P
Pete Baiden
Guest
Auto Express 2020-02-14 14:30
If you can stretch your budget to £350 per month, you can drive away in some of the best family cars and SUVs
It’s much easier than you think to walk into your local dealership and drive away in one of the top new cars on the road, and that's simply because of the amount of enticing finance offers available from the biggest manufacturers around. With most new cars bought by their owners on finance, it’s evident that more and more people are cottoning on to these types of deals.
With a £350 per month budget, you will be able to afford some of the best new cars on the road, including the likes of Skoda Octavia, Peugeot 3008 and SEAT Tarraco. Alternatively, if you fancy the wind in your hair, you'll also be able to pick up a MINI Convertible or Audi TT in this price bracket.
• Best new car deals 2020
All of the deals are Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) schemes, which means you’ll pay a deposit and a number of monthly installments over a fixed period. When the contract ends, you’ll have the option of paying a final lump sum to claim ownership of the car, or you have the choice of using the car’s remaining value to trade-in for a new model with the same manufacturer. If neither of those take your fancy, you’re also free to simply hand back the keys and find a new car elsewhere.
Below you’ll find our list of the best cars for £350 or less, so scroll down to find out what's on offer...
Best new cars for under £350 per month
• MINI Convertible - £300 per month
• Skoda Octavia - £308 per month
• Audi TT - £331 per month
• SEAT Tarraco - £340 per month
• Peugeot 3008 - £348 per month
MINI Convertible - £300 per month
Image 2 of 6
Image 2 of 6
Model: MINI Convertible Cooper Classic
List price: £20,085
Deposit: £2,000 (£500 contribution)
Monthly payments: £300.17
Number of payments: 35
APR: 3.9%
Optional final payment: £8,591.33
Total to pay by customer if returning: £12,505.95
Total to pay by customer if buying: £21,097.28
The modern MINI has always been a car with a sense of fun, so it makes the ideal base for our favourite rag-top of all. The Cooper Convertible takes much of what we like about the regular MINI hatchback and adds in an electric folding roof that can open the car up to the elements with just the flick of a switch.
The best news of all is that the core MINI driving experience survives the extra weight that comes with the soft roof. Our pick, the Cooper, is fast enough, and the handling agility and responsive steering are still unlike anything else you’ll find at this price. True, the Convertible is pretty impractical – that roof eats into what was already a meagre boot – but treat it like a baby sports car and it makes a strong case for itself.
Skoda Octavia - £308 per month
Image 3 of 6
Image 3 of 6
Model: Skoda Octavia SE L 1.6 TDI 115PS
List price: £23,920
Deposit: £2,500 (£2,500 contribution)
Monthly payments: £308.36
Number of payments: 47
APR: 4.9%
Optional final payment: £6,903
Total to pay by customer if returning: £16,992.92
Total to pay by customer if buying: £23,895.92
Another model whose replacement is already waiting in the wings, the Skoda Octavia takes much of what makes its VW Golf sister car so appealing and adds even more practicality and space.
The Czech-built hatch has long been a favourite of those who need a slightly larger family car, and we can see why. The boot is enormous and passengers in the rear seats are better accommodated than in pretty much any other car in the class.
The car uses the same MQB platform as the Golf and SEAT Leon, and refinement is more than acceptable. While turbo petrol Octavias are smooth and punchy, our pick is the long-legged 1.6 diesel in SE L trim.
Audi TT - £331 per month
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Image 4 of 6
Model: Audi TT Coupe 40 TFSI Sport
List price: £32,165
Deposit: £3,216.50 (£4,250 contribution)
Monthly payments: £330.62
Number of payments: 47
APR: 6.7%
Optional final payment: £14,236.25
Total to pay by customer if returning: £18,755.64
Total to pay by customer if buying: £32,991.89
The TT is a car in old age these days – indeed, Audi is having its own internal argument about whether it should be replaced or not – but this is still an image-led, stylish and nicely finished coupé that will make a lot of sense to some people, especially with some of the deals that are currently available.
Audi’s two-door coupé isn’t as involving to drive as some rivals, notably the 718 Cayman, but the cabin has some beautiful materials, and the boot is big enough for the car to be used as a daily drive.
There are lots of more expensive models in the TT line-up, but the 40 TFSI – which uses the VW Group’s four-cylinder turbo motor with 242bhp – is so competent that it’s hard to look beyond it.
