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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?
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.
Alternatively, if you’re a bit more flexible on the monthly payment but don’t have much deposit to put in, check out our cars available for £199 or less with no deposit.
Fiat 500
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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.
If you’ve got a designated parking space next to your house, consider picking the electric 500e. This is an even better city car, thanks to its effortless acceleration, automatic gearbox and cheap recharging costs. Small-battery ones manage around 100 miles of real-world driving while the bigger 42kWh battery lets you go further afield; both feel more modern inside than the petrol 500.
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
Hyundai i10
Hyundai’s i10 is the complete small car – it’s tiny on the outside and easy to park, but big enough to fit four adults in. And, unlike some of the cars on this list, they won’t need a shoehorn to get in and out. It’s reliable and cheap to run, and will happily sit on the motorway as long as you don’t mind stirring the upper reaches of the engine. What’s really impressive is the amount of tech the i10 gives you – even the cheapest version gets a big touchscreen to connect your phone to, cruise control and air conditioning.
Shop used Hyundai i10 cars for sale or read our Hyundai i10 review
Nissan Micra
No longer a meek, bulbous thing, the Nissan Micra has gained an attitude in the styling department. Its chiselled looks make it stand out, and the good news continues inside. The interior feels well-built and has premium-feeling materials in choice locations – it’s a little plusher than an equivalent Corsa. £150 per month is just enough to buy a Micra in mid-spec Acenta trim with a willing turbocharged petrol engine and under 20,000 miles on the clock.
Shop used Nissan Micra cars for sale or read our Nissan Micra review
Volkswagen Up
Although it’s no longer available new, the Volkswagen Up is still a fantastic city car. Small enough to fit into the tiniest spaces, yet managing to feel strong and sturdy on the motorway. It’s economical and fun, cheap to buy and cheap to run, and even roomy enough for four adults. There’s a conventional 1.0-litre petrol engine that’s very simple and economical or, if you can stretch the monthly budget a little, you can get the peppy e-Up that costs mere pounds for a full charge.
Shop used Volkswagen Up cars for sale or read our Volkswagen Up 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
Dacia Sandero
The Dacia Sandero is famously a cheap car, but you’re no longer getting an old car dressed up as a new one. The current Sandero, with its Y-shaped LED daytime running lights, shares a lot of parts with the latest Renault Clio, so it feels modern and not like it’s made of tin foil. Even a two-year-old Sandero is well under the £150 per month mark at the time of writing, with the Essential trim getting air con, cruise control and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The essentials, you might say.
Shop used Dacia Sandero cars for sale or read our Dacia Sandero 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.
Shop used Peugeot 108 cars for sale
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!
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale
Fiat Tipo
Not a typo, a Tipo! This roomy hatch might get overlooked in favour of the Golf, Astra, Focus and others, but used Tipos are exceptional value for money. You get an economical petrol engine – capable of almost 50mpg – and a very easy to use interior that comes with all the must-have equipment. Opt for the Tipo Cross trim and you also get roof rails and faux-by-four styling.
Shop used Fiat Tipo cars for sale
