10 great used first cars for under $10,000

Not many years ago, people who went looking for a first car were literally making a life-or-death choice. Low-cost cars usually came with just a set of seatbelts as defence against death or injury.

ABS braking and airbags were rarely seen in cheaper vehicles – those cars most often driven by younger, inexperienced drivers who needed protection the most. Today, things are different. Cars selling in the $5000-10,000 price range will have ABS and airbags as standard, with most including Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

One thing any car buyer needs to do before making a purchase is to inspect the desired car thoroughly. An inspection ensures major problems are identified and minor issues cited when it’s time to negotiate a price.

Before arranging an inspection, check the service history for recent work performed by a dealer or a qualified workshop. Recurrent problems often point to a root cause and could be a sufficient reason to avoid that car altogether.

Check the service books for recurrent problems and use the VIN to ensure recall repairs have been completed. Better still, purchase a CarFacts history report and book a RedBook Inspect pre-purchase inspection.

Whether it is your first car as a P-plater, your first car purchase ever or your first car purchase living in Australia, here's our list of 10 great cars for sale on carsales under $10,000 that is worth considering.

Who in their right mind would pick a BMW as a first-time car? We would, and here’s why.

BMW’s 1 Series does everything a Japanese or Korean 2.0-litre hatch will do, and more. They are beautifully built with quality trim that, with care, will still look good after 20 years.

The suspension, brakes and inherent safety features are all at the top of the compact hatchback class. They are also the only car of comparable size and design that drives via its rear wheels instead of the front two or all four.

The manual transmission was available to 118i buyers, but the vast majority come with BMW’s excellent six-speed automatic transmission coupled with a 100kW engine. For a car of its age, the 118i’s inherent safety features and an array of airbags are outstanding, helping it easily achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Most 118i examples in the market have covered fewer than 10,000 kilometres annually, but check the service books and history anyway.

Find your own BMW 118i Hatch here on carsales

It might be your first car and one that doesn’t cost much, but you’re old school. You want a car that looks like a car, not a delivery van with windows. You want four doors and a spacious interior plus a boot that will almost accommodate the proverbial 205-litre drum. Try this one.

Chrysler’s 300C arrived here in 2006 and mostly offered big, thirsty V8 engines. The 3.5-litre V6 was different; it was aimed mainly at corporate buyers and well ahead of the V8 in running costs.

Power from the V6 jumped in 2012 from 183kW to a healthy 210kW, and five-speed automatic transmission was always standard.

300Cs are similar in size to a Bentley with intentionally similar styling but aimed at owners of more humble means. You do get leather seats and a good stereo, even a heated steering wheel, but they will run on E10 and will consume as little fuel as 11L/100km.

Find your own Chrysler 300C here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Chrysler 300C (2005-2008)

Against the tide of buyer opinion when the Territory was new, we’ve gone for the 4.0-litre petrol version in preference to the 2.7-litre diesel.

Durability is the reason. With these cars now well out of warranty, diesel buyers can be saddled with big repair bills should the engine – with its fragile timing belt and some other issues – decide to fail.

While the petrol-slurping ‘Barra’ six-cylinder engine will cost more each time you park beside a fuel pump, it is likely to deliver 250-300,000 kilometres without major maintenance.

We’ve chosen the Ghia version, which in SY II form scores five stars from ANCAP. It also comes with a reversing camera, full leather trim, powered front seats and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Petrol versions are more likely than diesels to be rear-wheel drive, which is just fine, unless you travel a lot on unsealed roads. Higher-spec Territories also come with third-row seating which can be removed to free up some cargo space.

Find your own Ford Territory here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Ford Territory (2004-2009)

If your ideal first car is something cute and compact with a good stereo and air-conditioning that can freeze your fingers, then go in search of a Suzuki Swift.

FZ versions came with a modernised 1.4-litre engine that produced less power than earlier models but delivered a combined-cycle fuel consumption average of 7.2L/100km.

That figure was for the five-speed manual Swift GLX which also featured four-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather-bound steering wheel and climate control air-conditioning.

Swifts have four doors and enough room in the rear seat to comfortably accommodate two adults or three children. The boot isn’t big enough for a pram though, so this isn’t a car for parents of the very young.

As economical transport for younger singles though, the Swift has great appeal and therein lies a potential hazard. Owners who might be too busy to keep an eye on fluid levels and who neglect regular servicing can create problems for buyers who follow later.

Find your own Suzuki Swift here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Suzuki Swift (2011-2017)

Toyota’s drab but competent Aurion demonstrates its quality once the kilometres start clicking over, and it appeals to people who don’t want to spend big on maintenance.

Although early versions of the GSV40R Aurion are now past their 15th birthdays, cars that have been housed undercover and serviced on time will still offer years of reliable running.

