In the market for a deal on a new car? If you can stretch to £300 per month, you’ll have a veritable treasure trove of finance deals. 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. From massive Dacias to luxury badges certain to get the neighbour’s curtains twitching, we’ve combed the best cars for less than £300 a month. 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 to lease for £300 a month 2024
Classy premium hatchback
Despite being the least expensive model in its lineup, 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. It's about to be replaced, so look out for bargains.
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 small SUV
There’s no hybrid option which may put some off, but the petrol engines on offer are frugal enough that it won’t be an issue. It’s not the most interesting car on this list, but it’s easily recommendable.
Read our full Skoda Kamiq review
Pros
- Handles well; comfortable ride
- Bright and well-made interior
- Very spacious for its size
Cons
- Low seating position for an SUV
- DSG transmission could be slicker
The go-to hatchback
Elsewhere it features the quality that the Golf built its legacy on, neatly refined to make it far more compelling. And if you really want to maximise the thrill factor, you can just-about bag the spicier GTI for less than £300 a month.
Read our full VW Golf review
Pros
- One of the best infotainment systems on sale
- Loads of engines, including new PHEV systems
- Build quality has improved over the old model
Cons
- Not the most engaging drive
- Average boot and rear space
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 isn't the best
A charming small SUV that's made for the real world
The interior is an improvement, too. Here, you’ll get plenty of attractive recycled materials lining everything and a responsive 24cm circular infotainment system. Boot space isn’t the best in its class, but it’s a cheeky, likeable car.
Read our full MINI Countryman review
Pros
- A lot of fun to drive
- Flexible rear seats
- Characterful interior
Cons
- Over-reliance on touchscreen
- Smaller boot than key rivals
A sensible way to go electric
The highlight of this car is the space offered on the inside. Not only does it have a commendable 466-litre boot capacity, the interior itself feels huge. Two 12.3-inch touchscreens also help create a minimalist interior. It's a charisma vacuum for the keen driver, but it’s eminently capable and an affordable way to go electric.
Read our full Nissan Ariya review
Pros
- Solid battery range
- Simple, user-friendly dashboard
- Spacious for passengers
Cons
- A bit boring
- No front boot
The fun family transport
It’s even more practical than you’d expect, with capacious rear seats and a usable boot, so long as you skip the plug-in hybrid that robs 100 litres of space. It’s not the most sensible pick, but it is one of the most dynamic and endearing SUVs on sale.
Read our full Cupra Formentor review
Pros
- A lot of fun to drive
- Choice of powerful petrol engines
- Available with four-wheel drive
Cons
- Fiddly infotainment system
- Firm ride in Cupra mode
An appealing seven-seat MPV/estate/SUV mashup
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
Best PCP cars for £300 a month 2024
An outstanding electric family car
A bells-and-whistles model even squeaks in at less than £299 too, which features Harman Kardon audio, a panoramic sunroof, and a 3D camera. To top it off, all Scenic PCP deals are available with 0% APR.
Read our full Renault Scenic E-Tech review
Renault Scenic E-Tech Techno
Monthly cost: £228 (25 payments)
Deposit: £12,299
Manufacturer's contribution: 0
Total amount payable: £40,995
Cash price: £40,995
Mileage allowance: 6,000 miles per year
APR: 0%
Pros
- Easy and enjoyable to drive
- Superb real-world driving range
- Spacious, well-planned interior
Cons
- Fidgety ride at times
- Poor rear visibility
- There are cheaper alternatives
Exceptional EV in every regard
You can easily pick up an example on PCH for less than £300, but what really stood out to me was the simply amazing PCP deals, where the MG4 shone even brighter as a bargain. I even found an array of really tempting 0% APR deals, starting at only £159 per month.
Read our full MG MG4 review
MG MG4 Trophy Extended Range
Monthly cost: £279 (36 payments)
Deposit: £11,457
Manufacturer's contribution: 0
Total amount payable: £36,495
Cash price: £36,495
Mileage allowance: 8,000 miles per year
APR: 0%
Pros
- Better than far more expensive rivals
- Good ride/handling balance
- Long range and accurate readouts
Cons
- Touchscreen-led interior can be fiddly
- Some cheap plastics inside
A best seller for a reason
You’ll be able to pick up the 1.3-litre mild hybrid for less than £300 a month if you can stretch to £7,000 for the deposit. A deposit contribution of £1,700 helps keep this 49-month deal affordable.
Read our full Nissan Qashqai review
Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 140 PS Mild Hybrid
Monthly cost: £291 (47 payments)
Deposit: £7,000
Manufacturer's contribution: £1,700
Total amount payable: £32,305
Cash price: £32,305
Mileage allowance: 8,000 miles per year
APR: 5.99%
Pros
- Striking styling, quality interior
- Lots of tech that works well
- Seriously refined E-Power hybrid
Cons
- Fidgety ride
- No PHEV or performance version
A premium hatchback for less than you'd expect
The A3 was refreshed for 2024, sporting an updated interior and front-end styling to make a solid family car. It’s a refined and classy pick, not to mention incredibly reliable, and the best way to get four rings on a budget.
Read our full Audi A3 review
Audi A3 Sportback Sport 30 TFSI
Monthly cost: £269 (47 payments)
Deposit: £5,571
Manufacturer's contribution: £3,500
Total amount payable: £35,370.00
Cash price: £29,515
Mileage allowance: 10,000 miles per year
APR: 8.94%
Pros
- Highly efficient engine range
- Sharp, desirable exterior design
- High-quality technology
Cons
- Interior space only average
- Some iffy interior materials
Update log
17 October 2024: Added PCP specs to existing deals and added the Renault Scenic. Double-checked prices for all deals.
2 October 2024: Updated with a new selection of leasing deals. Removed the Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen Taigo, Toyota Yaris Cross, Suzuki S-Cross, and Skoda Octavia Estate. Added the Skoda Kamiq, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Ayria, MINI Countryman, and Cupra Formentor. Updated the Ford Puma and BMW 1-Series entry. Added the PCP section and populated it with deals.
These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 3 October 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.
Ryan Gilmore is the Car-Buying Editor at Parkers. Having cut his teeth as our Deputy Commercial Content Editor, he’s a savvy shopper dedicated to helping you when it comes to car shopping.
