Britain's cheapest new cars 2024
The cheapest new cars are rarely in four figures, but they’re better than they’ve ever been. Here are the 10 cheapest new cars on sale.
Looking for the cheapest new cars on sale in 2024? Look no further. If you want to find out the most affordable new cars on sale in the UK today, you've come to the right place.
True, new car list prices may not be as relevant today as they once were, with so many buyers electing to purchase through finance - but even if you're buying on a PCP for instance, the list price still affects what you end up paying.
While new car prices have risen - for instance the cheapest Vauxhall Corsa you can get is now £18,500 - there are still models around if you're on a budget.
Opting for a finance deal - especially those that offer 0% APR, or interest-free credit and large deposit contributions - can make these cheap cars even more affordable. Beware however, as some of the cheapest new cars come with the worst value finance deals and you may find higher APR figures on the cheapest models.
Brand new cars in this price range normally require some sort of compromise - particularly when it comes to amount of equipment on board. You'll likely need to pay a bit more for things like air-conditioning or Bluetooth connectivity. Plus you'll likely be getting the lowest powered engine in the range.
Cheapest new cars 2024
- Citroen Ami
- Kia Picanto
- Dacia Sandero
- MG 3
- Citroen C3
- Volkswagen Up
- Fiat Panda
- Dacia Sandero Stepway
- Hyundai i10
- Toyota Aygo X
Cheapest car for urban commuters
List price: From £8095
Read our full Citroen Ami review
As the cheapest car on sale in the UK today by quite some margin, the Citroen Ami holds a lot of appeal – especially as it’s also electric.
It uses a tiny 5.5kWh battery, which is far smaller than a Fiat 500 Electric (24kWh), which costs more than twice as much. That said, they are both proper cars whereas the Citroen Ami is officially a quadricycle.
But its appeal is limited to city use only. The 8hp electric motor means a top speed of just 28mph and its tiny both inside and out. Basic Amis come with little more than a smartphone cradle and various storage compartments. Left-hand-drive only, it is built to a price with matching front and rear panels, for example. It’s fine as a commuter machine or for deliveries, but its purpose is limited.
2. Kia Picanto
Kia Picanto list price from £13,655*
Used deals Limited stock
Every Kia Picanto comes with a seven-year warranty. So if you keep it for that long - without the worry of major repair bills - the price works out at around £1900 per year, which is excellent value. This warranty is also transferrable to subsequent owners, which makes the Kia Picanto an easy sell second hand.
If that doesn’t make it great value enough, then the engines are economical, too and the 1.0-litre entry-level is fine for town and city use, while holding its own at faster speeds. You should expect around 47mpg realistically in every day driving.
In entry-level '1' specification, you get steel wheels and no air-conditioning, so equipment is quite sparse, but it feels well-built and handles well. The Kia Picanto is also very cheap to insure, the basic models sitting in Insurance Group 1, which makes it an ideal car for those who have just learnt to drive. The lack of power means they're unlikely to get into much trouble either...
2. Dacia Sandero
Dacia Sandero list price from £13,795*
Used deals from £6,595
Monthly finance from £136.90*
When it launched in 2013, the Dacia Sandero was the cheapest new car available in the UK. The main reason for this low-budget price tag was the fact that the Sandero is incredibly simple. It made - and still makes - use of small engines from Dacia's sister brand Renault, and has done away with practically everything that isn't needed to make the car move.
So, in the cheapest and most basic spec, you get five doors, four wheels, a steering wheel and electric front windows. There's also a selection of useful safety equipment on board including airbags, anti-lock brakes and two Isofix points in the back to safely attach child seats. If all you're looking for is a car that will get you from A to B, what more do you need?
There have been a number of revisions to the pricing and trim levels throughout 2023, with more equipment now standard fit, although prices have risen as a result. Petrol and petrol-LPG ‘Bi-Fuel’ versions are available, though you’ll have to pay extra for Bi-Fuel versions.
4. MG 3
MG 3 list price from £13,295*
Used deals from £5,995
Monthly finance from £148.21*
The MG 3 has seen its base price rise dramatically since it was first launched back in 2013. The manufacturer dropped the entry-level Explore trim, meaning the cheapest option is now the Excite model starting at over £13,000. As a result, there are several cheaper alternatives available with arguably more to offer.
The ride of this MG is a little firm and bumpy while the engine needs to be worked hard for maximum performance, though it is very quick for a new car of this price. Anyone looking for strong performance for this kind of price, though, would be better off opting for a cheap used hot hatchback, as there are some fantastic options for less than £13,000.
Standard equipment is also fairly basic in Excite trim, as there is Bluetooth, air-conditioning and rear parking sensors along with a digital radio, but a potentially better-equipped Dacia Sandero could cost less.
5. Hyundai i10
Hyundai i10 list price from £13,430*
Used deals Limited stock
The key here is not that Hyundai has made a cheap small car, but the fact that it's made one of the best that you can buy at this kind of price. The i10 is a mature and practical small car that still manages to offer an element of enjoyment for the driver behind the wheel.
This fresh new model launched in 2020 can accommodate four adults who’ll be fairly comfortable for short journeys, and it’s stable at higher speeds, so you won’t feel as if you’re about to be blown across the carriageway when you overtake lorries. You would be forgiven for feeling like you're driving something much bigger - this is a very capable small car.
The cheapest SE trim is also equipped with features such as cruise control, a digital radio and air-conditioning, while more expensive versions add luxuries such as a heated steering wheel, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There's also a very useful unlimited mileage five-year warranty, so it's a good option if you want to go used, as you'll still have many years of warranty cover left with nearly new and more recent used models.
6. Volkswagen Up
Volkswagen Up list price from £14,070*
Used deals from £7,295
Monthly finance from £159.46*
The VW Up may be cheap, but it still offers plenty of feel-good factor, with stylish looks and a high-quality interior. It’s also a small car that proves comfortable and refined on long journeys, which makes it a more rounded car than most affordable models.
The cheapest Up is a three-door model and if you want a pair of rear doors, you’ll have to spend a further £410, taking the price up to £14,480. However, VW finance is much better value than some alternatives with similar cash prices, so it’s a good value option whether you have cash to splash or plan to take VW finance.
Choose the cheapest VW and you could save £24 per month with VW’s PCP finance compared with the offering on the similarly priced Citroen C3, which has a far higher interest rate.