Used Cars On a Budget: Our Top Picks at EMG

With a cost of living crisis in full swing, and many of us curbing our spending more than ever, we know that the prospect of buying a new car can threaten our pockets. However, we’re big believers at EMG that cars on a budget can still have the wow factor, regardless of what’s on your new-to-you-car shopping list.

Here are some of our best used cars on a budget right now at EMG… 

Cars under £12,000 at EMG

Kia Picanto 

Anyone who owns one of these nippy cars will know that they’re worth their weight in gold, with a price that is still bang on budget! This particular model is a dark horse - that pure white exterior gives way to an eye-catching interior, with red, white and black seats. Powered by the ultra-efficient 1.25 fuel-injected petrol engine, this car not only performs, but it helps you keep an eye on your pennies too.

There are only 22,500 miles on the clock, so it’s low mileage for a low price - yes, it’s possible! The specification highlights include sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, a reversing camera, climate control, and cruise control.

Mazda2 

This mid-range Mazda comes with a budget-friendly price tag, low mileage, and several additional features. The Mazda2 is a small city car that will get you where you want to go in style, with the added benefit of a larger cargo space. This one comes with leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation. 

This model is also home to a variety of safety features, including lane departure warning, hill hold assist, and rear parking sensors, making it a very appealing car indeed.

Nissan Leaf 

Way back in 2010, the Nissan LEAF struck out as one of the first fully electric cars to cruise into the mainstream, and it’s remained at the front of the pack in the electric revolution that followed. 

This 2017 model feels every inch the car of today, both inside and out, with an aerodynamic profile, in-car driver convenience, and an electric motor and battery that combine to deliver fantastic economy. Features inside include a navigation system, rearview camera, and Bluetooth. 

MG MG3

As another spacious city car, the MG3 can turn its wheel to anything, though where it really excels is around town on errands, commuting, and grabbing the kids from school. 

This 2019 model boasts parking sensors, sports seats, and a reversing sensor; plus thanks to MG’s impressive 7-year warranty, it’s protected until 2026! 

Ford Fiesta 

They may be a bestseller and loved all over the UK for their style, versatility, and reliability, but it’s official that Ford are discontinuing their extremely popular Fiesta model - so snap them up while you can! 

This 2016 diesel Fiesta is available at our Bury St Edmunds branch, complete with a convenience pack, parking aids, and a Quickclear heated windscreen. 

Hyundai i10 

Both affordable and efficient, the Hyundai i10 is perfect for navigating busy city streets, while a spacious interior and, in the case of this model, five doors, make it a viable choice for families or those who need extra room. The 1.0 litre engine delivers a punchy 67BHP and the 6-speed manual transmission is a breeze to work through when you hit the road. 

Safety features such as lane departure warning, driver attention alert, and ISOFIX anchoring points are included with this model, as well as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a Bluetooth system, and 7" touch screen navigation.

Why choose EMG for your low-cost used car? 

Plenty of choice 

With over 500 used cars in stock, there’s an abundance of options available for you, whatever your budget. Right now, there are 120 used cars under £12,000 on our forecourts around East Anglia, and as you may have gathered from the vehicles we’ve mentioned, we carefully select them so they offer fantastic value for money.

Finance available 

To help ease the overwhelm when it comes to financing your next car, EMG makes it easy with  a range of finance packages, making it possible to spread the cost of your next car in a way that suits you, your budget, and your circumstances. 

Aftersales support 

We’re here for the long haul, giving your vehicle the care it deserves across our East Anglia service centres. We’re Approved Repairers for Kia, Mazda, Nissan, MG, Ford, Vauxhall, Mitsubishi, Citroën and Hyundai, but we offer servicing, MOTs, repairs and diagnostics for any make and model.

Browse budget used cars in East Anglia

By now, you should have a flavour of the kinds of used cars you can get on a budget here at EMG. Now all that’s left to do is explore the range for yourself! View every used vehicle we have on our East Anglia forecourts, using the filters on the left-hand side to adjust your search to fit your needs.