Ten ULEZ compliant cars for under £10,000
Sadiq Khan’s ultra-low emission zone will be extended to all London boroughs from August 29, but around a million cars in the capital are believed to fall short of requirements.
Drivers whose cars don’t meet ULEZ emissions standards are charged £12.50 daily for entering the zone – and for some, that fee only comes for leaving their driveway.
Despite the looming change, about 65 percent of Londoners don’t know if their car is ULEZ-proof, according to online car marketplace Carwow.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be extended to all London boroughs from August 29
Buying a new car may not be the best option for all drivers, and it depends on how often you have to travel to ULEZ zones.
“If you’re likely to only travel to the extended ULEZ zone once a month, it’s unlikely it makes much sense to spend thousands of euros on a compliant vehicle to escape the £12.50 levy,” says Hugo Griffiths, consumer editor at Carwow.
But for those who frequent the zone more often, it will probably be more convenient to switch cars in the long run.
Below, Carwow has compiled a list of ten ULEZ compliant cars available through its used car platform, all costing £10,000 or less. (Photos are for illustrative purposes only, they are not the photos of the affected cars.)
Griffiths adds: ‘If you have a limited budget, but still want a car that is fully equipped, leasing can also be a good option.
‘The costs are typically lower than other car financing methods, meaning you can afford a higher spec car.
‘The offers include road tax for the duration of the contract and a full manufacturer’s warranty.
“If you prefer to take the road to car ownership, petrol cars made since 2006 must comply with the LEZ and the starting price for emission-zone-friendly cars is quite low – at least for the time being.”
1. Mini Cooper Convertible
Year: 2015 / Price: £8,295 / 45,000 miles / 1.6 liter petrol engine
You can get your hands on a 2015 Mini Cooper Convertible for just under £8,300
The Mini Cooper Convertible is a car to consider before the summer’s ULEZ expansion kicks in, not least because you can drop the cloth roof and enjoy the sky.
2.Volkswagen Up
Year: 2016 / Price: £7,691 / 73,000 miles / 1.0 liter petrol engine
Agile: City cars like the Volkswagen Up are kind of a dying breed
City cars like the Volkswagen Up are a dying breed these days as automakers struggle to make small cars profitable.
“Despite its diminutive stature, the Up is actually quite roomy inside, while the driving experience is nothing short of entertaining, and the build quality is among the best,” says Carwow.
3. Dacia Duster
Year: 2017 / Price: £7,995 / 65,000 miles / 1.6 liter petrol engine
You can get your hands on a 2017 Dacia Duster for just under £8,000
SUVs are a popular choice and the Dacia Duster is a practical, high-riding car.
“Easy to drive, cheap to run and impressively spacious, the Duster may not be the last word in interior sophistication and quality, but its roster of other talents is such that it’s easy to overlook,” says Carwow.
4.Ford Fiesta
Year: 2017 / Price: £8,291 / 50,000 miles / 1.0 liter petrol engine
Long-standing bestseller: a 2017 Ford Fiesta can be yours for £8,290
Ford, a long-standing best-seller in the UK, has said it will not replace the Fiesta when production of the current car ends in summer 2023.
The Fiesta is about as affordable as a car can run, while ULEZ compliance is almost guaranteed as the vast majority of cars run on petrol.
5. Citroën C4 Cactus
Year: 2015 / Price: £8,470 / 42,000 miles / 1.2 liter petrol engine
Quirky: You can pick up a used Citroen C4 Cactus for just under £8,500
Citroën C4 Cactus has soft suspension that can come in handy on London’s pockmarked streets.
6. Alfa Romeo Mito Quadrifoglio Verde
Year: 2015 / Price: £8,799 / 51,000 miles / 1.4 liter petrol engine
Sporty: A used 2015 Alfa Romeo Mito Quadrifoglio Verde costs just under £8,800
The sporty Quadrifoglio Verde version (green four-leaf clover) features a 170 hp turbo petrol engine, along with a snazzy body kit and tuned suspension for a sporty ride.
7.Jeep Renegade
Year: 2015 / Price: £9,900 / 32,000 miles / 1.6 liter engine
You can buy a used 2015 Jeep Renegade for £9,900
The Jeep Renegade Longitude model with the 1.6-liter gasoline engine offers reasonable performance and economy.
8. Mazda3
Year: 2015 / Price: £9,558 / 54,000 miles / 2.0 liter petrol engine
You can buy a 2015 Ford Focus rival Mazda 3 for just over £9,500
Mazda may not be the first company on car buyers’ shopping list, but it should be, as the Japanese company tends to produce well-driving, well-built, reliable cars with handsome, distinctive styling and well-thought-out design. high-quality interiors,” says Carwow.
9.Volvo V40
Year 2014 / Price: £9,995 / 47,000 miles / 1.6 liter petrol engine
A 2014 Volvo V40 with 47,000 miles goes for just under £10,000
The Volvo V40 is mechanically related to the Ford Focus hatchback and offers a more premium, Swedish take on the family hatchback formula.
10.Nissan Leaf
Year 2015 / Price: £6,912 / 34,000 miles / Single electric motor
The electric Nissan Leaf models of the first generation have an official range of 200 to 250 kilometers
Electric cars are both exempt from London’s ULEZ charge and are also exempt from the central congestion charge until 2025, making an electric car a great choice if you’re hoping to minimize your travel costs in the capital.
Just under £7,000 is enough to get you the keys to a first generation Leaf. An official range of between 124 and 155 miles should be enough for city driving.
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