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the-10-cheapest-new-cars-you-can-buy

Buying a new car can be one of life's biggest&nbsp;investments, and these days a lot of models come with so much technology&nbsp;that the price can be&nbsp;eye-watering.

However, there is&nbsp;still a selection of models that offer no-nonsense thrills for a great price. So, here&nbsp;we list the 10 cheapest new cars, and show you how much you can save on each of them.

Thanks to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-target-price/n1433">Target Price</a>&nbsp;discounts, even some of the cheapest new cars on sale can&nbsp;be bought with a great discount.

If any of the cars on this list take your fancy, you can follow the&nbsp;review links to find out more about the car or click on the&nbsp;deals links to see&nbsp;more discounts with&nbsp;our free&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a>&nbsp;service.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

The 10 cheapest new cars you can buy

Hatchback

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

Version&nbsp;1.0 Mild Hybrid 500 |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£16,790&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£16,001

The petrol-powered&nbsp;Fiat 500 has been around for some time now, and it continues to be a stylish and economical&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>.

However, it is starting to feel its age. On faster roads, for instance, the 500 feels very much out of its depth&nbsp;with its roly-poly handling and an unsettled ride. The 1.0-litre&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a>&nbsp;engine also needs working hard to keep up with faster traffic.

In town,&nbsp;it's a different story. The 500 is very easy to drive, with the&nbsp;light steering and small dimensions making it&nbsp;nice and easy to manoeuvre. No matter the environment, though, the 500 is uncomfortable&nbsp;(thanks to its awkward driving position) and not very practical.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">Fiat 500 Hybrid&nbsp;review</a>

10: Fiat 500 Hybrid

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Distinctive looks</li>
	<li>Easy to drive around town</li>
	<li>Plenty of customisation options</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Poor driving position</li>
	<li>Unsettled ride</li>
	<li>Coarse-sounding engine</li>
</ul>

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

AYGO X

Version&nbsp;1.0 VVT-i Pure |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£16,130&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£15,069

From the pictures, it can be easy to mistake the Toyota Aygo X for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>. However, in reality it's actually a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>&nbsp;in terms of its size.

Having been launched in 2022, the Aygo X is one of the newest small cars. As such, it comes with&nbsp;loads of safety kit as standard, including&nbsp;automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), lane-keep&nbsp;assist and six airbags. The entry-level Pure trim is also&nbsp;well equipped, and comes with&nbsp;automatic 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 is&nbsp;slow and unrefined.&nbsp;

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X review</a>

9: Toyota Aygo X

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Cheap to run</li>
	<li>Good level of safety kit</li>
	<li>10-year warranty</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Cramped in the back</li>
	<li>Smaller boot opening than rivals</li>
	<li>Lacklustre engine</li>
</ul>

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

Temporary taxonomy to unlink review until CAP taxonomy is updated

Version&nbsp;1.0 MPi Advance |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,420&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,879

The Hyundai i10 is one of the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-small-cars-2022/n16997">small cars</a>&nbsp;you can buy on a budget. No matter which version you go for, you get a relatively spacious and&nbsp;smart-looking interior&nbsp;and 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, although&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a>'s is ever so slightly bigger.&nbsp;

The entry-level 1.0-litre&nbsp;three-cylinder petrol engine is strong enough in town and efficient.&nbsp;Advance&nbsp;trim comes with automatic lights, air conditioning,&nbsp;electric door-mirror adjustment&nbsp;and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearlever as standard.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10 review</a>

8: Hyundai i10

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable and quiet to drive</li>
	<li>Five seats and decent rear space</li>
	<li>Good amount of kit as standard</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Three-star Euro NCAP safety rating</li>
	<li>Non-turbocharged 1.0-litre engine is a bit lacklustre</li>
	<li>Slow automatic gearbox</li>
</ul>

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

SANDERO STEPWAY

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe Essential |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,295&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£15,042

The Sandero Stepway is essentially a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a>&nbsp;but with some extra ruggedness, including a more&nbsp;heavily sculpted bonnet, roof rails, chunky plastic wheel arch extensions and&nbsp;an increased ride height.

Like the Sandero, it's a brilliant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-small-cars-2022/n16997">small car</a>&nbsp;with a&nbsp;spacious 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 offers&nbsp;acceptable performance for the class&nbsp;with a decent amount of low-end punch.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero-stepway/hatchback/review/n17269">Dacia Sandero Stepway&nbsp;review</a>

7: Dacia Sandero Stepway

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
	<li>Astonishing price</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Poor safety rating compared to rivals</li>
	<li>Mainly cosmetic changes for the money over a regular Sandero</li>
	<li>Noisy TCe 90 engine</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

Version&nbsp;1.0 Up&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,180&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,793

The Volkswagen Up is a former&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2023-overall-winner/n25379">What Car? Car of the Year</a>, and more than 10 years on, it's still&nbsp;an appealing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-small-cars-2022/n16997">small car</a>&nbsp;with fun driving manners, an economical engine and a high-quality interior for the price.

