Sadiq Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zone will expand to all London boroughs from August 29, but around a million cars in the capital are thought to be non-compliant.
Drivers whose cars do not meet ULEZ emission standards will land a daily £12.50 charge for entering the zone – and for some, that charge comes for just moving off their driveway.
Despite the looming change, around 65 per cent of Londoners do not know whether their cars are ULEZ-proof, according to online car marketplace Carwow.
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is set to expand to all London boroughs from August 29
Buying a new car might not be the best option for all drivers, and this depends on how often you have to travel into ULEZ zones.
‘If you’re only likely to travel into the expanded ULEZ zone once a month or so, spending thousands on a compliant vehicle is unlikely to make much sense to escape the £12.50 charge,’ says Hugo Griffiths, consumer editor at Carwow.
But for those heading into the zone on a more regular basis, switching car will likely be more convenient in the long run.
Below, Carwow has compiled a list of ten ULEZ compliant cars available via its used-car platform, and all costing £10,000 or less. (Pictures are for illustrative purposes only, they are not the pictures of the cars in question.)
Griffiths adds: ‘If you’re on a tight budget but still want a car with all the mod-cons, leasing can also be a good option.
‘The costs are typically lower than other car finance methods, which means you could afford a higher spec car.
‘Deals include road tax for the contract length and a full manufacturer’s warranty.
‘If you prefer to take the car ownership route, then petrol cars made since 2006 should be LEZ compliant and the starting price point for emission-zone-friendly cars is pretty low – for now at least.’
1. Mini Cooper Convertible
Year: 2015 / Price: £8,295 / 45,000 miles / 1.6-litre petrol engine
You can get your hands on a Mini Cooper Convertible from 2015 for just less than £8,300
The Mini Cooper Convertible is a car to consider ahead of summer’s ULEZ expansion, not least as you can drop the fabric roof and enjoy the air.
2. Volkswagen Up
Year: 2016 / Price: £7,691 / 73,000 miles / 1.0-litre petrol engine
Agile: City cars like the Volkswagen Up are something of a dying breed
City cars like the Volkswagen Up are something of a dying breed these days as car makers struggle to make small cars profitably.
‘Despite its diminutive stature the Up is actually pretty spacious inside, while the driving experience is nothing short of entertaining, and build quality is up there with the best,’ says Carwow.
3. Dacia Duster
Year: 2017 / Price: £7,995 / 65,000 miles / 1.6-litre petrol engine
You can get your hands on a Dacia Duster from 2017 for just less than £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 refinement and quality, but its roster of other talents is such that this is easy to overlook,’ says Carwow.
4. Ford Fiesta
Year: 2017 / Price: £8,291 / 50,000 miles / 1.0-litre petrol engine
Long-standing best-seller: A Ford Fiesta from 2017 can be yours for £8,290
A long-standing best-seller in the UK, Ford has said it won’t be replacing the Fiesta when production of the current car ends in summer 2023.
The Fiesta is about as affordable as a car gets to run, while ULEZ compliance is almost guaranteed as the vast majority of cars are petrol-powered.
5. Citroen C4 Cactus
Year: 2015 / Price: £8,470 / 42,000 miles / 1.2-litre petrol engine
Quirky: You can buy a used Citroen C4 Cactus for just under £8,500
Citroen C4 Cactus has soft suspension that can be useful in London’s pockmarked streets.
6. Alfa Romeo Mito Quadrifoglio Verde
Year: 2015 / Price: £8,799 / 51,000 miles / 1.4-litre petrol engine
Sporty: A used Alfa Romeo Mito Quadrifoglio Verde from 2015 goes for just under £8,800
The sporty Quadrifoglio Verde (green four-leaf clover) version features a 170hp turbocharged petrol engine, together with a snazzy bodykit and tuned suspension for a sporty drive.
7. Jeep Renegade
Year: 2015 / Price: £9,900 / 32,000 miles / 1.6-litre engine
You can buy a used Jeep Renegade from 2015 for £9,900
The Jeep Renegade Longitude model with the 1.6-litre petrol engine offers reasonable performance and economy.
8. Mazda 3
Year: 2015 / Price: £9,558 / 54,000 miles / 2.0-litre petrol engine
You can buy a Ford Focus-rivalling Mazda 3 from 2015 for just over £9,500
‘Mazda may not be the first firm to feature on car buyers’ shopping lists, but it arguably should, as the Japanese firm tends to offer great-handling, well-built, dependable cars with handsome, distinctive styling and well thought-through, high quality interiors,’ says Carwow.
9. Volvo V40
Year 2014 / Price: £9,995 / 47,000 miles / 1.6-litre petrol engine
A Volvo V40 from 2014 and 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 hatch formula.
10. Nissan Leaf
Year 2015 / Price: £6,912 / 34,000 miles / Single electric motor
First generation electric Nissan Leaf models have an official range of 124-155 miles
Electric cars are both exempt from London’s ULEZ charge and, until 2025, are also excused from the central Congestion Charge, making an EV a great pick if you’re hoping to minimise your travel bills 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 plenty for urban trips.
