Home Best The 10 cheapest new cars you can buy - reviewed and rated bestLooking to replace your car but think you can't afford to buy new? Well, these models might make you think again – especially after you've factored in our Target Price discounts...
Published20 April 2024
Buying a new car can be one of life's biggestinvestments, and these days a lot of models come with so much technologythat the price can beeye-watering.
However, there is still a selection of models that offer a lot of car for the money, with some being particularly capable in the areas that count, including practicality, comfort and style.So, herewe name the 10 cheapest new cars you can buy in the UK.
If yousimply want to know what is the cheapest new car is, that would be the Kia Picanto. It currently starts from just £13,705, butthanks to ourTarget Pricediscounts, you can have it for even less than that.
Indeed, many of the cars quoted here have some big discountsavailable, so it's worth checkingour freeNew Car Dealsservice to see our latest deals. If any of the cars do take your liking, you can also follow the review links to find out more about each car.
1
Kia PicantoReliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Really tidy handling
- Frugal 1.0 MPi petrol engine
- Excellent infotainment and equipment on 3 trim
Weaknesses
- 1.0 MPi petrol engine isn't very quick
- Firm(ish) low-speed ride
- A Dacia Sandero is much roomier
Version1.0 1 [4 seats]|List price£13,705|Target Price£13,387
The cheapest new car you canbuy in the UKis the Kia Picanto, and it's afinecar for the money.
It's good to drive, with tidy handling and a comfortable driving position, while the interior issmart to look at. As you might expect, the equipmentlist is fairly sparse (the entry-leveltrim doesn't even come withair conditioning). You do, however, get automatic lights, remote central locking and electric front windows as standard.
Despite being quiteunderpowered, the entry-level 66bhp 1.0-litre engine iscompellingthanks to its economical nature. But if your budget can stretch to it, we'd recommend going for the turbocharged 99bhp unit; it's noticeably quicker and much more flexible at low revs.
Read our in-depthKia Picantoreview
Target Price from £13,387
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2
Dacia Sandero0-62mph: 11.6 sec
MPG/range: 52.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 109g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 328 litres
Insurance group: 14E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Amazingly good value
- Lots of space for passengers and luggage
- Comfortable ride
Weaknesses
- Poor safety rating compared with rivals
- There are more entertaining small cars to drive
- Some other small cars are quieter
Version1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel Essential|List price£13,795|Target Price£13,569
The position of Britain's cheapest new car is constantly changing, and the Dacia Sandero is a car that's often found in the top spot. However, in this instance, the Kia Picanto has just topped it.
But what's the Sandero like? Well, it's actually abetter car than the Picanto. It's more practical andmore comfortable, while the entry-level trim is betterequipped;Essential trim comes withcruise control, front electric windows and air conditioning.
ThisBi-Fuel version can run alsoon cheaper liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)as well as regular unleaded, which means it should also be very cheap to run if you live near a petrol station that stocks it. It's worth notingthat Euro NCAPgave the Sandero just two stars for safety.
Read our in-depthDacia Sandero review
Target Price from £13,569
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3
Citroën C3Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Decently equipped
- Stylish interior
- Efficient engines
Weaknesses
- Poor to drive
- AEB is not standard on lower trims
- Cramped rear seats
Version1.2 PureTechYou |List price£14,150|Target Price £14,150
Citroën recently added theentry-level You trim to the C3 range, and for the money, you get a stylish car inside and out.
However, because it's a stripped out version of the regularC3, the You versioncomes with very littleequipment as standard. The only 'luxuries' you get arecruise control, manual air-conditioning and heated side mirrors. The Dacia Sandero is far better value.
In other areas, the C3 is poor to drive, the entry-level engine is underpowered, and it'snot very practical. You also have to pay extra for some important safety kit, includingautomatic emergency braking (AEB).
Read our in-depthCitroën C3review
Target Price from £14,150
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4
MG30-62mph: 10.9 sec
MPG/range: 43.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 147g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 285 litres
Insurance group: 7E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Attractively priced
- Interior looks fairly smart
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Bumpy ride
- Unrefined engine
- Disappointing safety
Version1.5 VTi-Tech Excite|List price£13,820|Target Price£13,326
The MG3 is very keenly priced – so much so that it's the cheapest car on this list with our Target Price discount factored in. Despite that, it'svery well equipped for the money;Excite trim includesan 8.0in touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and rear parking sensors as standard.
Mind you, the MG3 isheavily compromised inmanyother areas. For instance, the ride is bumpy and uncomfortable, while this entry-level engine is wheezy and not very economical. It also has a poor safety rating, havingscored just three starsall the way back in 2014 whenEuro NCAP safety tests where less stringent than today. It's worth noting that it's soon to be replaced by an all-new MG3 Hybrid.
Read our in-depthMG3review
Target Price from £13,823
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5
Fiat PandaDriving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Individual looks
- Decent head room
- Good rear visibility
Weaknesses
- Abysmal Euro NCAP crash test result
- Poor rear leg room
- Slow and poor to drive
Version1.0 Mild Hybrid Panda [Touchscreen] |List price£14,775|Target Price £14,123
The Panda has charminglooks and a low price, but it's very disappointing to drive. The mild hybrid engine is slow and unrefined, plus the bouncy and fidgety suspension meansit's quitewearing to drive on longer journeys.
Despite it's boxy shape, it's also not very practical. Okay, there's a good amount of head room for front and rear passengers, but leg room and boot space is pretty poor.The Hyundai i10 is more practical.
