Looking for a used petrol car? We currently have 8,364 listings on the site. Cheap to maintain and pleasant around town, the petrol engine remains the most versatile choice.
Petrol is the default for most drivers today: cheaper to buy than an equivalent diesel, simpler to maintain, and free of the emissions equipment that copes badly with short trips.
It dominates used stock on city cars and compacts, and has regained ground on larger cars as small turbocharged engines have replaced bigger naturally aspirated ones.
Of the 71 used Audi Q5 listed right now: 82% are diesel. 82% have automatic transmission. Half are priced under €20,000.
Listings come from both private sellers and dealers, with the mileage, year and model shown on each one, so you can easily find the petrol vehicle that matches your budget and your needs. Every listing shows the year, engine, power, mileage, transmission and price, along with where the vehicle is and whether the seller is a private individual or a dealer. From there you can narrow the selection further, or widen it to the neighbouring categories below.
Most recent petrol cars use a small turbocharged engine – often three cylinders on city cars – which delivers torque low in the rev range and keeps official consumption down.
In practice, consumption depends heavily on how the car is driven. These engines are efficient at steady, moderate loads and considerably less so when worked hard, which is worth knowing if you buy a small engine in a heavy car.
Older naturally aspirated engines are mechanically simpler and often more forgiving, at the cost of needing more revs.
The purchase price is generally below a comparable diesel, and the gap does not close unless you cover high mileage.
Servicing is simpler: no particulate filter to regenerate, no EGR valve fouled by short trips, no AdBlue. That is the real argument for urban use.
Petrol cars are also better placed against low-emission zones than older diesels, though rules vary by city and change regularly.
On engines using an oil-immersed timing belt – found on several recent small petrol units – sticking to the replacement interval is a documented point of attention. Ask for the invoice rather than trusting the mileage.
On direct-injection engines, the cleanliness of the inlet valves deserves attention beyond a certain mileage.
On a low-mileage urban car, check the clutch, battery and exhaust: cold starts wear these faster than the odometer suggests.
Petrol suits drivers covering moderate distances, urban and suburban use, and anyone who wants the lowest purchase price and the simplest servicing.
The links below let you narrow by body type, gearbox or budget.
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