[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-cars-under-10k\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-cars-under-10k\/","headline":"Best new cars for under 10k","name":"Best new cars for under 10k","description":"Cars aren\u2019t cheap – in fact, they\u2019re said to be the second biggest purchase after your home. The used car market can throw up some absolute gems, but it often comes down to good fortune if an urgent issue doesn\u2019t become apparent within the first six months. Understandably, some people aren\u2019t into the idea of driving second-hand cars and are happy to pay extra for the assurance that they\u2019re the first owner. But like everyone else, they don\u2019t want to […]","datePublished":"2017-01-26","dateModified":"2017-02-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feature-24.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feature-24.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-cars-under-10k\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":617,"keywords":["Affordable cars","cars under 10k","Dacia Sandero","Ford Ka+","nissan micra","SEAT Mii","SKODA Citigo","Vauxhall Viva","Volkswagen Up"],"articleBody":"Cars aren\u2019t cheap – in fact, they\u2019re said to be the second biggest purchase after your home.The used car market can throw up some absolute gems, but it often comes down to good fortune if an urgent issue doesn\u2019t become apparent within the first six months.Understandably, some people aren\u2019t into the idea of driving second-hand cars and are happy to pay extra for the assurance that they\u2019re the first owner. But like everyone else, they don\u2019t want to pay through the nose, so which cars can they buy box-fresh with a four-figure ticket price?Ford Ka+Don\u2019t go thinking this is a pumped-up Ka, it\u2019s actually based on the outgoing Fiesta, which has been Britain\u2019s best selling car since 2007.So even if the name feels unfamiliar, you\u2019re likely to be impressed by how well it drives and how roomy it is inside.The spec list is reasonably well fleshed-out, which makes it superb value for money and unlike most of the cars on this list, it also comes with five doors as standard.Only one variant of the Ka+ rings in under the \u00a310,000 mark – the Studio 1.2 70bhp petrol (\u00a39,245).With an agonising 16-second 0-62mph time, it won\u2019t win any drag races, but it is an economical runner, returning more than 50mpg and emitting 114g\/km of CO2, so you\u2019ll pay just \u00a330 a year in road tax as long as it\u2019s registered before the new tax structure takes effect in April 2017.Dacia SanderoNew cars don\u2019t come any more affordable than the Sandero, which is officially the UK\u2019s least expensive new car with a starting price just short of \u00a36,000.However, this entry-level Access model is positively primitive to the extent that you have to pay extra for something as basic as an FM radio. Add in a three-star Euro NCAP rating, and it\u2019s obvious where most of the savings have been made.Vauxhall VivaIt\u2019s the little-known baby Vauxhall – it\u2019s even smaller than the Adam – and all but one version costs under \u00a310,000. However, it only comes with a 73bhp one-litre petrol engine, returning 62.8mpg with CO2 emissions of 104g\/km, meaning\u00a0just \u00a320 annual road tax if the car is registered before April 2017.Skoda CitigoThe VW Group\u2019s trio of city cars, completed by the VW Up and Seat Mii, lead the way in the city car segment with a ridiculously fun drive and a class-leading level of refinement. The Citigo is the more cost-conscious of its cousins and even the range-topping SE-L rings in under \u00a310,000.Its 73bhp single-litre unit is preferable to the weedy 59bhp engine, and even with the much-appreciated injection of oomph in performance, it still manages to remain road tax-free and achieve just under 70mpg.While we\u2019re here, we might as well show you the\u2026Volkswagen UpIt looks like this and the three-door mid-range Move Up tips just \u00a325 over the \u00a310,000 cut-off. But it\u2019s worth the extra, coming with air conditioning and DAB digital radio, even if it does have the smaller engine.Oh, by the way, here\u2019s the…Seat MiiYep, spot the resemblance? They\u2019re all the same car with design tweaks and a different badge. There isn\u2019t much else to it.Nissan MicraThere\u2019s a new generation model due in March 2017, but for now, you can pick up the 1.2-litre 80bhp model in the Visia and Vibe trim for under \u00a310,000.The fourth-generation Micra struggled to compete with the more refined names in the supermini segment, hence why the forthcoming model is so different. But if you like the current Micra, you\u2019ll get one for micro money."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Best new cars for under 10k","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/best-cars-under-10k\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]