The entry-level trim is fairly sparse in terms of standard kit, so we'd recommend upgrading to Beats. It's not much more expensive and&nbsp;adds ambient lighting, a multifunction steering wheel and a Beats audio system.

It's worth noting that Volkswagen has recently ended production of the Up. There should&nbsp;still be plenty of new cars available from dealer stock, though.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n9">Volkswagen&nbsp;Up&nbsp;review</a>

6: Volkswagen Up

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good fun to drive</li>
	<li>Economical three-cylinder engines</li>
	<li>Relatively classy interior finish</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Limited safety technology</li>
	<li>Some rivals offer better value</li>
	<li>Harsh ride on larger wheels</li>
</ul>

PANDA

Version&nbsp;1.0 Mild Hybrid City Life |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,765&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,113

The Panda has charming&nbsp;looks 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 means&nbsp;it's quite&nbsp;wearing 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.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a>&nbsp;is more practical.

The worst thing about the Panda, though, is its abysmal zero stars safety rating from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>. So,&nbsp;overall we'd recommend that you stay well clear of it.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/panda/hatchback/review/n128">Fiat Panda&nbsp;review</a>

5: Fiat Panda

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Individual looks</li>
	<li>Decent head room</li>
	<li>Good rear visibility</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Abysmal Euro NCAP crash test result</li>
	<li>Poor rear leg room</li>
	<li>Slow and poor to drive</li>
</ul>

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

Version&nbsp;1.2 PureTech 83 You |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,995&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,995

Citroën recently added the&nbsp;entry-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 regular&nbsp;C3, the You version&nbsp;comes with very little&nbsp;equipment as standard. The only 'luxuries' you get are&nbsp;cruise control, manual air-conditioning and heated side mirrors. The Dacia Sandero is much better value.

In other areas, the C3 is poor to drive, the entry-level engine is underpowered, and it's&nbsp;not very practical. You also have to pay extra for some important safety kit, including&nbsp;automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>).

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c3/hatchback/review/n17364">Citroën C3&nbsp;review</a>

4: Citroën C3

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Decently equipped</li>
	<li>Stylish interior</li>
	<li>Efficient petrol and diesel engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Poor to drive</li>
	<li>AEB is not standard on lower trims</li>
	<li>Cramped rear seats</li>
</ul>

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

Version&nbsp;1.5 VTi-Tech Excite&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,820&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£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's&nbsp;very well equipped for the money;&nbsp;Excite trim includes&nbsp;an 8.0in touchscreen,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;and rear parking sensors as standard.

Mind you, the MG3 is&nbsp;heavily compromised in&nbsp;many&nbsp;other 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.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867">MG3&nbsp;review</a>

3: MG3

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Attractively priced</li>
	<li>Interior looks fairly smart</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Bumpy ride</li>
	<li>Unrefined engine</li>
	<li>Disappointing safety</li>
</ul>

SANDERO

Version&nbsp;TCe 100 Bi-Fuel Essential&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,795&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,601

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, a rival model has just topped it.

But what's the Sandero like? Well, it's actually a&nbsp;better car than the Picanto. It's more practical and&nbsp;more comfortable, while the entry-level trim is better&nbsp;equipped;&nbsp;Essential trim comes with&nbsp;cruise control, front electric windows and air conditioning.

This&nbsp;Bi-Fuel version can run also&nbsp;on cheaper liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)&nbsp;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 noting&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;gave the Sandero just two stars for safety.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero review</a>

2: Dacia Sandero

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Amazingly good value</li>
	<li>Lots of space for passengers and luggage</li>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Poor safety rating compared with rivals</li>
	<li>There are more entertaining small cars to drive</li>
	<li>Some other small cars are quieter</li>
</ul>

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

PICANTO

Version&nbsp;1.0 1&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,665&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,410

The cheapest new car you can&nbsp;buy in the UK&nbsp;is the Kia Picanto, and it's a&nbsp;fine&nbsp;car for the money.&nbsp;

It's good to drive, with tidy handling and a comfortable driving position, while the interior is&nbsp;smart to look at. As you might expect, the equipment&nbsp;list is fairly sparse (the entry-level&nbsp;trim doesn't even come with&nbsp;air conditioning). You do, however, get automatic lights, remote central locking and electric front windows as standard.

Despite being quite&nbsp;underpowered, the entry-level 66bhp 1.0-litre engine is&nbsp;compelling&nbsp;thanks 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-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto&nbsp;review</a>

1: Kia Picanto

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Really tidy handling</li>
	<li>Frugal 1.0 MPi petrol engine</li>
	<li>Excellent infotainment and equipment on 3 trim</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>1.0 MPi petrol engine isn't very quick</li>
	<li>Firm(ish) low-speed ride</li>
	<li>A Dacia Sandero is much roomier</li>
</ul>

<hr />
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<h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">Best small cars</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

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