NEW cars have become so expensive it hurts. But don’t worry, there are plenty of used ones out there almost as good – and less than half the price. Here are five great five-year-old buys for £15k. That age is a sweet spot because most new cars are bought on lease or other finance schemes, and used as company cars. That means they spend their first three or even four years being maintained with money no object. At the end of that lease, all faults are put right at the expense of the driver. Give them a wash ‘n’ wax, maybe new tyres, and they’re almost factory fresh. After that it’s only another short period in someone else’s hands. Once that owner moves on, you can scoop up a bargain. Another thing. The industry has recently got distracted by big dash screens, electrification and pointless connectivity. So the fundamentals – safety, comfort, driver appeal – are no better in today’s new cars than in these used ones. Here are our picks, each for £15k. We’ve given ourselves a window of 2019-2020, because few new cars were sold during mid-2020’s Covid period. But lockdown means the 2019 ones stood still and didn’t wear out They’ll all have done about 40k miles, except the pick-up. Like your best friend, it’s a joy to spend time with and utterly reliable too. Just a tiny boot, mind. It’s actually easy to drive, so would cheer up a commute too. The roof fold mechanism is light and simple, and you can raise and lower it with one hand. Like pulling up your hoodie. TOYOTA HILUX double cab A rough and ready truck to drive, and does the work of a truck. This money gets low spec, with no fancy equipment The mileometer will show it’s been to the moon and back. But it can do it over again. SEAT LEON TSi Most car experts say ‘the answer to every motoring question is a Volkswagen Golf’. The Leon is a Golf in Spanish clothes, and a bit cheaper. At this price you can have sporty trim and choose between manual or DSG auto gearbox. JAGUAR I-PACE These have depreciated unbelievably, even if you’re looking at base trim and private seller to meet our price target. Buy breakdown insurance. Offers huge feelgood to drive, and it’s cheap to run if you get a driveway charger. BIG DIESEL ESTATE PEUGEOT 508SW HDi It’s a fantastic looker, with a shark nose and long tail that encloses heaps of boot area. The cockpit is distinctive and it’s agile to drive. Goes a long way on every litre of diesel, and avoids ULEZ penalties.