Top 10: Chic cars for £20k

For some new car buyers, design comes fairly low on their list of priorities. For others though, styling takes equal precedence to more mundane factors like fuel economy, luggage capacity or depreciation.

The thing is, there are few truly ugly cars on the market today (obvious exceptions being the SsangYong Rodius and BMW X1). That said, there are also plenty of anonymous models that just blend into the traffic.

Of course, it would be easy to stand out by spending a small fortune. But what’s available for discerning drivers with less extravagant budgets?

Well, these ten cars are currently all available in the UK for under £20,000 (around €24,500 or US$32,400 at today’s exchange rates).

Not all are ‘best in class’ in terms of dynamics, performance or efficiency, and some might divide opinion. Nevertheless, each is proof that when manufacturers make an effort, the results can be worth it.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta
	Alfa’s range now consists of just the Mito supermini and the Giulietta hatch, pending the arrival of a replacement for the mid-size 159. £20,000 is enough to buy a Giulietta in mid-spec Lusso trim, with either a 1.6 diesel or a 1.4 litre petrol engine.

Citroën C3 Picasso
	Confirmation that small MPVs don’t have to be boring. Prices for the C3 Picasso range from £13,200 to £17,295, although the entry-level VT trim level is probably best avoided as the standard spec is rather miserly.

Citroën DS3
	The DS sub-brand is all about style and elegance, so it’s no surprise that the DS3 supermini makes it onto this list. With £20,000 to spend, buyers have plenty of choice, including several variants that pump out less than 100 g/km of carbon dioxide. Only the range-topping Ultra Prestige and Racing versions will be out of reach.

Citroën DS4
	Yet another Citroën. This time it’s the DS4, which was named ‘Most Beautiful Car of the Year’ in 2011. The interior is just as elegant as the exterior, although there’s not much space in the back. The bad news is that a budget of £20,000 means it’ll have to be the basic DSign trim grade, which misses out on niceties such as Bluetooth, parking sensors and automatic air conditioning.

Fiat Panda
	The obvious small Fiat to be included here would be the 500 but, like anything that has been ultra-trendy, it runs the risk of suddenly becoming unfashionable. Not only does the new generation Panda avoid that danger, but it also offers five-door practicality, neat looks and the opportunity to specify the frugal TwinAir engine.

Kia Soul
	Few cars polarise opinion like the Soul - some love it, some think it too contrived - but at least it’s not going to be mistaken for anything else. A bold move for Kia, even if the driving experience and cabin don’t necessarily live up to the exterior’s pizzazz. Prices start at £12,500, rising to £18,695 for the range-topping Inferno model.

Mazda MX-5
	The MX-5 has been around in various forms for over twenty years, but the front-engine, rear-wheel drive roadster formula still works. That’s because it continues to deliver agility and fun, although a £20,000 limit means choice will be restricted to the less powerful 1.8 litre engine.

Nissan Juke
	A daring piece of design from Nissan, and something that should be applauded. The Juke might not be to everyone’s taste, but for those of a conservative disposition there’s always the dreary Micra. Prices start at £13,395, with one diesel and two petrol engines on offer.

Vauxhall / Opel Astra GTC
	To regard the GTC as merely a three-door Astra would be a mistake, as most of its body panels are unique and the chassis has been tweaked to sharpen the driving experience. £20,000 is just enough to buy the Sport specification GTC powered by a 1.4 litre turbocharged engine.

Volkswagen Scirocco
	The current generation Scirocco (which, trivia fans, is built in Portugal) has been around for almost four years now, yet it still seems fresh. Sleek looks combine with decent handling and the promise of strong residual values to create an attractive package. All that’s available for under £20,000 is the basic version with a 1.4 litre TSI engine, although its specification includes Bluetooth, a DAB radio and sports seats.