Skip advert
Advertisement
Features

Three-car garage: BMW X5, Dacia Spring and Ford Fiesta ST all for the price of the average new car

With the price of the average new car at around £42,000 we set out to fill your driveway with used metal on that budget

Three-car garage for £42,000

It’s no secret that new car prices have increased in recent years. An entry-level Volkswagen Golf is closing in on £30,000 these days and as for the average price a UK customer pays for a set of brand new wheels - that’s around £42,000. With this in mind, we thought there must be three rather excellent cars you can get from the Auto Express marketplace on that budget. A three car garage that beats any single £42k new model hands down… 

BMW X5 xDrive40e Auto M Sport - £18,995

BMW X5 xDrive40e Auto M Sport

You might expect a 2017 BMW X5 to take up most of our budget but at under £19,000 we think it’s a steal. This is the plug-in hybrid xDrive40e too so partnering the petrol engine is a battery that provides a useful 19-miles of electric-only running. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

With a combined 313bhp this premium SUV is surprisingly quick, too, needing only 6.8 seconds to reach 62mph. Being the M Sport it looks the part and has all the equipment you could want - including a head-up display, heated rear seats, four-zone climate control and a reversing camera. 

If you missed the opportunity to snap up this particular BMW X5 there are several more available through our Find a Car service...

Used BMW X5 deals

Dacia Spring - £10,795

Dacia Spring - main image

The Dacia Spring may have only just launched in the UK, but there are deals to be had already. Priced at £14,995 new, this one we’ve found can be had at just £10,795 - a saving of £4,200. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Just as amazing is the fact that this is a 25-plate model and it’s done less than 100 miles. It only has 45bhp from its electric motor and a 140-mile range, so you will not be going very far or very quickly but the other cars in this selection cover those bases. For pure-electric motoring, especially in the city, the Spring is a brilliant little runabout. 

If you've just missed this Dacia Spring by the time you get here, you can find more great buys by clicking the link below...

Used Dacia Spring deals

Ford Fiesta ST - £11,899

Fiesta ST vs Polo GTI vs i20 N - Fiesta ST front tracking

When Ford axed the Fiesta in 2023 it took with it the ST hot hatch variant. That made us rather sad because the final Fiesta ST was not only the best of its breed - but one of the finest hot hatches ever made. 

The new three-cylinder turbocharged engine gave it a different character to the old car which used a four-pot and with 200bhp on tap it was even faster. What made the ST great as an all-rounder was that it didn’t lose the usability of the standard Fiesta. With a compliant ride and relatively decent fuel economy, it’s a hot hatch you can use every day. 

If you weren't able to snap up this particular Ford Fiesta ST in time, there are plenty of others available right now...

Used Ford Fiesta ST deals

Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New BMW X5 SUV: design, tech and latest details
BMW X5 render - front 3/4 Avarvarii

New BMW X5 SUV: design, tech and latest details

The new BMW X5 is set to arrive in 2026 and our exclusive images preview how it could look
News
16 Aug 2025
Cheapest cars to buy 2025
Cheapest cars - header image

Cheapest cars to buy 2025

Searching for a brand-new bargain? These are the cheapest cars in the UK right now
Best cars & vans
12 Aug 2025
Best luxury SUVs 2025
Best luxury SUVs - header image

Best luxury SUVs 2025

Luxury SUVs combine the sophistication of a luxury car with the sheer practicality of an SUV. Here’s our pick of the current crop
Best cars & vans
5 Aug 2025
Best small electric cars to buy 2025
Best small electric cars - header image

Best small electric cars to buy 2025

These compact electric cars offer colossal efficiency
Best cars & vans
4 Aug 2025

Most Popular

Best car tyres to buy now 2025: top tyres tested and reviewed
Auto Express Summer Tyre Test 2025 - header image showing a Volkswagen Golf undergoing wet weather cornering

Best car tyres to buy now 2025: top tyres tested and reviewed

Nine brands go head to head in our annual test, but which one should you put on your car?
Product group tests
13 Aug 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Bag a desirable plug-in hybrid BMW X3 M Sport for less than £380 a month
BMW X3 - full width, front

Car Deal of the Day: Bag a desirable plug-in hybrid BMW X3 M Sport for less than £380 a month

The new BMW X3 is fresh out of the blocks, but you can already lease a well-specced one for an eye-opening £378 a month. It’s our Car Deal of the Day …
News
17 Aug 2025
What cars qualify for the electric car grant? Full list with our best (and worst) picks
Electric car charging mega test - Renault 5 front angled

What cars qualify for the electric car grant? Full list with our best (and worst) picks

More than 20 electric cars are now eligible for a Government-funded discount. Which should you go for from the ever growing list?
News
15 Aug 2025