Times are tough and some reckon they could even get tougher – so if you're in the market for a new car but don't have a huge wad to spend, then picking up a bargain is essential. Trouble is that 'bargain' can sometimes mean cheap and nasty but with this lot, have no fear – you'll get real bang for your buck.

Chevrolet Cruze
From £12,795
The first generation of Chevrolet's re-badged Daweoos were the worst kind of bargain; buying one felt like you were scraping the bottom of the barrel. Thankfully, Chevrolet has got its act together and the decent-looking Cruze is much more like it. While the likes of the Kia Cee'd hatchback may offer a better drive, the Cruze is a saloon therefore, for the money, offers more space for you and the family. The ride is comfy too and there is a diesel option for those prudent types among you – even if it is a touch on the noisy side...

Fiat 500
From £8,700
A funky small car or a mere fashion accessory? We reckon both – the Fiat 500 is loaded with charm as well as being a great place to spend time in. Yes, the boot's small, the rear seats are on the pokey side and you can get something bigger and more practical for the money but what the heck, if you're looking for style on a relative shoestring, this Fiat's a cracker. And if you want to spend even less on an Italian, then the Fiat Panda is well worth a punt at £7,200.

Ford Ka
From £9,395
Ford know how to build cars for folk with small budgets – and the latest Ka shows that you don't need to compromise on quality. Refined on city streets while offering up plenty of fun on the back roads, this is a seriously grown-up car for the money. There are cheaper cars listed here but for the fun factor, the Ka remains difficult to dismiss.

Hyundai i10
From £7,760
If you're looking for an absurdly cheap car, then the i10 ticks all the boxes – as long as the list doesn't have a box labelled 'motorways'. Stretching i10's legs reveals it doesn't really have any but if you spend most of your time on city streets, then its 1.2-litre engine does the job and the boot's big enough for your weekly shop too. Basic, yes, but for folk not obsessed with looking suave round town, this is all you really need. And its five-year warranty is not something to be sniffed at either.

Kia Cee’d
From £10,995
Korean carmakers have been the butt of many a Jeremy Clarkson joke but Kia has emerged as a real player and the Cee'd hatchback is without doubt a great car offering lots of space and for its low price, proper levels of equipment. Factor in a good drive, Kia's stonking seven-year/100,000-mile warranty and the inclusion of frugal stop/start technology, and you have one of the best low budget full-blown hatchbacks around.