A monthly payment of £400 gets you an awful lot of car. Indeed, that amount will get you a new car deal on just about any type of car you could want, whether you’re looking for a family-friendly SUV, a posh saloon, or a sporty little number. You’ll find all of those, and more, on this list of the best cars for £400 per month.
We’re looking at both leasing and personal contract purchase (PCP) deals. To secure a PCP deal, you pay a deposit then a series of monthly payments. When those payments end, you can make the optional final payment to take full ownership of the car, or give it back.
Leasing – technically called personal contract hire, or PCH – is effectively a long-term rental. You make an initial payment followed by monthly payments. At the end, you just hand the car back.
If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to £400 a month, check out our pick of the best cars available for £300 a month.
Best new cars for £400 a month 2024
Desirable, well-built electric SUV
Our budget stretches to the Enyaq 85 Edition model which has 348 miles of range, triple-zone climate, adaptive cruise control, clever variable LED lights, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. Most importantly, you get the biggest battery and a potential real-world range of around 300 miles.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Enyaq review
Pros
- Comfortable and roomy interior
- Good electric range
- All-wheel-drive available
Cons
- Options jack up the price
- Looks a bit plain
Baby hot hatch is feisty and fun
It’s not quite as joyous as the Fiesta, but it’s more practical and better equipped. The great news is that although it might not be around for too much longer, the i20 N is comfortably within budget, and probably the most fun available for the money.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai i20 N review
Pros
- Serious speed, fabulous handling
- Very well-equipped
- Surprisingly practical
Cons
- Stiff ride
- Iffy interior materials
Smart premium hatchback makes a great performance car
All in all, it’s one of the very best hatchbacks on the market. Add in a potent 306hp motor, four-wheel drive grip and the best steering in the business, and you're left with one of the best all-rounders for your money. We've lived with one for six months and prefer rate it very highly indeed.
To find out more, read our full BMW M135i review
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Great to drive
- Smooth, quiet ride
Cons
- A bit cramped in the back
- Fiddly infotainment
Stylish and engaging family-size SUV
Thrown in strong practicality, reliability and a network of excellent, often family-owned dealers, and the CX-60 diesel builds a strong case for itself. The 254hp power unit feels muscular and is also surprisingly efficient.
To find out more, read our full Mazda CX-60 review
Pros
- Premium interior quality
- Good to drive
- Generous standard features
Cons
- Not the roomiest option
- Ride quality isn't great
Deeply handsome saloon that’s great to drive
It’s also practical enough for family life and the latest version has brilliantly user-friendly infotainment system. The mid-range Veloce model has Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satnav, adaptive cruise control, electric leather seats and a heated steering wheel. With a 280hp petrol engine, it’s rapid and does 30mpg-ish.
To find out more, read our full Alfa Romeo Giulia review
Pros
- Best-looking mid-size saloon
- Usefully spacious
- Just delightful to drive
Cons
- Interior quality lags behind rivals
- Efficiency isn’t great
Seven-seater family SUV is increasingly good value
It’s not exactly interesting to drive but it's easy and trustworthy. In Life guise, the Tiguan has satnav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, three-zone climate control and adaptive cruise control. The 130hp petrol engine twins adequate performance with decent efficiency.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace review
Pros
- Hugely spacious and practical
- Deeply comfortable
- Efficient engines
Cons
- A few irksome controls
- Rather dull to drive
Pragmatic family car choice
The boot is one of the largest for its class and the rear seats offer limousine levels of lounging room. Fold them down and it does essentially turn the Superb Estate into a small and rather stylish van.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Superb Estate (2015-2024) review
Pros
- Comfortable
- Spacious interior
- Easy to drive
Cons
- Replaced by a new model
- Not that sharp to drive
The best sports car for the money
It also has an outstanding reputation for reliability. If you search around, both the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre engines are available comfortably within budget. Despite being cheaper, we can't recommend the 1.5-litre. It's noticeably slower and not all that much less expensive per month compared with the larger unit.
To find out more, read our full Mazda MX-5 review
Pros
- Enormously good to drive
- Well-executed yet inexpensive
- Remarkably cheap to run
Cons
- Very compact interior
- Tiny boot
Easy-to-use and surprisingly posh family SUV
Around £400 per month will unlock a great number of these variations. We recommend going for the hybrid in five-seat configuration, in well-equipped Tekna form.
Read our full Nissan X-Trail review
Pros
- Hybrid is refined
- Spacious as a five-seater
- Posh interior
Cons
- Rivals are sharper to drive
- Cramped third row of seats
**These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 23 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.
