Don’t spend more than you have to – a £150 monthly budget is enough to get behind the wheel of some very impressive cars.
There's a good chance you spend more than £150 per month on TV subscriptions and takeaways – but what if we told you that you could get into a nearly new or used car for the same monthly cost?
Motorpoint has an enticing range of cars available for less than that magic figure, ranging from small city cars up to more spacious hatchbacks. Most of these cars won't only be affordable to buy, but they'll be cheap to run too, with small efficient engines bringing decent fuel economy and low insurance costs.
Small, affordable hatchbacks are what you’ll get for £150 per month with a 10% deposit – that’s what we’ve focused on – although if you’re happy to increase your deposit, a much wider selection of cars and SUVs becomes available.
Fiat 500
We start with one of the most characterful cars on the road. The Fiat 500 will brighten up any miserable commute with its chic styling, funky interior and zippy handling. There are plenty available for under £150 per month, so you can pick your perfect trim level and colour. We like the Lounge version, with its long equipment list including parking sensors and cruise control. Get one with the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid engine and you’ll be able to manage up to 57mpg.
Shop used Fiat 500 cars for sale or read our Fiat 500 review
Toyota Aygo
The Toyota Aygo is an honest, cheap-to-run city car that won’t leave you stranded by the side of the road. It’s a cheap car and it feels it, but the simplicity is refreshing. You still get a good spread of modern equipment – all but the very basic-est trim level get a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It won’t do you wrong if you need a cheap runabout with phone connectivity.
Shop used Toyota Aygo cars for sale or read our Toyota Aygo review
Citroen C1
The Citroen C1 is the sister car to the Aygo and the Peugeot 108, and offers the same qualities and low prices as its siblings. Most C1s get a touchscreen with the aforementioned phone mirroring, plus a reversing camera so you don’t scrape its tiny bum when parking. The C1 gets a couple of interesting trim options that aren’t offered on the Peugeot and Toyota, and an Urban Ride trim with SUV-like plastic wheel arches. For the urban jungle, of course. Insurance is cheap and it costs very little to fill up. Tyres and servicing are also dashingly affordable.
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Citroen C3
If the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo aren’t quite your cup of tea, check out the Citroen C3. It immediately looks a lot different to its rivals, with cuddly yet SUV-aping styling that includes some fun details. The onus is on comfort rather than sportiness, so it’ll appeal if you’re fed up with potholes and don’t ever try to drive your supermini like a supercar.
Shop used Citroen C3 cars for sale or read our Citroen C3 review
Peugeot 108
Underneath, the Peugeot 108 is the same as the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo, but the dinky Peugeot manages to feel slightly more sophisticated than its siblings. It’s still cheap and cheerful inside, with durable materials and just enough tech to feel modern – there’s smartphone mirroring and a reversing camera, keeping you connected and helping you squeeze into the tightest parking spaces. All 108s come with a frugal 1.0-litre petrol engine, but there’s also the option of a ‘Top!’ version with a folding fabric roof.
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Skoda Fabia
The Skoda Fabia is a masterclass in small car design. It’s only a little bigger than the city cars elsewhere on this list, but packs in more passenger space and a much larger boot. The interior is user-friendly, the engines are economical and the driving experience is refined and assured. Stick with the 1.0 MPI engine and it’ll be the cheapest to buy and the cheapest to insure – in fact, almost no cars are cheaper to insure than the Fabia with this engine. Grown-up motoring for little more than a box of Freddos.
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Kia Picanto
Perhaps the most impressive city car currently on sale, the Kia Picanto does everything a big car does but in a deliciously easy-to-park footprint. It’ll seat four adults with (some) room to spare, there’s enough space in the boot for a small weekly shop and high-spec cars get sat nav and even heated seats. But it still has the small-car flickability and fun handling. And all that is wrapped in the balance of a seven-year warranty.
Shop used Kia Picanto cars for sale or read our Kia Picanto review
Vauxhall Corsa
The last-shape Vauxhall Corsa is still a strong pick if you don’t want to spend a fortune. While it doesn’t get the latest car’s styling, it looks modern enough with some fun design touches, and it still features all the same phone connectivity as the new car. The Corsa’s interior is delightfully easy to use, and includes more equipment than you probably expect. Most cars get a city steering mode to make low-speed manoeuvring easier, plus luxuries like a heated steering wheel!
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Vauxhall Astra
One of the pillars of the family hatchback market, the Vauxhall Astra focuses on ease, equipment and, most of all, value. You’ll be looking at late versions of the last-generation Astra for this budget, but you’d struggle to get close to the Astra’s age and mileage in a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. The Astra’s one of the largest cars on our list, capable of carrying four adults or a family in cosseting comfort. And there’s a competitive 370-litre boot behind. The Astra was made in Britain for British roads and it shows – potholes are well rounded off and don’t jolt into the cabin. We’d choose the 1.2-litre petrol engine for perky acceleration and long-distance fuel economy.
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SsangYong Tivoli
If you want an SUV and aren’t super bothered about the badge on the steering wheel, you can drive away in a SsangYong Tivoli for less than £150 per month. This Nissan Juke rival is one of the cheapest SUVs you can buy, but you still get the rugged 4x4-like styling and a modern interior with the must-have mod cons. SsangYong also offers a longer warranty than most carmakers, and it’s transferable so you’ll benefit from the remaining proportion of the seven years of cover if you buy a used example.
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