Mazda MX5 is best used car of the ‘noughties’

Mazda’s MX5 convertible is the number one second-hand car of the new millennium according to research by Carsite.co.uk.

The online retailer analysed the reliability, performance, running costs, depreciation, owner reviews, sales popularity and customer satisfaction of hundreds of models to chart the ultimate roll-call of used cars of the ‘noughties’.

Since the year 2000 more than 68 million used cars have been sold in the UK – compared with just over 23 million private new car sales in the same period.

The sporty two-seater MX-5, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year, topped the list of 50 second hand models representing 23 different manufacturers compiled by the award-winning online used car retailer.

Japanese models dominated the top ten spots with Honda’s CR-V sneaking in behind the Mazda at No. 2 and at No. 7 with the Jazz city car. Toyota’s popular and frugal Yaris hatchback made No.5 in the chart with its global best-seller, the now replaced Corolla, charting at No. 9.

Teutonic entries from BMW (3-Series) and Mercedes-Benz (E-Class) were at No. 6 and No. 10 respectively with the Skoda Octavia (No. 3) and Ford’s Fiesta (No. 4) and Focus (No. 8) models completing the top ten.

Other highlights of the poll included the Ferrari 360 at No. 39 (expensive new but used examples now creeping under £40k), the Vauxhall Corsa at No. 21 (one of the biggest selling models of the last decade) and the British-built Caterham 7 (ultimate weekend ride) just making it in to the top 50 at No. 49.

Carsite.co.uk spokesperson, Alistair Jeff, commented; ‘The Mazda MX5 deserves the top position thanks to strong reliability, value for money, residual performance and driveability. Its success in our poll only goes to further support the British love affair with the drop-top.”

Carsite also found that increased demand for used Mazda MX5 models saw the CAP trade value of a 1.8i model increase by more than £1100 between April and July this year.