Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric: which used car should you buy?
A plain-English comparison of running costs, the journeys each suits, and what to check on a used one.
The right fuel type depends less on the car and more on how you drive. Start with your typical week: how far, what kind of roads, and where you could charge.
Petrol
Petrol cars are usually the cheapest to buy and simplest to own. They suit short trips and mixed driving, and most petrol cars registered from 2006 meet ULEZ standards. Economy on long motorway runs won't match a diesel or hybrid.
Diesel
Diesels are at their best on regular long journeys, where they return strong economy. Modern diesels have a particulate filter (DPF) that needs regular longer drives at speed to clean itself, so a diesel that only does school runs can develop expensive problems. For clean air zones, look for Euro 6 diesels, which in cars generally means registered from September 2015.
Hybrid
- Self-charging (full) hybrids switch between petrol and electric power by themselves. They are excellent in town and stop-start traffic and need no charging.
- Mild hybrids use a small electric motor to help the engine. The saving is modest, and they can't drive on electric power alone.
- Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can do a short distance on electric power alone, often 20 to 40 miles. They are very cheap to run if you charge them every day, and thirsty if you don't.
Electric
Electric cars are quiet, quick and cheapest to run if you can charge at home on an off-peak tariff. Public rapid charging costs much more per mile. On a used EV, check the battery health, the real-world range in winter, and which charging cables come with the car. Our used electric car guide covers this in detail.
A quick rule of thumb
- Mostly short trips and town driving: petrol, self-charging hybrid or electric.
- Lots of motorway miles: diesel, or an electric car with a long range.
- Off-street parking and a short commute: plug-in hybrid or electric.
Whichever you choose, check the MOT history, look for a full service history and compare a few similar cars to see what a fair price looks like.