The worst thing about the Panda, though, is its abysmal safety rating; it wasgivenzero stars out of fivebyEuro NCAPin 2018. So,overall we'd recommendyou stay well clear of it.
Read our in-depthFiat Pandareview
Target Price from £14,123
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6
Dacia Sandero StepwayDriving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Comfortable ride
- Spacious interior
- Astonishing price
Weaknesses
- Poor safety rating compared to rivals
- Mainly cosmetic changes for the money over a regular Sandero
- Noisy TCe 90 engine
Version1.0 TCe Essential |List price£15,295|Target Price£15,007
The Sandero Stepway is essentially aDacia Sanderobut with some extra ruggedness, including a moreheavily sculpted bonnet, roof rails, chunky plastic wheel arch extensions andan increased ride height.
Like the Sandero, it's a brilliant small car with aspacious interior for its size, a big boot and a comfortable ride. It also comes with a similar line-up or engines and trim levels. The version quoted here features an 89bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine, which offersacceptable performance for the classwith a decent amount of low-end punch.
Essential trim offers the same amount of kit as the regular Sandero, which means you getcruise control, front electric windows and air conditioning as standard.
Read our in-depthDacia Sandero Stepwayreview
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7
Hyundai i100-62mph: 12.6 sec
MPG/range: 51.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 125g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 252 litres
Insurance group: 6E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Comfortable and quiet to drive
- Five seats and decent rear space
- Good amount of kit as standard
Weaknesses
- Three-star Euro NCAP safety rating
- Non-turbocharged 1.0-litre engine is a bit lacklustre
- Slow automatic gearbox
Version1.0Advance |List price£15,530|Target Price£14,767
The Hyundai i10 is one of the best small cars you can buy on a budget. No matter which version you go for, you get a relatively spacious andsmart-looking interiorand a comfortable ride.
It's also very practical for its size, with a good amount of leg room for rear passengers. The boot is a good size, too, althoughthe Kia Picanto's is ever so slightly bigger.
The entry-level 1.0-litrethree-cylinder petrol engine is strong enough in town and is efficient.Advancetrim comes with automatic lights, air conditioning,electric door-mirror adjustmentand a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearlever as standard.
Read our in-depthHyundai i10 review
Target Price from £14,767
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8
Toyota Aygo X0-62mph: 14.9 sec
MPG/range: 58.9mpg
CO2 emissions: 110g/km
Seats: 4
Boot: 226 litres
Insurance group: 6A
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Cheap to run
- Good level of safety kit
- Warranty of up to 10 years
Weaknesses
- Cramped in the back
- Smaller boot than rivals
- Lacklustre performance
Version1.0 VVT-i Pure |List price£16,140|Target Price£15,003
From the pictures, it can be easy to mistake the Toyota Aygo X for a small SUV. However, in reality it's actually a small car in terms of its size.
Having been launched in 2022, the Aygo X is one of the newest small cars. As such, it comes withloads of safety kit as standard, includingautomatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keepassist and six airbags. The entry-level Pure trim is alsowell equipped, and comes withautomatic headlights, air conditioning and 7.0in touchscreen infotainment.
On the whole, the Aygo X is good to drive, with a tight turning circle and tidy handling. However, the 71bhp 1.0-litre engine isslow and unrefined.
Read our in-depthToyota Aygo X review
Target Price from £15,003
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9
Fiat 500 HybridReliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Distinctive looks
- Easy to drive around town
- Plenty of customisation options
Weaknesses
- Poor driving position
- Unsettled ride
- Coarse-sounding engine
Version1.0 Mild Hybrid 500 |List price£16,800|Target Price £15,932
The petrol-poweredFiat 500 has been around for some time now, and it continues to be a stylish and economical small car.
However, it is starting to feel its age. On faster roads, for instance, the 500 feels very much out of its depthwith its roly-poly handling and an unsettled ride. The 1.0-litre mild hybrid engine also needs working hard to keep up with faster traffic.
In town,it's a different story. The 500 is very easy to drive, with thelight steering and small dimensions making itnice and easy to manoeuvre. No matter the environment, though, the 500 is uncomfortable(thanks to its awkward driving position) and not very practical.
Read our in-depthFiat 500 Hybridreview
Target Price from £15,932
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10
Suzuki Ignis0-62mph: 12.7 sec
MPG/range: 56.9mpg
CO2 emissions: 112g/km
Seats: 4
Boot: 260 litres
Insurance group: 21D
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Good fuel economy
- Spacious for a small car
- Generous equipment
Weaknesses
- Ride can be fidgety
- Vague steering
- Poor infotainment system
Version1.2 Dualjet 12V Hybrid SZ-T|List price£17,949|Target Price£17,518
If you're looking for a cheap small SUV, then the Suzuki Ignis is a great option. It's pretty tiny, but that doesn't mean it's cramped inside or poorly built. Indeed, the Ignis is surprisingly spacious for its size, plus it feelssolidly built – even ifthe interior materials are hardand scratchy.
The version quoted here is the entry-level car, which means it hasan 82bhp1.2-litrepetrol engine. Despite its modest power, it doesn't feel as slow as you mightthinkthanks to the mild hybridsystem, which uses a small electric motor to help boosttheengine at low revs.
SZ-T is our recommended trim,which includes a 7.0intouchscreen infotainment system, 16in alloy wheels, sliding rear seats and air-con. It's notthat wellequipped, but it does make the most of the Ignis's keen pricing.
Read our in-depthSuzuki Ignisreview
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Target Price from £17,518
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