AA Cars launches Used Car Favourites 2026 to put buyer choice in the driving seat

• AA Cars reveals 35 Used Car Favourites across seven categories, from first cars and family favourites to EVs and working vans

• Buyer interest across more than 3,000 models helps shape the list, alongside the judgement of AA Cars’ motoring experts

• Five unranked Favourites feature in each category, giving used-car buyers a starting point based on their individual needs

AA Cars has revealed its Used Car Favourites for 2026, highlighting 35 cars and vans across seven categories designed around the different ways people choose and use a vehicle.

Drawing on buyer interest across more than 3,000 models on AA Cars, the Favourites aim to make the used-car market easier to navigate by showcasing vehicles buyers are actively looking at and the different strengths they can bring.

There is no overall ranking or single winner in any category. Instead, five unranked Favourites have been selected for each, reflecting everything from first cars and family transport to long-distance driving, electric cars and working vans.

The AA Cars Used Car Favourites 2026

• Everyday Hero: Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Kia Sportage, Toyota Corolla, Tesla Model 3
• Family Favourite: Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Volvo XC90, Tesla Model Y, JAECOO 7
• Feel-Good Car: Mazda MX-5, Porsche Boxster, Ford Mustang, Audi TT, MINI Hatch
• Made for Miles: Škoda Octavia, Toyota RAV4, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Honda CR-V
• First Car Favourite: Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Vauxhall Corsa, Toyota Yaris, Fiat 500
• Electric All-Rounder: BMW i3, Škoda Enyaq, Polestar 2, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4
• Right-Hand Van: Volkswagen Transporter, Ford Transit, Volkswagen Caddy, Vauxhall Vivaro, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

The categories recognise that there is no single definition of a great used vehicle.

An Everyday Hero needs to handle the demands of day-to-day life, while a Family Favourite puts practicality and usability higher up the list.

Feel-Good Car celebrates vehicles chosen as much with the heart as the head, while Made for Miles focuses on cars suited to drivers who spend plenty of time on the road.

First Car Favourite highlights models well suited to drivers taking their first steps into car ownership. Electric All-Rounder looks at EVs capable of taking on a broad range of everyday driving, while Right-Hand Van turns the spotlight on used vans for drivers who rely on their vehicle for work.

Starting with what buyers are actually looking at

For the five mainstream categories, AA Cars began with the most-viewed models on its platform, drawn from data covering more than 3,000 models.

Buyer interest provided the starting point. AA Cars’ motoring experts then identified five vehicles that best represented each category, considering factors including practicality, value, usability, desirability and suitability for the job at hand.

For the specialist Electric All-Rounder and Right-Hand Van categories, AA Cars considered buyer interest within their respective markets, recognising that specialist vehicles typically attract different levels of browsing activity from mainstream used cars.

The result is a set of Favourites informed by real buyer behaviour, but not simply a popularity chart.

More than 4 million¹ used cars changed hands in the UK during the first half of 2026, underlining just how important the second-hand market remains to motorists.

James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars, said: “The used market gives drivers an incredible amount of choice. That’s a good thing, but it can also make knowing where to start harder.

“Our Used Car Favourites start with what buyers are actually looking at and add the judgement of our motoring experts to highlight cars with plenty to offer for different needs.

“That matters because the right used car looks different for everyone. Someone choosing their first car will have very different priorities from a family, a high-mileage driver or someone making the move to electric.

“These Favourites aren’t about declaring one car the winner. They’re designed to give buyers a useful starting point, help narrow down the options and build confidence as they search for the vehicle that’s right for them.”

Helping buyers choose with confidence

With thousands of models, specifications, ages and powertrains available, choosing a used car involves more than finding a familiar badge.

The Favourites are designed to help buyers identify models worth considering, while AA Cars encourages motorists to look closely at the individual vehicle too, including its condition, history, specification and likely running costs.

By combining real buyer interest with clear, category-led guidance, the AA Cars Used Car Favourites 2026 are designed to help motorists navigate one of their biggest purchasing decisions with greater confidence.

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¹ SMMT (UK Used Car Sales Data | Second Hand Car Sales Statistics | SMMT)

The AA Cars Used Car Favourites 2026 comprise 5 unranked vehicles across each of 7 categories. There are no individual category winners and no overall winner. For the mainstream categories, the analysis started with the 400 most-viewed vehicles on AA Cars, taken from buyer activity covering more than 3,000 models during 1st Jan – 24th August 2026. AA Cars editorial judgement was then applied to consider practicality, value, usability, desirability and suitability for each category. Electric All-Rounder and Right-Hand Van were assessed within their respective specialist markets alongside the same editorial considerations.

Questions and Answers

What are the AA Cars Used Car Favourites 2026?

The AA Cars Used Car Favourites 2026 are a selection of 35 used cars and vans across seven categories. Five unranked vehicles feature in each category, giving buyers a starting point based on different needs, from first cars and family vehicles to electric cars and working vans.

How were the AA Cars Used Car Favourites 2026 chosen?

For the five mainstream categories, AA Cars used buyer interest data covering more than 3,000 models on its platform as a starting point. AA Cars’ motoring experts then considered factors including practicality, value, usability, desirability and suitability for each category. For the Electric All-Rounder and Right-Hand Van categories, buyer interest within those specialist markets was considered alongside expert judgement.

Is there an overall winner in the AA Cars Used Car Favourites 2026?

No. There is no overall winner and the five vehicles within each category are unranked. The Favourites are intended to help buyers narrow down their options rather than declare one vehicle the best.

What are the seven AA Cars Used Car Favourites categories?

The seven categories are Everyday Hero, Family Favourite, Feel-Good Car, Made for Miles, First Car Favourite, Electric All-Rounder and Right-Hand Van.

What are the AA Cars Everyday Hero favourites for 2026?

The five Everyday Hero Favourites are the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Kia Sportage, Toyota Corolla and Tesla Model 3.

What are the AA Cars Family Favourite cars for 2026?

The five Family Favourites are the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Volvo XC90, Tesla Model Y and JAECOO 7.

What are the AA Cars First Car Favourites for 2026?

The five First Car Favourites are the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Vauxhall Corsa, Toyota Yaris and Fiat 500.

What are the AA Cars Electric All-Rounders for 2026?

The five Electric All-Rounder Favourites are the BMW i3, Škoda Enyaq, Polestar 2, Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4.

What are the AA Cars Made for Miles favourites for 2026?

The five Made for Miles Favourites are the Škoda Octavia, Toyota RAV4, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Honda CR-V.

What are the AA Cars Feel-Good Car favourites for 2026?

The five Feel-Good Car Favourites are the Mazda MX-5, Porsche Boxster, Ford Mustang, Audi TT and MINI Hatch.

What are the AA Cars Right-Hand Van favourites for 2026?

The five Right-Hand Van Favourites are the Volkswagen Transporter, Ford Transit, Volkswagen Caddy, Vauxhall Vivaro and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Are the AA Cars Used Car Favourites simply the most popular used cars?

No. Buyer interest provides a starting point, but the Favourites are not a popularity chart. AA Cars combines browsing behaviour with the judgement of its motoring experts to identify vehicles suited to different types of buyers and uses.

Why has AA Cars launched the Used Car Favourites?

AA Cars says the Favourites are designed to make the used-car market easier to navigate. With thousands of models, specifications, ages and powertrains available, the categories give buyers a useful starting point for narrowing down their choices.

What should buyers consider when choosing a used car?

AA Cars recommends looking beyond the make and model at the individual vehicle, including its condition, history, specification and likely running costs. The Used Car Favourites are intended as a starting point rather than a substitute for checking the individual vehicle before buying.