1. Volkswagen Golf R
Your £50,000 can get you behind the wheel of an all-wheel drive hatchback with supercar-scaring performance in the form of the Volkswagen Golf R. With 320hp from the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, and 0-60mph is dealt with in 4.7 seconds.
It handles really well too, with enough grip to pull you around corners no matter the weather. The interior may not feel as premium as you might like for this price, but very few cars offer this level of performance for the money.
2. BMW 2 Series M240i
The latest BMW 2 Series is a high tech sports coupe that in M240i form is almost as quick as the outgoing M2. Its searing 4.3-second 0-62mph time is thanks partly to its 374bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged engine and a standard all-wheel-drive setup. It still handles like a BMW should, and the (smallish) rear seats and decent boot make it perfectly suitable for the school run and shopping duties.
The ride may be a bit firm at slower speeds, but the M240i remains is one of the most accomplished cross-country sports cars you can buy for under £50,000. No wonder it was selected as one of our carwow Buy It award winners for 2023.
3. Cupra Ateca
Performance SUVs can be hard to come by for £50,000, however the Cupra Ateca is properly rapid and comes in under budget. Your £50k gets you a range-topping Ateca with a 300hp version of the 2.0-litre engine from the Volkswagen Golf R
The ride may be a bit form, but the trade-off for this is an SUV which is surprisingly nimble through the corners. The Ateca also looks great, and it offers great practicality.
4. Kia EV6
A good family car needs to be spacious, efficient and practical. The Kia EV6 ticks those boxes and many more. Its 226bhp electric powertrain is smooth, provides quick acceleration and will do 328 miles between charges. There are more powerful 321bhp and even 577bhp versions, but neither goes as far on a charge and all that extra performance will be totally wasted around town.
The base Air and mid-range GT Line trims are within our 50k budget, and both are packed with standard kit. It will happily seat four to five adults and it’s certainly one of the best-looking family-friendly SUVs you can currently buy.
5. Range Rover Evoque
Stand-out styling and hight-tech features make the Range Rover Evoque stand out from most of its alternatives. Our £50k budget will get you a Dynamic SE model, but the Dynamic HSE also falls below this price after Carwow discounts.
Go for the latter and you get LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, 20-inch alloy wheels and electric seats. The 2.0-litre diesel engine also offers a great blend of performance and economy.
6. Skoda Kodiaq
The Skoda Kodiaq is a great buy for those looking for a well-priced large SUV with the option of seven seats. The Kodiaq shares much of its interior tech and engine range with the VW Tiguan Allspace but comes with a lower price tag.
