What Car?'s best cars for less than £250 per month
By buying your next car using a PCP finance deal, you could end up driving something that you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. These are our top 10 cars for less than £250 per month.....
These days, most new car purchases are made using a finance deal, and the most popular way of financing a car is through a personal contract purchase, or PCP.
These deals are easy to find, and because you're only financing part of the car's value, you can drive away something that would otherwise be out of your budget.
Indeed, for £250 per month, you can choose from small cars, family hatchbacks, estate cars and even SUVs.
Here, we count down the top 10 deals from our Target Price research, which reveals the most you should pay for a new car. You'll see the terms of each deal, including the mileage limit, interest rate and any dealer finance contribution listed next to each car. And as always, you can find out more about each model by reading our full reviews, or by clicking through to the latest deals with What Car? New Car Buying.
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10: Mazda 6 2.0 SE-L Nav+
Target Price cost per month: £246
Target Price (on the road): £21,292
The deal: 42 months' PCP finance with 3.9% APR and £2500 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 8000 miles per year
If you're looking for an executive saloon that's a bit left field from the usual German offerings, the stylish Mazda 6 is well worth considering.
10: Mazda 6 - interior
Its 2.0-litre petrol engine is punchy and economical, while SE-L + Nav trim comes with every feature you could reasonably want, including dual-zone climate control, 17in alloy wheels, cruise control and parking sensors.
9: Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI Life
Target Price cost per month: £250
Target Price (on the road): £22,216
The deal: 48 months' PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £1000 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 10,000 miles per year
The latest-generation Golf has already proven itself to be both comfortable and practical, with tidy handling and a smart-looking interior.
9: Volkswagen Golf - interior
We've been impressed with the performance of this 1.5-litre petrol engine, too; it provides plenty of performance without sounding like it's being worked too hard.
8: Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Ecoboost ST-2 [Performance Pack] Nav 5dr
Target Price cost per month: £215
Target Price (on the road): £20,332
The deal: 36 months' PCP finance with 2.9% APR and £1000 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 9000 miles per year
You might think that a hot hatchback like the Fiesta ST would have only niche appeal, but as well as being outrageously good fun to drive, the Fiesta is also fairly practical.
8: Ford Fiesta ST - interior
The 1.5-litre petrol engine under the bonnet sounds fantastic and revs freely, and when combined with the Fiesta ST's excellent front-end grip and engaging handling, makes this a very fun car to drive quickly. Come rain or shine, you'll have a smile on your face.
7: Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI SE DSG
Target Price cost per month: £219
Target Price (on the road): £21,908
The deal: 48 months' PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £1750 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 10,000 miles per year
Given the success of the larger Kodiaq, it seemed inevitable that Skoda's second SUV effort, the Karoq, would be similarly good.
7: Skoda Karoq - interior
This replacement for the Yeti (and rival to the Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008) is comfortable and practical, and even entry-level SE models come with lots of toys, including dual-zone climate control and an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen. This DSG version also comes with an automatic gearbox.
6: Audi A3 30 TFSI 116 Sport [Tech Pack]
Target Price cost per month: £207
Target Price (on the road): £20,043
The deal: 48 months' PCP finance with 6.6% APR and £4000 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 8000 miles per year
Despite being one of the oldest cars in the family car class, the Audi A3 is still one of the best – after all, it's a former Car of the Year.
6: Audi A3 - interior
It's comfortable, spacious, good to drive and well equipped, and this petrol-engined version is nicely peppy too.
5: Skoda Octavia Estate 1.5 TSI SE Drive
Target Price cost per month: £206
Target Price (on the road): £18,291
The deal: 48 months' PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £2500 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 10,000 miles per year
The Skoda Octavia hatchback is a fantastic and spacious family car, but if you're in need of Tardis levels of luggage space, the estate version is the one to choose.
5: Skoda Octavia Estate - interior
Aside from its massive boot, it impresses both with the amount of kit it comes with – SE models have rear parking sensors, climate and cruise controls and a front armrest – and the value for money it offers. We reckon it's one of the best estate cars at any price.
4: Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 SE
Target Price cost per month: £215
Target Price (on the road): £18,671
The deal: 48 months' PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £750 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 10,000 miles per year
The T-Cross is one of the best small SUVs you can buy right now. Why? Well, it's spacious inside, comes with an impressive array of safety equipment and has a smooth ride, so no matter whether you're sticking to the city or venturing further afield, you'll arrive unflustered.
4: Volkswagen T-Cross - interior
Add in the fact that the T-Cross is easy to drive and offers competitive running costs, and it's very easy to recommend.
3: Citroën Berlingo 1.2 Puretech Feel M
Target Price cost per month: £250
Target Price (on the road): £18,933
The deal: 48 months' PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £750 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 8000 miles per year
The Berlingo is massive inside, so whether you need to transport five people or a boot full of luggage – or indeed both – it will safely swallow it all and still ask for more.
3: Citroën Berlingo - interior
The 1.2-litre petrol engine you get here is our favourite, because it doesn't feel out of puff even when every seat is filled, while our recommended Feel specification comes with air conditioning, cruise control and an 8.0 touchscreen infotainment system.
2: Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI SE L
Target Price cost per month: £205
Target Price (on the road): £17,386
The deal: 48 months' PCP finance with 5.9% APR and £2250 finance deposit allowance. Limit of 10,000 miles per year
Think of the Scala is being a cheaper version of the Volkswagen Golf, and you won't be far wrong.
2: Skoda Scala - interior
Don't think that cheap can't make you cheerful, though, because the Scala is spacious inside, has a good infotainment system and a comfortable ride. Even better, our recommended SE L cars come with 17in alloy wheels, LED rear lights and climate control.
1: Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost mHEV 155 ST-Line X
Target Price cost per month: £249
Target Price (on the road): £22,591
The deal: 36 months' PCP finance with 1.2% APR. Limit of 9000 miles per year
The Ford Puma isn't just our favourite small SUV, it's also our Car of the Year for 2020. The Puma won our top accolade for providing everything that small SUV buyers are looking for – space, practicality and comfort – while also being fun to drive and lowering your fuel bills thanks to its clever mild hybrid technology.
1: Ford Puma - interior
Even better, this version is our favourite, so if you've got £250 per month to spend there's not a better car out there.
