If you’re after a family car then you’re potentially going to be looking at the best SUV deals as your first port of call. Their practicality and rugged appeal are often irresistible, with the added bonus that, if you shop around, many are still reasonably affordable. Here, for example, we’ve rounded up some of the best cheap SUVs for £200 per month, helping keep your expenditure down.
SUVs generally cost more than hatchbacks to buy outright, but owing to their greater appeal on the used market, and better residual values, they can be surprisingly good value to finance, with a range of models available from under £200 a month.
The list we’ve put together here consist of both PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) finance deals and leasing options. PCP is the most popular type of car finance right now; you pay a deposit, a series of monthly payments, then, it’s up to you to decide if you want to buy the car with an outright payment. Or you can chop it in for a new car using the equity in it to contribute to your next deposit.
Leasing, also known as Personal Contract Hire (PCH), is effectively renting the car. You put down an initial payment, then you make monthly payments, and then hand the car back at the end of the agreement. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s worth doing some research to see which would best suit you.
Currently, if you are considering finance, many deals have high interest rates. As a result, you need to think carefully about whether the APR of the credit provided is good value – check out our information about buying a car on finance versus cash for more details.
Not after an SUV? Check out our picks of the best cars for £200 per month.
Best SUVs for £200 a month 2024
Cheap but also very cheerful
Dacia, along with sibling brand Renault, is offering some particularly inexpensive PCP deals at the moment, and it's possible to get behind the wheel of a top-spec Journey model for less than £100 a month. The 24-month agreements do require substantial deposits – around £5,000 in the case of this deal – but, all things considered, it's an inexpensive way to get into a brand-new car.
To find out more, read our full Dacia Duster review
Pros
- Excellent value
- Available with four-wheel drive
- Spacious interior
Cons
- Some scratchy plastics inside
- Not as cheap as it used to be
MG ZS
A lot of space for the money
The 1.0-litre turbo variants are better than the cheaper 1.5-litre non-turbo models, while the mid-range Exclusive trim optimises your value for money, though standard equipment levels are generally excellent.
To find out more, read our full MG ZS review
Pros
- A lot of car for your money
- Seven-year warranty
- Lots of standard kit
Cons
- No great shakes to drive
- Some quality rough edges
Spacious, well-equipped and good to drive
Another key attraction to this British-built crossover is its value for money, especially when it comes to leasing. The Qashqai is a larger car than others on this list, but doesn't have to cost any more money a month. Through our leasing partners, you can currently get behind the wheel of this SUV for just £182 a month, with a £1,950 initial rental.*
To find out more, read our full Nissan Qashqai review
Pros
- Practical interior
- Good to drive
- Lots of standard safety kit
Cons
- Lukewarm engines
- Rivals offer more interior space
Unusual but reliable family transport
For the money, you'll get a lower-spec K30 variant, but that will be enough for most families. Currently you can get behind the wheel for £182 a month with a £5,050 deposit over a four-year agreement, though with a high 7.9% APR rate. KGM is also offering an unusual offer where you pay for half the car now (essentially a 50 per cent deposit) and then pay the remaining balance in 12 months time, without a need for any monthly payments.
To find out more, read our full KGM Tivoli review
Pros
- Excellent value
- Lots of passenger space
- Seven-year warranty
Cons
- Engine refinement isn't brilliant
- Thirsty engines
Stylish and smallish, yet still big inside
Renault offers some of the most flexible finance deals of any manufacturer, and is offering 0% APR PCP deals for two years, and the chance to get behind the wheel of a Captur for just £31 a month, less than a typical phone contract. Yes, really. That is only because of steep deposit, though, which in this case is £8,200. However, if you can stomach the up-front cost, you'll get an appealing modern SUV that's inexpensive to run. Various leasing deals are also available for less than £200 a month.
To find out more, read our full Renault Captur review
Pros
- Stylish and desirable
- Excellent interior and infotainment
- Various hybrid options available
Cons
- Low-spec models are plain inside
- Engine refinement isn't great
Reliable and great value
Suzuki is currently offering some cracking lease deals, with the Vitara available for just £180 a month with a £1,600 advanced rental.*
To find out more, read our full Suzuki Vitara review
Pros
- Great Boosterjet engine
- Reliable
- All-wheel drive available
Cons
- Poor interior quality
- Small boot
FAQs
How do I choose the right SUV?
SUVs and crossovers are now the most popular type of car, and there are lots of options available. Three main things will help you decide on the right SUV for you. The first is price and what is available within your budget, such as this £200 a month limit.
Second is the size of the SUV you need, as there is everything from large eight-seat giants to smaller options no larger than a Ford Fiesta or Volkswagen Polo. With a £200 budget, you’ll be limited to vehicles at the smaller end of the spectrum. Third is what powers your car, whether that’s petrol, diesel, hybrid or electricity.
Which SUV is the most economical?
A general rule is that smaller engines will be more efficient, such as turbocharged 1.0-litre engines found in cars from Renault and the Volkswagen Group, for example.
Hybrid SUVs can also help your running costs, especially in urban driving where these models can run for more time on electricity.
Are there any other electric or hybrid SUVs available for less than £200 a month?
Hybrid and electric models generally have steeper upfront costs, and as a result, are often more expensive to finance. However, you can still pick up some great deals if you’re prepared to shop around.
At the time of writing, you could get a Nissan Juke Hybrid leasing deal for just £192 a month, with the Renault Captur and Nissan Qashqai each available for around £220 a month.
If you’d prefer something electric, these are currently all costing more than £200 a month. The cheapest deals we could find at the time of writing were a Peugeot e-2008 for £220 a month and MG ZS EV for £233 per month. When you consider their lower running costs, however, they could work out cheaper to run overall.
Which SUV is the most reliable?
If reliability is high up your priority list, an SUV from Suzuki could make a lot of sense, with this Japanese firm’s Ignis and Vitara known for their dependable nature. Toyota’s hybrid crossovers, such as the Yaris Cross and C-HR also have a great reliability reputation.
What SUV is the cheapest to insure and tax?
In terms of the cheapest SUVs to insure, as a general rule, it is again the smallest models with less powerful engines that will have the lowest insurance groups. The Citroen C3 Aircross and Fiat 500X are two of the lowest in insurance group 6, while the highly recommended Renault Captur is in insurance group 7. Always make sure to compare prices and get an insurance quote before buying, though.
If you’re looking at new SUVs, since April 2017, all new cars (other than hybrids and EVs) have a flat rate of £190 per year in tax. The exception is cars with a list price of more than £40,000, which attract an additional £390 supplement each year until they’re six years old. Electric cars are also currently free to tax, though this will change from April 2025.
* These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 27 March 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.