MY10 models dating from mid-2009 qualified for a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based simply on the addition of a seat belt reminder chime. 2007-09 versions that received four stars offered the same levels of inherent strength and number of airbags as the later car – they just lacked the audible warning.

Various versions of the 2009-12 Aurion are available below our $10,000 price cap and cars that have been serviced but have travelled 250-300,000km can still provide reliable transport at an even lower cost.

Up closer to the spending limit we like the Aurion Sportivo with its quality leather interior, park sensors, sunroof and folding mirrors.

Find your own Toyota Aurion here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Toyota Camry/Aurion (2006-10)

Everyone at some point in their life will need to transport a group of people, but some need to do it very regularly – and for them there is no better vehicle than Honda’s Odyssey.

The model appeared here in 1996, but our $10,000 budget cap will fund the later and much improved Gen. 3 or even a high-kilometre Gen. 4 version.

These are all powered by 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engines producing 118kW – delivering reasonable performance for their size. With doors like a car’s rather than those of a passenger bus, the Odyssey provides slightly restricted access to the rear-most seats. But, once aboard the Odyssey, everyone should be comfortable, with plenty of room on offer.

When not in use, the area occupied by the furthest seats provides a truly enormous luggage platform.

Equipment levels are excellent, but do check that the air-conditioning is working as it should during the test drive, and those right up the back are staying cool.

Find your own Honda Odyssey here on carsales

Hyundai’s versatile ix35 SUV is often overshadowed by the i30 hatch, which frequently appears in top ten listings. But the ix35 should not be overlooked as a first car.

Petrol or turbo-diesel engines, and front- or all-wheel drive are available to buyers with $10,000 or less to spend. Most will be 10-12 years old and promise a long and useful operating life for years to come.

Maximising your options means going for an ix35 in all-wheel-drive format. These can be found with 2.0-litre turbo-diesel or 2.4-litre petrol engines in Elite or Highlander trim.

Both are well equipped, but for only slightly more money, the ix35 Highlander offers extra features including dual-zone air-conditioning, heated electric seats, a more comprehensive safety package and 18-inch alloy wheels with a full-sized spare.

Although this high-riding Hyundai should never be confused with a serious off-road contender, it will competently tackle packed sand and decently maintained bush tracks.

Find your own Hyundai ix35 here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Hyundai ix35 (2010-2016)

Once upon a time, Subaru, Honda and Mazda sold loads of well-appointed mid-size sedans in our market. Now, numbers have dwindled to a trickle and depressed resale prices pitch really good examples of Mazda’s 6 into the sub-$10,000 bracket.

Pick of the cars offered below our price cap were GH Series sedans and wagons with 2.2-litre turbo-diesel or 2.5-litre petrol motors. Petrol versions are easiest to find, but for longevity and economical operation the diesel gets our recommendation.

The Mazda6 shape is almost ageless, and cars that have been in the keeping of careful owners for the best part of 15 years can be mistaken for much newer ones.

Luxury Pack cars have the 2.5-litre engines and five speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Full leather trim is included, plus an eight-speaker sound system, electric sunroof and xenon headlights.

Find your own Mazda 6 here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Mazda6 (2008-2016)

Maybe you’re looking for a big beefy off-roader that will climb dunes and tow your caravan to Birdsville.

But if you’re not, consider a high-riding Subaru Outback that will take you to 80 per cent of the places the truck-based 4x4s will go.

Subaru gave this family friendly all-roader a very Australian name, but aimed its Outback at buyers in the USA.

Our first versions were based on the Liberty wagon and appeared in 1996. The fourth generation Outback dates from 2009. It is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, 3.6-litre flat six or a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Four-cylinder versions are available with either five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission, but the six is auto only.

Plenty of Gen 4s are available at or below our $10,000 limit, with distance travelled a more significant factor in the asking price than the engine or equipment level.

If you can deal with a diesel as everyday transport it will deliver benefits in rougher terrain and diesel variants in Premium trim include leather seats and a sunroof.

Find your own Subaru Outback here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Subaru Outback (2009-2015)

VW’s DSG isn’t our favourite transmission, but the problems encountered when these cars were new have been well documented and fixes for known issues are available.

The Polo is also just too good in other respects to ignore, even though it remains wise to have any semi-automatic VW assessed by a specialist before handing over more than the holding deposit.

For a car weighing less than 1100 kilograms, the Polo 6R Series feels very solid. Rougher rural roads and even graded gravel don’t trouble the little VW, and a Comfortline variant with its 55-profile tyres will place plenty of cushioning between a potholed surface and the passengers.

The turbocharged 1.2-litre engine produces 77kW but in a car weighing just 1048kg, performance and economy are excellent. 0-100km/h acceleration in the manual takes 9.7 seconds, and fuel consumption averages 6.2 litres/100km. 8L/100 is possible in city running.

Find your own Volkswagen Polo 77TSi here on carsales

Related: Buying a used Volkswagen Polo (2010-2016)

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