Carbuyer has announced the winners of its 2024 Best Used Car Awards, with the Kia Sportage taking this year’s crown as 2024 Carbuyer Used Car of the Year. The successful family SUV also drove away with top spot in the Best Used Family Car category.
Taking over from last year’s winner, the Vauxhall Corsa, the Korean SUV had all the factors the judges were looking for in a great used car, being practical and well-equipped, but most importantly representing great value for money. It was Kia’s impressively long warranty that sealed it for the Sportage, helping to take some of the risk out of the used-car buying process.
Carbuyer’s judges said: “Buying used often means a compromise when it comes to reliability or dependability. However, Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty means you can buy a car that is two or three years old and still have the fallback of the manufacturer guarantee.
“Yet even without this, the Sportage’s excellent practicality, strong kit count and agreeable driving dynamics make it a fantastic family car, and a no-brainer for Carbuyer’s overall Used Car of the Year for 2024.”
Those same qualities also led to the Sportage winning Best Used Family Car, demonstrating that at a time when household budgets are being squeezed and used car prices are particularly robust, buyers don’t necessarily need a brand-new car to get into something useful, frugal, and well-equipped, and can still fall back on the reassurance of a solid factory warranty.
Kia’s strong performance in the 2024 Best Used Car Awards was backed up by the Kia Sorento, a former Carbuyer Car of the Year, winning the prize as Best Used Large Family Car, while the all-electric Kia e-Niro was deemed Best Used Family Electric Car. The judges praised Kia for embracing the electric car revolution more than many other brands, as well the e-Niro’s class-leading efficiency.
Last year’s Used Car of the Year, the Vauxhall Corsa, still took victory as the Best Used Small Car for 2024, with the judges noting that its best-selling status means buyers get plenty of choice on the used market.
Other strong finishers included the Dacia Duster as Best Used Small Family Car, while the Skoda Superb Estate followed its win last year as Best Used Estate Car. The Toyota Hilux won Best Used Pickup for the third year running.
Driving enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate too, with the Audi TT taking the prize for Best Used Sports Car. The MINI Convertible was awarded Best Used Convertible Car for the third year running, while the Volkswagen Golf GTI took a hat-trick too, as Best Used Hot Hatchback. The sporty Cupra Ateca took the win as Best Used Hot SUV, following two years of victories for the Porsche Macan.
In terms of electrified vehicles, the Citroen e-C4 took home the prize for the Best Used Small Electric Car, and the Jaguar I-Pace was awarded Best Used Large Electric Car for the second year in a row. The Honda Jazz was voted Best Used Hybrid, while Best Used Plug-In Hybrid went to the Mercedes E-Class.
2024 Carbuyer Best Used Car Awards winners
- Best Used Car of the Year: Kia Sportage
- Best Used Small Car: Vauxhall Corsa
- Best Used Small Family Car: Dacia Duster
- Best Used Family Car: Kia Sportage
- Best Used Large Family Car: Kia Sorento
- Best Used Estate Car: Skoda Superb Estate
- Best Used Sports Car: Audi TT
- Best Used Convertible Car: MINI Convertible
- Best Used Hot Hatchback: Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Best Used Hot SUV: Cupra Ateca
- Best Used Pickup: Toyota Hilux
- Best Used Small Electric Car: Citroen e-C4
- Best Used Family Electric Car: Kia e-Niro
- Best Used Large Electric Car: Jaguar I-Pace
- Best Used Hybrid: Honda Jazz
- Best Used Plug-In Hybrid: Mercedes-Benz E-Class