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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. We've focused on models that are as new as possible, to give you modern tech and that new-car feel.
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, and the Dolcevita with its glass roof. 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.
Shop used Fiat 500 cars for sale or read our Fiat 500 review
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
Citroen C3
The Citroen C3 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
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
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.
Also consider the SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo – they're identical to the Up besides the badges and bumpers.
Shop used Volkswagen Up cars for sale or read our Volkswagen Up review
Vauxhall Corsa
The UK’s most popular car is widely available for under £150 per month. It’s not only a big seller because it’s affordable, but because it’s a talented all-rounder of a thing. Fun to drive and peppy, yet economical and mostly comfortable. Well equipped for the price, yet also big enough to carry your friends without them feeling scrunched up behind you. Typically, you’ll be able to choose lower-spec cars with low mileage or higher-spec cars with slightly higher mileage for your hundred-and-a-half.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale or read our Vauxhall Corsa 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
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
Suzuki Ignis
If you want the automotive equivalent of Doctor Who's Tardis – a car that's small on the outside but big on the inside – you need to check out the Suzuki Ignis. It might be the size of a phonebox (and looks like one in blue, if you squint...), but it'll seat four adults in a surprising amount of space. The Ignis is charming and cheerful, not to mention economical. You get a no-nonsense interior with chunky buttons and durable materials, plus a good few modern creature comforts that you might not expect to see in such a small, cheap car.
Shop used Suzuki Ignis cars for sale or read our Suzuki Ignis review
MG3
The MG3 led the charge when MG relaunched in the UK, and after more than a decade on sale it’s only just been replaced by the new MG3 Hybrid. The outgoing 3 is one of the best-value MGs – it can be picked up for peanuts and still comes with space for four people, a rear-view camera and Apple CarPlay. Its 1.5-litre engine is fairly spritely for a car this size, too.
Shop used MG3 cars for sale
