Britain’s used car market is more than four times larger than the new car market – almost 9 million people every year purchase a second-hand car. What Car? with the assistance of other used car industry experts, has picked the best used cars for sale in 2013.Vauxhall received several individual car awards and the brand also won the title of Best Used Car Manufacturer of the Year, thanks to its long-running Network Q used car scheme. Steve Huntingford, What Car?’s road test editor and head judge, said:

“Although Network Q is one of the oldest approved used schemes, there are more than 350 outlets and it has a good online offering, a great choice of stock, all cars come with a comprehensive Network Q check, and an unbeatable insurance package. Network Q makes buying a used car very easy.”

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI SE 5dr was named Used Car of the Year 2013. You can find this car at a dealer price of approx £8,700 and a private price of around £8,300. What Car? praised the Golf’s impressive cabin quality and refinement, comfort, running costs and impressive safety credentials. The Golf’s win corresponds with data taken from the AA’s website, which shows that twice as many people viewed a Volkswagen Golf than any other used car in the last 12 months and one in 26 views of cars on their website were of a Golf model.

“The Golf is the true ‘car of the people’ as it is practical, economical, sporty, safe, desirable, reliable and fun. Twice as many people viewed VW Golfs on AA Cars in the last year than any other car.”, Edmund King, AA president for The Telegraph

What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said:

“What clearly sets the Golf apart from other small family cars is its cabin.”

Other awards won were:

 

Best used small car 2013: Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Design AC 5dr
Age/reg: 07/07
Dealer price/private price: £4,100/£3,600

Best used family car 2013: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI SE 5dr
Age/reg: 10/10
Dealer price/private price: £8,700/£8,300

Best used estate car 2013: Mazda 6 Estate 2.2D 163 TS2
Age/reg: 09/09
Dealer price/private price: £11,400/£10,700

Best used MPV 2013: Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi Zetec
Age/reg: 09/09
Dealer price/private price: £10,900/£10,000

Best used SUV 2013: Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi Acenta
Age/reg: 07/07
Dealer price/private price: £7,800/£7,200

Best used executive and luxury car 2013: BMW 320d SE
Age/reg: 07/57
Dealer price/private price: £9,000/£8,600

Best used fun car 2013: Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup
Age/reg: 09/09
Dealer price/private price: £7,500/£7,200

Best nearly new car 2013: Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Exclusiv
Age/reg: 12/12
Dealer price/private price: £9,100/£8,700