Best Second Cars in the UK (Upgrade with Confidence)

Your first car will always have a place in your heart, but when it's time to upgrade, you can look forward to buying something even better as your second car. 

You could get something faster and more fun, for example, or something more practical. Or perhaps you simply want a more stylish car, one with newer features or one in your favourite colour. 

Whatever you're looking for, you should have more freedom to choose your second car and a bigger budget to spend. In this guide, we'll run through our top picks for second cars, with options to suit various needs and upgrade tips to help you choose the car that's right for you. 

The best second cars featured in this guide:

• Renault Clio (2019-)
• Audi Q2 (2016-)
• Skoda Octavia (2020-)
• Hyundai Kona Electric (2018-2023)
• Renault Captur (2020-)
• Mazda MX-5 (2015-)
• BMW 1 Series (2019-2024)
• Skoda Karoq (2017-)

Renault Clio: Best second car for value

If your first car is small and cheap, the Renault Clio could be a great next step that offers a big boost in features, comfort and style. And for a price that makes it outstanding value. On sale new since 2019, the latest Clio has the chic looks that the model is famous for and most models have standard equipment including LED headlights, a lane-departure warning system and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. 

The Clio is as stylish on the inside as it is on the outside and it’s unusually practical because petrol-powered models have a boot that’s larger than a VW Golf’s. Hybrid models have a smaller – but still above-average – boot capacity but they give excellent fuel economy and have an automatic gearbox as standard. 

Audi Q2: Best for style

The Audi Q2 is a standout choice if you want a great second car that looks a million dollars yet gives you sensible ownership costs. Even though it was introduced in 2016 it remains one of the most stylish small SUVs around, blending elements of Audi’s larger SUVs with a more youthful look and colours. 

Sleek design and premium materials make the Q2’s interior feel pretty special, and most Q2s have Audi’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’ feature – a digital driver display that looks great and allows you to choose what’s displayed to suit your mood or drive. Speaking of which, the Q2 feels really good from behind the wheel thanks to its perky engines, responsive steering and smooth ride. 

Skoda Octavia: Best second car for practicality

If extra space is a priority for your second car, few options are likely to deliver as much for your money as the Skoda Octavia. For the same price as cars such as the Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, the Octavia provides a major upgrade in practicality thanks to its roomy interior and a far bigger boot. 

Let’s look at the numbers. The latest Octavia hatchback (introduced in 2020) has a 600-litre boot capacity to the load cover, whereas an equivalent Ford Focus offers just 375 litres. Go for the Octavia Estate and you get a mammoth 640-litre space, compared with a 575-litre capacity for a Ford Focus Estate. The Octavia also has a comfortable, high-quality interior in its favour, as well as a choice of engines that give excellent fuel economy.

Hyundai Kona Electric: Best electric car

An electric car could be a great choice as your second car and we think the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona Electric is a winning option thanks to its blend of value, style and battery range. There are lots of cheap electric cars around these days, but few of those can match the 273-mile range of the Kona Electric. Admittedly, that’s for the version with a larger battery, but the smaller-battery model can still manage 180 miles on a full charge and it costs less to buy. 

The Kona’s striking exterior looks have aged well, and the interior has a contemporary feel thanks to its responsive central touchscreen and wealth of high-tech gadgets. Standard features for all models include Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and a reversing camera; some also have LED headlights, sat-nav, a wireless phone charger and a heated steering wheel. While the Kona has a decent reliability record you also get the reassurance of Hyundai’s longer-than-average five-year/100,000-mile manufacturer warranty, so many used versions are still covered. 

Renault Captur: Best for versatility

The Renault Captur could be an ideal second car if you want something that offers extra flexibility and a higher driving position compared with a small hatchback, but costs little more to buy or run and is similarly easy to park. It’s a crossover SUV that’s remarkably versatile considering its compact dimensions and competitive pricing. Thanks to its sliding rear seat you can opt for maximum rear legroom or maximum boot space, or go for something in between. Slide it all the way forward and the Captur has a larger boot than some mid-size SUVs. 

The Captur looks great, too, and is available in some vibrant colour combos (or some very restrained options if that’s more your thing). The latest model (on sale new from 2020) has lots of high-tech features and all versions have good fuel economy and low insurance group ratings. 

Mazda MX-5: Best for fun

Moving from your first car to your second car can mean a major upgrade in driving fun if you choose a Mazda MX-5. For a long time it’s been a benchmark for pure driving appeal, offering the agility and responsiveness of a true sportscar without the huge costs that normally go with the territory. 

While this dinky two-seat convertible is guaranteed to put a grin on your face when you drive it, the MX-5 isn’t actually that powerful and that helps to explain why it has a reasonably low insurance group rating and won’t cost a fortune in fuel. The latest model – on sale new since 2015 – brings sharp-edged design and up-to-date features to the mix and it’s available for less than £10,000. 

BMW 1 Series: Best quality second car

If your first car was rather basic and you fancy a second car with a more premium look and feel, the BMW 1 Series should be on your list. Inside and out, it has the look of a high-quality product and thanks to its smooth engines, great handling and quietness at speed it feels a cut above most other hatchbacks on the move.

It’s also practical, has a solid reputation for reliability and is available with the kind of high-end features you get with BMW’s larger cars. Some versions are powerful and on the pricey side but others cost surprisingly little to buy and run.

Skoda Karoq: Best second car for new families

If you want a second car fit for a new family, the Skoda Karoq could be just the upgrade you need. Although it's comparatively compact on the outside it’s very spacious inside, with masses of headroom and legroom in the back. Large rear door openings and a raised seating position make it easy to get kids and child seats in and out, too.

Up front, the Karoq has a classy, easy-to-use dashboard and good visibility. It’s smooth and reassuring to drive, and you can choose from front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. There are no hybrid or electric options, but you can choose from a range of petrol or diesel engines that all give great mpg. 

How to Choose the Right Second Car

When you’re choosing your second car, you’re likely to have different priorities from when you bought your first car. In most cases, you’ll have a higher budget and, since you’ll be older (fact!), insurance costs should be less of a concern. Your lifestyle, personal circumstances and driving habits may also have changed, so you might need a more practical car, or one that will be better suited to high mileage. Or, of course, you may simply feel that you can afford (and deserve) an upgrade. 

Some key factors to consider when choosing your second car include:

• Your budget (Carmoola’s car finance calculator can help)
• Daily/annual mileage
• Insurance cost
• Fuel type preferences
• Family/passenger needs
• Manual vs automatic

If you’re trading in your first car it’s worth getting an accurate valuation of it using one (or more) of the many online valuation tools available. This will ensure that you get the right price for it as a part-exchange, which can be a key part of the process of negotiating the price of your second car.