagen Touareg
Beneath the skin of the Touareg, Volkswagen’s largest SUV, is some serious pedigree: its architecture is shared with other cars from the Volkswagen Group, including the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. That upmarket thinking flows through to the hushed cabin and plush driving experience of the Volkswagen Touareg. A choice of diesel engines also delivers on thrust and makes for an effortless cruiser. One negative is the Touareg only seats five in a segment where many rivals offer seating for seven. But with a tow capacity up to 3.5 tonnes, the Volkswagen Touareg makes it a terrific alternative for families and couples looking to head into the sunset.
The Volkswagen Toureg has some serious pedigree.
Hyundai Palisade
It may not wear a luxury badge but the Hyundai Palisade that arrived in 2020 delivered a thoroughly premium large SUV experience, with a high level of standard equipment and an upmarket cabin. It’s big, too, slotting above the Santa Fe in the Hyundai line-up to provide seating for up to eight people (there was also a seven-seat layout). The 3.8-litre front-wheel drive V6 Palisade models are likely to be more affordable, but the 2.2-litre diesel driving all four wheels was better suited to the sizeable body; it not only uses a heap less fuel but also cruises more effortlessly thanks to the more easily accessible torque.
The Hyundai Palisade delivers a thoroughly premium large SUV experience.
Ford Everest
Toyota, via its Prado and LandCruiser, has long been the default for families looking for an adventurous off-roader. But the Ford Everest has nicely muscled in on the turf once dominated by the Toyota Prado. Sharing many of its underpinnings with the Ranger ute, the Ford Everest gets a comfortable wagon body with seating for up to seven. Local development and suspension tuning ensures the Everest is nicely calibrated to rough bush tracks and outback trails. And while its ladder frame architecture means it’s not as nimble as a more suburban-focused SUV, the Ford Everest is still good for a car that can traverse some very challenging terrain. While a $50K budget won’t get you into the latest generation Everest, the previous model still stacks up nicely. The 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel is an honest engine, while the 2.0-litre twin turbo boosts refinement and efficiency. Make sure you check the history of any used Ford Everest examples, though, and be wary of ones that have spent a lot of time adventuring.
The Ford Everest has muscled in on the turf once dominated by the Toyota Prado.
Lexus RX
The large Lexus RX has never been as sharp to drive as some rivals from BMW or Audi, but it makes up for it with excellent ownership credentials. That includes a well-earned reputation for quality and reliability that means a well-maintained Lexus RX from 2017 or 2018 should pamper large SUV buyers for many years to come. While V6 engines have long been the staple for the RX, in many ways the more accessible pulling power of the 2.0-litre turbo make it a better engine in the sizeable RX body. Seven-seaters aren’t as common around $50K, but some savvy shopping will unearth good used cars.
The Lexus RX has excellent ownership credentials.
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey people mover always liked to do things a bit differently. Sure, the Odyssey prioritised space, with seating for up to eight people in the VTi model and seven seats in other variants. But there was also a big focus on comfort with the Odyssey and ensuring those inside were given more of a premium experience than your average people mover. Only the 2021 Honda Odyssey models – the last sent to Australia - picked up Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, integrated into a new 8-inch touchscreen. The Honda Odyssey’s sliding rear doors are great for busy carparks, although the foot-operated park brake is less endearing. The 2.4-litre engine could also struggle, especially once you loaded the family up. But as an around-town family machine, the Honda Odyssey ticked plenty of boxes, and these days there are some great 2021 examples from the mid-$45K mark.
The Honda Odyssey is a spacious, comfortable people mover.
Best used sportscars and convertibles under $50K
Mazda MX-5
If you’re looking for a sports car that doesn’t break the bank the Mazda MX-5 is a great place to start. The lightweight two-seater drop-top has a traditional layout, sending its drive to the rear wheels. Sure, there’s not a lot of power - especially when compared with rivals from luxury German brands - but the Mazda MX-5’s relative lack of heft makes it a zippy companion. While it’s available with an auto, the slick-shifting manual is beautifully suited to the character of the car and adds to the driver-focussed flavour. That connected feeling flows through to the wonderfully alive steering, too. And the simplicity of the MX-5’s mechanicals mean it shouldn’t cost much to keep running if you decide to keep it in the family for years to come.
The Mazda MX-5 is a sports car that doesn't break the bank.
Ford Mustang
American muscle cars like the Ford Mustang have filled a nice hole following the shutdown of local manufacturing that saw the demise of V8-powered Falcons and Commodores. And while the Ford Mustang is also available with a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo - with more grunt than some V8s from not too long ago - it’s the 5.0-litre V8 that most makes sense in a car that looks like it means business. Inside, too, the Mustang keeps the chest-beating theme running, along with plenty of pony logos to reinforce the branding. It’s not the sharpest two-door through the bends, but the Ford Mustang V8 makes the right noises and delivers on bang-for-buck with a $50K budget.
The Ford Mustang is a classic American muscle car.
