Best new cars for under £300 per month

From SUVs to EVs, with a budget of £300 a month you can buy a number of excellent cars

If you can afford to spend up to £300 per month on a new car then there are lots of great choices to choose from, ranging from practical models to machines built with a little more performance in mind.

For some, the likes of the SEAT Ateca and Kia Sportage will hold plenty of appeal in this price bracket, as both offer the space and practicality needed for growing families.

Alternatively, those looking for a few more thrills will be interested in the Ford Fiesta ST, while the MG ZS EV offers one of the cheapest ways to get into electric car ownership.

All of the following deals are Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) schemes – so you’ll pay a deposit (unless otherwise stated) before embarking on a period of monthly payments. When the last of those is paid you’ll have the chance to take ownership of the car by parting with a final lump sum, or you can use the car’s remaining value to trade-in for a new model. Don’t fancy either of those options? Then simply hand back the keys and walk away.

Scroll down for our list of the best new cars available for under £300 per month.

Best new cars for under £300 per month

• Ford Fiesta ST – £252 per month
• MINI – £261 per month
• MG ZS EV – £279 per month
• SEAT Ateca – £285 per month
• Kia Sportage – £290 per month

Ford Fiesta ST – £252 per month

Model: Ford Fiesta ST-2
List price: £20,700
Deposit: £2,500 (£1,000 contribution)
Monthly payments: £251.91
Number of payments: 36
APR: 2.9%
Optional final payment: £9,280
Total to pay by customer if returning: £11,568.76
Total to pay by customer if buying: £20,848.76

The old Fiesta ST was a riotous, cheap hot hatch that didn’t compromise much on ride quality to deliver incredible handling. This latest model does soften things up a little bit, but Ford’s engineers have still managed to strike a balance that makes this car more fun than almost any other on the right British B-road.

The 1.5-litre engine has plenty of shove, albeit a bit further down the rev range than the previous 1.6. Yet there’s still more than enough pace to revel in the crisp body control, which loves rapid direction changes.

And of course, other Fiesta qualities remain. There’s reasonable practicality for a car of this size, and in the most part the cabin is neatly finished, with all the infotainment and connectivity you’d need.

MINI – £261 per month

Model: MINI Cooper Classic 5dr
List price: £18,335
Deposit: £2,500 (£500 contribution)
Monthly payments: £260.87
Number of payments: 35
APR: 3.9%
Optional final payment: £7,525.43
Total to pay by customer if returning: £11,630.45
Total to pay by customer if buying: £19,155.88

The MINI has always been a popular car hobbled by limited practicality; the five-door goes a long way to resolve that. Its boot is on par with most rivals here, and a good amount of its extra length over the three-door is given over to rear legroom.

But elsewhere the MINI formula is undiluted: superb driving dynamics with sharp steering and a fine chassis, even if the ride is a little firm at lower speeds.

We recommend the Cooper, with its 138bhp 1.5-litre engine, because it offers a slug more power than the entry-level One, and better economy than the Cooper S. But in every model, you’ll find a funky interior and a wide range of options.

MG ZS EV – £279 per month

Model: MG ZS EV Excite
List price: £25,995
Government grant: £3,500
Deposit: £3,674.50 (£0 contribution)
Monthly payments: £279
Number of payments: 48
APR: 4.9%
Optional final payment: £8,092
Total to pay by customer if returning: £17,066.50
Total to pay by customer if buying: £25,158.50

There might be more than just aggressive pricing to the MG ZS EV, but it’s hard to ignore the fact you’re getting a fairly spacious all-electric SUV for less than £23,000 (with the government grant). Put that price to one side and the ZS EV is the best car yet from MG. Its 44.5kWh battery provides a claimed range of 163 miles, which is broadly what you’d see from a 40kW Nissan Leaf, and is plenty for most urban drivers.

The boot is larger than the Leaf’s and on par with the Kia e-Niro’s. There’s a decent amount of tech, but it’s not hard to uncover the MG’s budget roots. However, with a price tag than undercuts every used Hyundai Kona Electric on the market, it’s huge value for money.

SEAT Ateca – £285 per month

Model: SEAT Ateca 1.0 TSI 115 SE Technology
List price: £24,010
Deposit: £2,750 (£2,500 contribution)
Monthly payments: £284.97
Number of payments: 47
APR: 5.9%
Optional final payment: £8,505
Total to pay by customer if returning: £16,143.59
Total to pay by customer if buying: £25,648.59

Under the skin, the Ateca is closely related to the Skoda Karoq, so it has a similar set of strengths. For starters, the pair are among the most roomy cars in the class, and the SEAT boasts an equally large boot. There’s a huge range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from – many with a choice of both manual and automatic gearboxes – and four-wheel drive is offered on the top-spec models.

The main difference between the two is the SEAT has a slightly firmer ride. So while the Spanish option is slightly more fun to drive, the trade-off is that it’s not quite as comfortable. Still, it’s an impressive all-rounder.

Kia Sportage – £290 per month

Model: Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi ISG 2 2WD
List price: £24,350
Deposit: £4,870 (£0 contribution)
Monthly payments: £290.09
Number of payments: 24
APR: 0%
Optional final payment: £12,517.85
Total to pay by customer if returning: £11,832.16
Total to pay by customer if buying: £24,350.01

The stylish Kia Sportage might not be the obvious choice in its class, but it deserves a place on any family car shortlist.

All models are packed full of great tech; even the base version gets a slick seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the eight-inch version used by higher versions is one of the best in the segment. The Sportage delivers tempting value for money, particularly if you go for the frugal 1.6-litre diesel models, and if you need more power, there’s a 2.0-litre unit matched to a mild-hybrid system to help lower the CO2 emissions. It also gets Kia’s seven-year warranty with which very few rivals can compete.

Looking for more new car deals? Check out our comprehensive round-up of the best deals available right now…

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