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Auto Express
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If you’ve got £300 per month to spend on a car, there are all manner of different vehicles you could choose from. You name it; small SUVs, cheap and cheerful city cars, wind-in-your-hair convertibles and sensible saloons can all be found on this budget.
You could even go electric. EVs are known for being pricier than similarly-sized petrol and diesel cars, but the difference is much easier to swallow on a monthly finance deal. Meanwhile, the lower running costs will massively reduce the total cost of ownership.
Got a growing family? The ever-popular Ford Focus can be secured in our favourite spec in this monthly price bracket, as can the excellent Renault Captur. And if a small SUV isn’t quite for you, you could always go for the award-winning Skoda Octavia instead.
You needn’t assume that fun cars are out of the question: the MINI Cooper Convertible is another brilliant vehicle that can be acquired for less than you’d think.
Intrigued? Here are all the details on the best new cars for under £300 per month…
Best new cars for under £300 per month - header
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The SEAT Mii Electric is the same car underneath as the Volkswagen e-up!, with its 36.8kWh battery affording it an official range of 161 miles. An 82bhp electric motor gets it from 0-62mph in 12.3 seconds, and while this doesn’t sound particularly fast, remember that over 0-30mph - where the Mii Electric will spend most of its (likely urban) life - it’ll feel much more sprightly.
There’s only one trim level for the Mii Electric, and it comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, smartphone integration in the shape of an adjustable holster on the dashboard, a DAB radio, rear parking sensors, cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Practicality isn’t much to shout about with only 251 litres of space in the boot, but you can’t expect much more from a car this size.
Best new cars for under £300 per month - header
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If it’s open-air thrills you’re after, you can’t do much better than the MINI Cooper Convertible. The famous ‘go kart’ handling characteristics of the MINI are combined with the adventure of a canvas roof, while more sensible considerations like running costs are kept in check too.
There’s a JCW version of the MINI that uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 228bhp, but the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo and its 134bhp are more than enough to do this car justice: it’s full of character, reasonably quick with a 0-62mph figure of 8.8 seconds, and you can still expect to see up to 45.6mpg in six-speed manual form.
Entry-level Classic trim keeps things simple, and you can always delve into the options list to add any bits of kit you can’t do without.
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The Renault Captur is our Small SUV of the Year for 2020, with strong performance in all the areas that matter most to drivers. The TCe 130 engine offers a decent turn of speed, but excellent refinement means the engine noise never intrudes into the cabin too much. Fuel economy is pretty handy for a car of this size, too.
Inside, you’ll find a high-resolution, seven-inch touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can easily hook up your phone to the car before you drive. Parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, climate and cruise control are all standard on the entry-level Iconic trim.
The layout of the car is flexible too. The rear seats can slide backwards or forwards so you can prioritise either leg room or boot space: the latter varies from 422 to 536 litres.
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The Ford Focus has been in the top five of the UK’s best-selling cars list for quite some time. It’s a hatchback that suffers from almost no weaknesses at all, so it’s no surprise that so many people have been prepared to spend their money on it all these years.
The Focus’s excellent chassis means that it drives and handles well, resulting in one of the most involving drives in its class. The ride quality is good too, and the ultra-efficient engine line-up means every drop of fuel is squeezed from the tank. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost with 123bhp gives the best combination of speed and efficiency, capable of up to 55.4mpg on paper.
The cabin might not be the most glamorous in existence, but it’s logically laid out and base-spec cars get an eight-inch infotainment screen as standard, as well as automatic headlights, a Quickclear heated windscreen and plenty of other trinkets besides.
Best new cars for under £300 per month - header
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Please be upstanding for the Skoda Octavia, winner of the much sought-after Car of the Year prize at the 2020 Auto Express New Car Awards. The Octavia deserves superlatives in several key areas, with a superb infotainment system, a diverse range of petrol and diesel engines, lots of interior space - both in the hatchback and estate models - and a relentless focus on giving drivers value for money.
Boot space stands at a gigantic 600 litres, which is 220 litres more than you get in a Volkswagen Golf. There’s no shortage of leg or headroom either, with even rear passengers well catered for in this respect. SE L First Edition cars add Microsuede upholstery too, along with a suite of other extras like heated seats, rear privacy glass, adaptive cruise control and electronic adjustment for the driver’s seat. Go for the 1.5-litre TSI 150 petrol engine for the best mix of power and efficiency.
That a car of the Octavia’s ability can be yours for less than £300 per month is really quite astounding. Hurry while the offer lasts!
On the hunt for more car deals? Check out our full round-up of the best car deals on offer right now!
Continue reading...
You could even go electric. EVs are known for being pricier than similarly-sized petrol and diesel cars, but the difference is much easier to swallow on a monthly finance deal. Meanwhile, the lower running costs will massively reduce the total cost of ownership.
Got a growing family? The ever-popular Ford Focus can be secured in our favourite spec in this monthly price bracket, as can the excellent Renault Captur. And if a small SUV isn’t quite for you, you could always go for the award-winning Skoda Octavia instead.
You needn’t assume that fun cars are out of the question: the MINI Cooper Convertible is another brilliant vehicle that can be acquired for less than you’d think.