SEAT Tarraco - £340 per month
Image 5 of 6
Image 5 of 6
Model: SEAT Tarraco 2.0 TDI 150 Xcellence
List price: £32,690
Deposit: £4,000 (£0 contribution)
Monthly payments: £340.42
Number of payments: 47
APR: 0%
Optional final payment: £12,690
Total to pay by customer if returning: £19,999.74
Total to pay by customer if buying: £32,689.74
Our favourite seven-seater of the moment, the Tarraco mixes smart styling inside and out with one of the better driving experiences in the SUV class. The former is helped by a standard-fit digital instrument panel, while the latter is boosted by a strong engine range, which includes a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol as well as a 2.0-litre diesel.
There are four trims to choose from, with our pick, the Xcellence, getting 19-inch wheels, sports seats and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
This is a spacious SUV, too. The sixth and seventh seats offer a usable amount of space for kids, and when they’re folded away, the boot expands to an enormous 700 litres in five-seat mode.
Peugeot 3008 - £348 per month
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Image 6 of 6
Model: Peugeot 3008 1.5 BlueHDi 130 S&S Allure
List price: £29,285
Deposit: £4,331.69 (£2,000 contribution)
Monthly payments: £348.42
Number of payments: 47
APR: 5.9%
Optional final payment: £10,616
Total to pay by customer if returning: £20,707.43
Total to pay by customer if buying: £31,323.43
Peugeot’s striking 3008 is a firm favourite in the family SUV class, blending a pleasant driving experience with a cabin quality that few of its rivals can match. It’s got plenty of tech, too; even base versions get 17-inch alloys, LED tail-lights and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. But we’d go one step up to the Allure model, which adds 3D navigation, a reversing camera and blind-spot detection.
While the 3008 is a little pricier to buy than some competitors, running costs are low, thanks to a range of frugal petrol and diesel engine choices. A pair of plug-in hybrid options gives Peugeot an edge over most mainstream rivals, too, and they emit as little as 36g/km of CO2.
Looking for more new car deals? Check out our comprehensive round-up of the best deals available right now...
Associated Advanced Gallery
Best new cars for under £350 per month - pictures
Continue reading...
If you can stretch your budget to £350 per month, you can drive away in some of the best family cars and SUVs
It’s much easier than you think to walk into your local dealership and drive away in one of the top new cars on the road, and that's simply because of the amount of enticing finance offers available from the biggest manufacturers around. With most new cars bought by their owners on finance, it’s evident that more and more people are cottoning on to these types of deals.
With a £350 per month budget, you will be able to afford some of the best new cars on the road, including the likes of Skoda Octavia, Peugeot 3008 and SEAT Tarraco. Alternatively, if you fancy the wind in your hair, you'll also be able to pick up a MINI Convertible or Audi TT in this price bracket.
• Best new car deals 2020
All of the deals are Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) schemes, which means you’ll pay a deposit and a number of monthly installments over a fixed period. When the contract ends, you’ll have the option of paying a final lump sum to claim ownership of the car, or you have the choice of using the car’s remaining value to trade-in for a new model with the same manufacturer. If neither of those take your fancy, you’re also free to simply hand back the keys and find a new car elsewhere.
Below you’ll find our list of the best cars for £350 or less, so scroll down to find out what's on offer...
Best new cars for under £350 per month
• MINI Convertible - £300 per month
• Skoda Octavia - £308 per month
• Audi TT - £331 per month
• SEAT Tarraco - £340 per month
• Peugeot 3008 - £348 per month
MINI Convertible - £300 per month
Image 2 of 6
Image 2 of 6
Model: MINI Convertible Cooper Classic
List price: £20,085
Deposit: £2,000 (£500 contribution)
Monthly payments: £300.17
Number of payments: 35
APR: 3.9%
Optional final payment: £8,591.33
Total to pay by customer if returning: £12,505.95
Total to pay by customer if buying: £21,097.28
The modern MINI has always been a car with a sense of fun, so it makes the ideal base for our favourite rag-top of all. The Cooper Convertible takes much of what we like about the regular MINI hatchback and adds in an electric folding roof that can open the car up to the elements with just the flick of a switch.
