Best cars for less than £150 per month
If you’re looking for a new car but your budget is the length of a shoestring, you may think your choice is limited. However, the market is now awash with bargain motors – many of which can be had for less than £150 per month.
Britain's bestselling car, the Ford Fiesta will cost you only £134 per month for a desirable Zetec model, while the quirky Nissan Juke can cost less than filling the tank of a Range Rover every month.
Bargain motoring is now more accessible than ever, so if you’re strapped for cash but need something to get you from A to B, here are our recommendations for the best budget buys on the market right now.
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1
Skoda Citigo hatchback
£7,630 - £10,640
If you want to cut your motoring bills, you could do worse than selecting a Skoda Citigo for your daily drive. Available from as little as £76 per month, the small Skoda represents incredible value. For rock-bottom running costs and decent levels of equipment we recommend the 1.0 GreenTech Elegance, which emits a tax-busting 96g/km of CO2.
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2
Ford Fiesta hatchback
£9,995 - £17,545
The Ford Fiesta is CarBuyer's Supermini of the Year and continues to sell in droves. It's stylish, great to drive and costs little to run – and all apart from the flagship cars are available on a small budget. We recommend the perky 1.25-litre Zetec, which costs from just £134/month.
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3
Kia Cee'd hatchback
£15,695 - £23,795
If you’re willing to sacrifice a degree of performance for a gain in practicality, then the Kia Cee’d is a sound choice. It's a solid, well-built and comfortable family hatchback, with enough space to rival the Ford Focus. Both the 1.4 petrol and 1.4 CRDi diesel are both available for less than £150 per month in entry-level 1 versions.
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4
Peugeot 208 hatchback
£11,045 - £18,895
Being awarded the Auto Express Supermini of the Year is no mean feat, and the fact you can lease a new Peugeot 208 for only £114 per month makes the small hatchback even more appealing. The base-spec car comes surprisingly well equipped, too, with electric windows, cruise control and six airbags, all as standard.
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5
Nissan Juke SUV
£13,395 - £20,495
If you’re in the market for something different, the popular Nissan Juke represents a great-value package. Compact dimensions and a rewarding drive contrast its big-car looks, while its lightweight body means running costs are kept to a minimum. The 1.6-litre petrol is the pick of the range and can be had for as little as £129 per month.
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6
Suzuki Swift hatchback
£10,799 - £14,709
There are plenty of superminis within the £150 per month budget, but one still stands out as a relative rarity – the Suzuki Swift. This capable hatchback, available from £130, is fun to drive and looks great. The 1.2-litre engine can feel underpowered, but around town the light steering makes parking a doddle.
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7
Fiat Panda hatchback
£10,050 - £14,950
Style-concious punters often shun the capable Fiat Panda in favour of its more desirable sibling – the 500. But that’s not to say the Panda can’t hold its own if you need a good value, easy to drive supermini. Pick of the range is the two-cylinder TwinAir, but for £122 per month you can still snap up an economical 1.2-litre Pop.
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8
Skoda Octavia hatchback
£14,135 - £21,130
Although a £150a month budget can seem quite restrictive, the Skoda Octavia proves you needn’t sacrifice space to get a good deal. The 1.6 TDI SE starts at just £141 per month, representing exceptional value. Although the gruff diesel isn’t the highlight of the range, it's undeniably a lot of car for the cash.
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9
Hyundai i10 micro-car
£8,345 - £9,745
The Hyundai i10 has proved an extremely popular city car since it’s launch in 2008. With prices starting at just £102 per month, the little Hyundai makes bargain car ownership an extremely attractive prospect. Our pick is the 1.0 Blue, which returns 67mpg, emits a tax-free 99g/km and costs from £121 per month.
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10
Citroën DS3 hatchback
£12,850 - £24,300
The DS3 has been a huge success for Citroen. The invention of the premium DS sub-brand gave a viable alternative to the established MINI and stylish Fiat 500 at a competitive price. The stylish looks, quality interior and set of economical engines make the DS3 an appealing choice. A 1.6 e-HDi DSport is available from £143 per month.
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