Intrigued? Here are all the details on the best new cars for under £300 per month…
Best new cars for under £300 per month
- SEAT Mii Electric - £259 per month
- MINI Cooper Convertible - £273 per month
- Renault Captur - £274 per month
- Ford Focus - £291 per month
- Skoda Octavia - £295 per month
SEAT Mii Electric - £259 per month
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- Model: SEAT Mii Electric
- List price: £19,800
- Deposit: £3,500 (£0 contribution)
- Monthly payments: £259.18
- Number of payments: 44
- APR: 5.9 per cent
- Optional final payment: £7,756.20
- Total to pay by customer if returning: £14,873.92
- Total to pay by customer if buying: £22,670.12
The SEAT Mii Electric is the same car underneath as the Volkswagen e-up!, with its 36.8kWh battery affording it an official range of 161 miles. An 82bhp electric motor gets it from 0-62mph in 12.3 seconds, and while this doesn’t sound particularly fast, remember that over 0-30mph - where the Mii Electric will spend most of its (likely urban) life - it’ll feel much more sprightly.
There’s only one trim level for the Mii Electric, and it comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, smartphone integration in the shape of an adjustable holster on the dashboard, a DAB radio, rear parking sensors, cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. Practicality isn’t much to shout about with only 251 litres of space in the boot, but you can’t expect much more from a car this size.
MINI Cooper Convertible - £273 per month
Best new cars for under £300 per month - header
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- Model: MINI Cooper Convertible Classic
- List price: £20,830
- Deposit: £2,500 (£499.55 contribution)
- Monthly payments: £273.12
- Number of payments: 47
- APR: 3.9 per cent
- Optional final payment: £6,908.83
- Total to pay by customer if returning: £15,836.19
- Total to pay by customer if buying: £22,745.01
If it’s open-air thrills you’re after, you can’t do much better than the MINI Cooper Convertible. The famous ‘go kart’ handling characteristics of the MINI are combined with the adventure of a canvas roof, while more sensible considerations like running costs are kept in check too.
There’s a JCW version of the MINI that uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 228bhp, but the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo and its 134bhp are more than enough to do this car justice: it’s full of character, reasonably quick with a 0-62mph figure of 8.8 seconds, and you can still expect to see up to 45.6mpg in six-speed manual form.
Entry-level Classic trim keeps things simple, and you can always delve into the options list to add any bits of kit you can’t do without.
Renault Captur - £274 per month
Best new cars for under £300 per month - header
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- Model: Renault Captur TCe 130 Iconic
- List price: £21,995
- Deposit: £1,862 (£1,000 contribution)
- Monthly payments: £274
- Number of payments: 49
- APR: 4.9 per cent
- Optional final payment: £8,737
- Total to pay by customer if returning: £16,014
- Total to pay by customer if buying: £24,751
The Renault Captur is our Small SUV of the Year for 2020, with strong performance in all the areas that matter most to drivers. The TCe 130 engine offers a decent turn of speed, but excellent refinement means the engine noise never intrudes into the cabin too much. Fuel economy is pretty handy for a car of this size, too.
Inside, you’ll find a high-resolution, seven-inch touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can easily hook up your phone to the car before you drive. Parking sensors, automatic emergency braking, climate and cruise control are all standard on the entry-level Iconic trim.
The layout of the car is flexible too. The rear seats can slide backwards or forwards so you can prioritise either leg room or boot space: the latter varies from 422 to 536 litres.
Ford Focus - £291 per month
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- Model: Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost 125PS Zetec Edition
- List price: £22,210
- Deposit: £3,500 (£0 contribution)
- Monthly payments: £291.33
- Number of payments: 36
- APR: 0 per cent
- Optional final payment: £8,222
- Total to pay by customer if returning: £13,988
- Total to pay by customer if buying: £22,210
The Ford Focus has been in the top five of the UK’s best-selling cars list for quite some time. It’s a hatchback that suffers from almost no weaknesses at all, so it’s no surprise that so many people have been prepared to spend their money on it all these years.
The Focus’s excellent chassis means that it drives and handles well, resulting in one of the most involving drives in its class. The ride quality is good too, and the ultra-efficient engine line-up means every drop of fuel is squeezed from the tank. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost with 123bhp gives the best combination of speed and efficiency, capable of up to 55.4mpg on paper.
The cabin might not be the most glamorous in existence, but it’s logically laid out and base-spec cars get an eight-inch infotainment screen as standard, as well as automatic headlights, a Quickclear heated windscreen and plenty of other trinkets besides.
Skoda Octavia - £295 per month
Best new cars for under £300 per month - header
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- Model: Skoda Octavia Hatch SE L
- List price: £25,340
- Deposit: £2,914.15 (£2,000 contribution)
- Monthly payments: £295.00
- Number of payments: 47
- APR: 4.1 per cent
- Optional final payment: £8,912.70
- Total to pay by customer if returning: £16,789.15
- Total to pay by customer if buying: £25,701.85
Please be upstanding for the Skoda Octavia, winner of the much sought-after Car of the Year prize at the 2020 Auto Express New Car Awards. The Octavia deserves superlatives in several key areas, with a superb infotainment system, a diverse range of petrol and diesel engines, lots of interior space - both in the hatchback and estate models - and a relentless focus on giving drivers value for money.
Boot space stands at a gigantic 600 litres, which is 220 litres more than you get in a Volkswagen Golf. There’s no shortage of leg or headroom either, with even rear passengers well catered for in this respect. SE L First Edition cars add Microsuede upholstery too, along with a suite of other extras like heated seats, rear privacy glass, adaptive cruise control and electronic adjustment for the driver’s seat. Go for the 1.5-litre TSI 150 petrol engine for the best mix of power and efficiency.
That a car of the Octavia’s ability can be yours for less than £300 per month is really quite astounding. Hurry while the offer lasts!
On the hunt for more car deals? Check out our full round-up of the best car deals on offer right now!
Continue reading...