People looking at car finance deals for the first time, and experienced financers alike, are often taken aback by how much car they can get for £300 per month. The sheer number of models that fall into this range is magnificent, though the most impressive thing is the number of new car deals on offer. But what are the best cars for £300 per month?
A new car budget of £300 per month unlocks a serious range of upmarket brands, as well as options such as saloons, SUVs, estates and electric cars. Of course, first you’ll need to decide what kind of finance package you’re after.
Leasing (sometimes called PCH) is essentially a form of renting. You pay an initial payment and a series of monthly payments. Then that’s it. You hand the car back.
PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) deals involve a deposit and a series of monthly payments. Then you choose if you want to buy at the end, with what is often referred to as a balloon payment.
Leasing is usually better if you don’t want to eventually own the car, while PCP is recommended if you want to keep your buying options open. Read on to discover our favourite car leasing deals costing £300 or less per month.
Best cars for £300 a month 2024
Classy premium hatchback
Despite being the least expensive BMW model on sale, it still feels every bit a BMW. This is most evident in the interior: it’s full of plush materials and typical BMW buttons, rather than housing everything on a touchscreen.
Read our full BMW 1 Series review
Pros
- Loads of gadgets
- Strong performance
- Superb refinement
Cons
- Cramped rear seats
- Performance versions should be a bit more exciting
Hugely impressive family estate
The 1.0-litre engine on offer here is more than up to the task of hauling a family and their luggage, but if you regularly travel with lots of passengers on the motorway then you might be better off with the diesel engine.
Read our full Skoda Octavia Estate review
Pros
- Huge boot
- Very comfortable
- Cheap to run
Cons
- Road noise on the motorway
- Rivals have more high-tech gear
Small SUV with a twist
It appeals to buyers who want something a little bit less humdrum than a small SUV, but still want something practical, reliable and with a German badge.
Read our full VW Taigo review
Pros
- Comfortable ride
- Excellent engines
- Spacious rear seats
Cons
- Slightly less practical than T-Cross
- Frustrating touch-sensitive controls
MG ZS EV
One of the cheapest EV SUVs
The ZS EV is one of these cars. The all-important electric range spans 198-273 miles, while the SUV shape is practical enough. Most other electric cars simply won’t go as far or carry as much for this kind of money.
Read our full MG ZS EV review
Pros
- Up to 273 miles of range
- Seven-year warranty
- Five-star safety rating
Cons
- Low rent interior
- Lack of badge appeal
Britain's bestselling family car... for good reason
Mix that with a fun driving experience, and nice touches like a Megabox in the boot (essentially a waterproof box with a drain plug), and it’s easy to see why it took home our coveted prize.
Read our full Ford Puma review
Pros
- Economical engines
- Great to drive
- Boot is useful in size and shape
Cons
- Rear legroom could be better
- Infotainment feels a bit old
A charming small SUV that's made for the real world
Yes, there are cheaper options, but you can bring that figure down by stumping up more of a deposit.
Read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review
Pros
- Surprisingly good to drive
- Efficient hybrid powertrain
- Fantastic 10-year warranty
Cons
- Plain interior
- Dated infotainment system
The car that kicked off the EV craze
Today it's feeling a bit outdated compared with rivals. However, Nissan has introduced the new Shiro trim level, which brings the best selling features of the range at £2,000 less than the old top-spec trim. Zap-Map’s premium service – which includes drivers to journey plan for their specific car.
Read our full Nissan Leaf review
Pros
- Easy to drive
- Quiet and refined
- Intuitive one-pedal driving mode
Cons
- Plenty of rivals with larger range
- Outdated infotainment
Cheap and reliable family transport
0% APR is available throughout the line-up, but do yourself a favour and avoid the full hybrid model. It only comes with a really lethargic and needlessly complicated automatic gearbox which is unforgivably bad.
Read our full Suzuki S-Cross review
Pros
- Great value
- Lots of standard equipment
- Available with four-wheel drive
Cons
- Monotone cabin
- Disappointing full hybrid
An appealing seven-seat MPV/Estate/SUV mash up
The Jogger offers an astounding amount of bang for not much buck, so much so that we crowned it our Best Value Car of 2023. It has bags of interior room and seven very usable seats, making it the perfect hauler for large families, and all for the price of a secondhand car.
Read our full Dacia Jogger review
Pros
- Incredibly spacious for its size
- Bargain price
- Comfortable and easy to drive
Cons
- Low rent interior
- Poor safety score
These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 15 April 2024, but are subject to change without prior notice. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different and the availability of credit is subject to status. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Parkers cannot recommend a deal for you specifically.
