The top 20 cheapest cars - part two

WHAT IS IT?
The Aygo is a city car that's aimed primarily at younger people. It has a frugal three-cylinder engine, low running costs and excellent build quality. It comes in both three- and five-door forms and will just about carry four adults in comfort - although the boot is tiny and the cabin is fairly basic.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,309

Model - 1.0 VVT-I (09) 3d

Can I get a discount? - Toyota usually offer some low-rate finance deals but getting money off can be difficult. Discounts upwards of £500 can usually be negotiated on higher-spec models though.

Rating - Four stars

Equipment - ABS, body coloured bumpers, CD player, front airbags, PAS, full size spare wheel

Performance - Top speed of 98mph, 0-60mph in 13.7s, 61mpg

Running costs - Great fuel economy, the lowest insurance group and a resistance to low-speed damage means the Aygo should be easy on the wallet. Servicing is every 10,000 miles and tax costs £20. A three-year/60,000-mile warranty is standard.

Verdict - Fun to drive and cheap to run but if you're not fussed about quality it's not worth the extra over the similar C1.

WHAT IS IT? 
Despite being a commonly overlooked hatchback the Rio has plenty going for it with robust build quality, a neat interior, good levels of equipment and low running costs. It's not particularly modern and can feel unrefined on the road but it's economical and comes with a long warranty.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,345

Model - 1.4 5d

Can I get a discount? - You might be able to get a decent discount by comparing dealers but it's already competitively priced - and Kia usually runs some good trade-in schemes.

Rating - Three stars

Equipment - ABS, body coloured bumpers, CD player, front airbags, folding rear seats, Isofix child seat anchor points, PAS

Performance - Top speed of 108mph, 0-60mph in 11.9s, 47mpg

Running costs - The Rio's relatively economical, although insurance is more expensive with it being group 4. Servicing is good value at Kia dealerships, as are parts. It comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty. Tax is £110 a year.

Verdict - It's easy to live with and has a great warranty. Ideal for those who want something slightly larger than a town car.

WHAT IS IT?
The instantly recognisable Smart is in its second generation now. It's an extremely compact car that's able to park nose first into parallel spaces. The Smart is fun to drive but the ride is hard and the automatic-only gearbox has very sluggish shifts that quickly become tiring on the open road. It is, however, cheap to run with low tax and economical engines.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,460

Model - Pulse mhd Softouch (2010) 2d Auto)

Can I get a discount? - There's usually not much in the way of a discount available on Smart's line-up, although using an online broker may save you upwards of £500.

Rating - Three and a half stars

Equipment - ABS, body coloured bumpers, CD player, front airbags, remote central locking, traction contol

Performance - Top speed of 90mph, 0-60mph in 13.3s, 67mpg

Running costs - Fuel economy is good, as is road tax, but servicing and parts can be expensive and the warranty only covers two years/unlimited miles. Road tax is free, due to low emissions.

Verdict - It's good for nipping around town and has a certain kudos but it feels strained on the motorways and across country, limiting its usability.

WHAT IS IT?
This is the second-generation Sirion that's more sharply styled and better to drive than before. It comes with loads of kit and drives well although it isn't very characterful. Two adults can get in the back without issue and there's headroom aplenty - and it's relatively quiet on the motorway.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,464

Model - 1.0 S 5d

Can I get a discount? - Due to the weak pound there aren't many Sirions in the UK, so you could find it difficult to get a discount but try different dealers to see what they offer.

Rating - Three and a half stars

Equipment - ABS, air-con, body coloured bumpers, CD player, front and side airbags, electric windows, folding rear seats, Isofix child seat anchor points, remote central locking, PAS

Performance - Top speed 99mph, 0-60mph in 13.5s, 56mpg

Running costs - Fuel economy is good although insurance can be more expensive as it falls into group four. Servicing is also cheap but depreciation is a killer, as it won't hold much of its value. It does, however, have a five year/unlimited mileage warranty. Road tax costs £30 a year.

Verdict - The Sirion's great value for money with lots of equipment and a long warranty, so it's well worth considering if you're looking to spend a little more and keep it for some time.

WHAT IS IT?
It's another variation of the co-developed Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo - a simple, cheap to run, car. Unlike the others the 107 only comes with one engine but it is available with either three or five doors.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,495

Model - 1.0 Urban Lite (12/08-) 3d

Can I get a discount? - It's worth shopping around between the equivalent C1 and Aygo to see what kind of deal you can get, by playing them off against eachother.

Rating - Four stars

Equipment - ABS, body coloured bumpers, CD player, front airbags, full size spare wheel, PAS

Performance - Top speed of 100mph, 0-60mph in 13.7s, 62mpg

Running costs - Servicing is well priced, it's economical and insurance is group one, resulting in cheap running costs. It also benefits from cheap road tax of £20, due to low emissions.

