City slickers: Interesting used cars exempt from the ULEZ

2004 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT 6.0 W12, 100,000 miles £13,000: Six litres sounds like a few too many, and a W12 engine is over the top, surely? Except that it suits the Continental GT perfectly. What a way to waft through an ULEZ in near complete silence. The trouble is that these hugely charismatic luxury coupés are now so temptingly cheap – possibly too cheap. Worth avoiding the ULEZ charge for.

2003 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 1.8T CVT, 130,000 miles, £1000: If the air in the ULEZ is so fresh, then why not enjoy it with one of the finest and best-finished convertibles ever built? There are some modern classics that aren’t being penalised, thanks to quite advanced engine technology from almost two decades ago. The B6-generation Audi A4 Cabriolet remains a classy way to travel, especially with an easy-to-live-with CVT automatic gearbox.

2001 HONDA CIVIC 1.4i SE, 125,000 miles, £890: This Civic is further proof that the start date for ULEZ compliance really depends on who did the engineering. Also that you can buy an interesting car that’s cheap, at less than a grand, and reliable, because it’s a Honda hatchback to go shopping in. Shops in the ULEZ may be rather pricey, but at least you won’t be wasting money on your wheels.

The diesel debate

The simple fact is that diesel engines have never been cleaner, and the ULEZ cut-off is Euro 6, setting maximum NOx emissions at 80mg/km, compared with the 180mg/km level that was required for cars to meet the old Euro 5 standards. In theory, the cut-off is September 2015, but there are some older options if you dig a little deeper.

2012 BMW 320D EFFICIENT DYNAMICS, 142,000 miles, £4800: Here you go: a high-mile approach to ULEZ fee avoidance, courtesy of Britain’s very favourite saloon. This 161bhp four-cylinder engine is also available in the 1 Series, so there’s a hatchback option for those who need the Ikea-friendly space.

2015 MERCEDES-BENZ A200D SE EXECUTIVE, 138,000 miles, £7900: There are a lot of classified listings that say a Mercedes-Benz is ULEZ-friendly when actually it isn’t. This particular previous-generation A-Class is a safe choice, though, and further proof that these clean modern diesels can do the mileage.

2014 CITROEN DS3 1.6 HDi SPORT PLUS, 104,000 miles, £3995: Here’s a punky little hatchback with a decent turn of speed and economy. It looks the part and should be perfect for knocking about town. You’ll need an aftermarket warranty for peace of mind, though.

2012 MAZDA CX-5 2.2D SE-L NAV, 90,000 miles, £7400: Mazda is a manufacturer that has always been ahead of the game, despite it being on the small side. The CX-5 is fashionably SUV and comes well equipped with a reputation for peerless reliability.

2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2.0 TDI, BLUEMOTION TECH SE 103,000 miles, £5495: The best family-sized hatchback money can buy deserves to have access to the inner ULEZ. You can bag one-owner examples for very reasonable money, and this Bluemotion diesel will genuinely – without cheating– return more than 60mpg.

MORE ON THE WAY

The taxi conundrum

The ULEZ’s 20,000-plus diesel black cabs emit 16% of transport NOx in central London, yet they remain exempt until they’re 15 years old. All new taxis must be zero-emissions-capable, however.