The best news of all is that the core MINI driving experience survives the extra weight that comes with the soft roof. Our pick, the Cooper, is fast enough, and the handling agility and responsive steering are still unlike anything else you’ll find at this price. True, the Convertible is pretty impractical – that roof eats into what was already a meagre boot – but treat it like a baby sports car and it makes a strong case for itself.
Skoda Octavia - £308 per month
Image 3 of 6
Image 3 of 6
Model: Skoda Octavia SE L 1.6 TDI 115PS
List price: £23,920
Deposit: £2,500 (£2,500 contribution)
Monthly payments: £308.36
Number of payments: 47
APR: 4.9%
Optional final payment: £6,903
Total to pay by customer if returning: £16,992.92
Total to pay by customer if buying: £23,895.92
Another model whose replacement is already waiting in the wings, the Skoda Octavia takes much of what makes its VW Golf sister car so appealing and adds even more practicality and space.
The Czech-built hatch has long been a favourite of those who need a slightly larger family car, and we can see why. The boot is enormous and passengers in the rear seats are better accommodated than in pretty much any other car in the class.
The car uses the same MQB platform as the Golf and SEAT Leon, and refinement is more than acceptable. While turbo petrol Octavias are smooth and punchy, our pick is the long-legged 1.6 diesel in SE L trim.
Audi TT - £331 per month
Image 4 of 6
Image 4 of 6
Model: Audi TT Coupe 40 TFSI Sport
List price: £32,165
Deposit: £3,216.50 (£4,250 contribution)
Monthly payments: £330.62
Number of payments: 47
APR: 6.7%
Optional final payment: £14,236.25
Total to pay by customer if returning: £18,755.64
Total to pay by customer if buying: £32,991.89
The TT is a car in old age these days – indeed, Audi is having its own internal argument about whether it should be replaced or not – but this is still an image-led, stylish and nicely finished coupé that will make a lot of sense to some people, especially with some of the deals that are currently available.
Audi’s two-door coupé isn’t as involving to drive as some rivals, notably the 718 Cayman, but the cabin has some beautiful materials, and the boot is big enough for the car to be used as a daily drive.
There are lots of more expensive models in the TT line-up, but the 40 TFSI – which uses the VW Group’s four-cylinder turbo motor with 242bhp – is so competent that it’s hard to look beyond it.
SEAT Tarraco - £340 per month
Image 5 of 6
Image 5 of 6
Model: SEAT Tarraco 2.0 TDI 150 Xcellence
List price: £32,690
Deposit: £4,000 (£0 contribution)
Monthly payments: £340.42
Number of payments: 47
APR: 0%
Optional final payment: £12,690
Total to pay by customer if returning: £19,999.74
Total to pay by customer if buying: £32,689.74
Our favourite seven-seater of the moment, the Tarraco mixes smart styling inside and out with one of the better driving experiences in the SUV class. The former is helped by a standard-fit digital instrument panel, while the latter is boosted by a strong engine range, which includes a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol as well as a 2.0-litre diesel.
There are four trims to choose from, with our pick, the Xcellence, getting 19-inch wheels, sports seats and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
This is a spacious SUV, too. The sixth and seventh seats offer a usable amount of space for kids, and when they’re folded away, the boot expands to an enormous 700 litres in five-seat mode.
Peugeot 3008 - £348 per month
Image 6 of 6
Image 6 of 6
Model: Peugeot 3008 1.5 BlueHDi 130 S&S Allure
List price: £29,285
Deposit: £4,331.69 (£2,000 contribution)
Monthly payments: £348.42
Number of payments: 47
APR: 5.9%
Optional final payment: £10,616
Total to pay by customer if returning: £20,707.43
Total to pay by customer if buying: £31,323.43
Peugeot’s striking 3008 is a firm favourite in the family SUV class, blending a pleasant driving experience with a cabin quality that few of its rivals can match. It’s got plenty of tech, too; even base versions get 17-inch alloys, LED tail-lights and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. But we’d go one step up to the Allure model, which adds 3D navigation, a reversing camera and blind-spot detection.
While the 3008 is a little pricier to buy than some competitors, running costs are low, thanks to a range of frugal petrol and diesel engine choices. A pair of plug-in hybrid options gives Peugeot an edge over most mainstream rivals, too, and they emit as little as 36g/km of CO2.
Looking for more new car deals? Check out our comprehensive round-up of the best deals available right now...
Associated Advanced Gallery
Best new cars for under £350 per month - pictures
Continue reading...