Verdict - It's enjoyable to drive, relatively well equipped and cheap to run but it's noisy at speed and not particularly refined. Alternatives have more to offer for less money.

WHAT IS IT?
The Colt's an alternative to cars like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. It comes in both three and five-door form and there's a range of engines available. The Colt handles suprisingly well and it has a comfortable ride, even over rough surfaces.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,499

Model - 1.1 CZ1 (10/08) 3d

Can I get a discount? - The Colt's been around for a while now so negotiating a discount shouldn' be too tricky. A facelift was introduced in 2008 but it features nothing more than an updated look.

Rating - Three stars

Equipment - ABS, CD player, remote central locking, front airbags, front electric windows, folding rear seats, Isofix child seat anchor points, PAS

Performance - Top speed of 103mph, 0-60mph in 12.5s, 51mpg

Running costs - The Colt is a low-cost car to own with long servicing intervals of 12,000 miles and reasonably priced parts and service costs. It comes with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty. Tax is £90 a year.

Verdict - It's rare for a small car to have such a spacious interior so if you need something comfortable and a bit different, consider the Colt.

WHAT IS IT?
The Twingo is an alternative to other small cars aimed at city car drivers. It's practical, nippy, practical and easy to drive but it isn't as fun as other small cars and can't match the competition on fuel economy. It also feels cheap, despite being more expensive than the others listed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,695

Model - 1.2 16V Expression 3d

Can I get a discount? - Prices for the Twingo are steep when compared to the competition like the Picanto and 107 so it's worth trying for a discount but it's likely to be just a token gesture.

Rating - Three stars

Equipment - ABS, CD player with remote, body coloured bumpers, front airbags, front electric windows, full size spare, remote central locking

Performance - Top speed of 106mph, 0-60mph in 11.6s, 49mpg

Running costs - Servicing is well spaced at 18,000 miles or two years, helping keep costs down. Depreciation is also acceptable, with it being more upmarket and better equipped than the competition. It comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. Tax is £30 a year.

Verdict - For the price it lacks refinement and driving enjoyment. The other examples here are cheaper to run and in some instances more equipment.

WHAT IS IT?
The Agila is Vauxhall's small car, similar to the Honda Jazz. Its height makes it more versatile than most small cars and the fold-flat seats mean that it's got a good carrying capacity. It's reasonably lively but the smaller engines struggle above 60mph or up hills. It's built for city life with a tight turning circle and light steering.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,790

Model - 1.0 16V Expression 3d

Can I get a discount? - You should be able to negotiate a big discount on the Agila. Vauxhall is offering over £1,000 off online already, making it a real bargin at £7,495.

Rating - Four stars

Equipment - ABS, body coloured bumpers, CD player, front and side airbags, PAS, Isofix child seat anchor points

Performance - Top speed of 99mph, 0-60mph in 14.2s, 56mpg

Running costs - Road tax is reasonably low, it's cheap to insure and Vauxhall servicing is good value for money. It also has a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. Tax is £30 a year.

Verdict - It's a versatile little car with good space in the back and a refined cabin, making the Agila more usable than the other competition here.

WHAT IS IT?
The Microcar is a French built runabout that can be driven on a motorcycle licence due to its low weight. It's powered by a 505cc two-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 21bhp.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,844

Model - LX 3d Auto

Can I get a discount? - There's not much demand for the M-Go so you should be able to negotiate some discount. That doesn't mean you should consider buying one, though.

Rating - N/A

Equipment - Seatbelts, CD player, electric windows, alloy wheels, parking sensors

Performance - Top speed 72mph, 0-50mph 12.0s, 55mpg

Running costs - Fuel economy is acceptable and it's very cheap to insure but the dealer network is intermittent and parts could be difficult to get hold of.

Verdict - There's no justification for buying an M-Go unless you only have a bike licence and want something with a roof.

WHAT IS IT?
It's the fourth-generation Micra, designed for those who want something like a Corsa or a Fiesta without paying the price. It's designed for pottering around town while being cheap and economical to run.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Price (new) - £8,995

Model - 1.2 Visia 5d

Can I get a discount? - It's well priced for what it is a popular car, so you'll struggle to get a meaningful discount. Try an online broker if you want to save more.

Rating - Two and a half stars

Equipment - ABS, air-con, body coloured bumpers, CD player, front and side airbags, Isofix child seat anchor points, remote central locking, traction control

Performance - Top speed of 106mph, 0-60mph in 13.3s, 56mpg

Running costs - Average fuel consmption is good and road tax is only £30 a year, while Nissan servicing is reasonable.  

Verdict - The Micra doesn't compare well to the alternatives offered here, in both price and handling, but it does come with a good level of standard equipment and Nissan's dealer support.