In the market for a deal on a new car? If your budget is £300 per month, you’ll have a veritable treasure trove of leasing deals to pick from. The sheer number of models that fall into this range is magnificent, though the most impressive thing is the number of new car deals on offer. But what are the best cars for £300 per month?
A new car budget of £300 per month unlocks a serious range of upmarket brands, as well as options such as saloons, SUVs, estates and electric cars. From simple SUVs to luxury badges certain to get the neighbour’s curtains twitching, we’ve combed the best cars for less than £300 a month. Of course, first you’ll need to decide what kind of finance package you’re after.
Leasing (sometimes called Personal Contract Hire) is essentially a form of renting. You pay an initial payment and a series of monthly payments. Then that’s it. You hand the car back.
PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) deals involve a deposit and a series of monthly payments. Then you choose if you want to buy at the end, with what is often referred to as a balloon payment.
To provide an extra layer of transparency and give you the full picture, we’ll be comparing each car’s leasing (PCH) and finance (PCP) price. Leasing is often the most affordable way of getting behind the wheel of a new car, so comparing figures will give a more encompassing view of the value on offer.
For leasing, I’ve set an upper limit at £325 per month purely to allow for the inevitable price fluctuations that can batter prices from pillar to post. Leasing prices are subject to change without warning and can bounce around daily so this buffer allows for some leeway. Prices can go down as well as up, so if you’re in the market for a new car, keep a regular eye out for any spectacular deals – they won’t be around forever.
PCP deals meanwhile are locked in for longer periods of time which means I can write in specifics. To make things fair all my PCP quotes will be collected from the manufacturer’s finance calculators and using the same variables – a 10% deposit, 10,000 mile per year limit, and over a 48-month period. Read on to discover our favourite car leasing deals costing £300 or less per month.
Winner: the new car for lease for £300 a month 2025
An outstanding electric family car
The all-electric Scenic E-Tech bowled us over so much that it won twice in the 2025 Parkers awards, collecting awards for the Best Medium Family Car and our overall Car of The Year. It’s an excellent family car, a solid EV, and the leasing rates are good too.
The lowest I’ve seen a Scenic leasing rate for is £220 per month and there are plenty of 10,000 mile per year deals on offer for less than £300 per year. These deals are for the entry-level Techno, no bad thing as you’ll still enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, a powered tailgate, adaptive cruise and LED headlights.
Renault has some of the best finance in the business – it’s a multi-time winner of our Finance Award for a reason – so there’s not a massive price leap to a PCP deal, I was offered £419 per month for a Techno model with a deposit of £3,500, a 10,000 mile per year limit and over a 48-month period. If you’re able to put up a heftier deposit there’s even the option for a two-year, 0% APR PCP deal with Renault, meaning monthly fees could be as little as £213 per month. That’s a lot of car for not a lot of cash per month.
To find out more, read our full Renault Scenic E-Tech review
The lowest I’ve seen a Scenic leasing rate for is £220 per month and there are plenty of 10,000 mile per year deals on offer for less than £300 per year. These deals are for the entry-level Techno, no bad thing as you’ll still enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, a powered tailgate, adaptive cruise and LED headlights.
Renault has some of the best finance in the business – it’s a multi-time winner of our Finance Award for a reason – so there’s not a massive price leap to a PCP deal, I was offered £419 per month for a Techno model with a deposit of £3,500, a 10,000 mile per year limit and over a 48-month period. If you’re able to put up a heftier deposit there’s even the option for a two-year, 0% APR PCP deal with Renault, meaning monthly fees could be as little as £213 per month. That’s a lot of car for not a lot of cash per month.
To find out more, read our full Renault Scenic E-Tech review
Pros
- Spacious, well-planned interior
- Superb real-world driving range
- Unbeatable monthly finance
Cons
- Fidgety ride at times
- Small rear window
Highly recommended: other leasing deals to consider
Fantastic seven-seater full of clever features
In need of seven seats? Your first port of call should be a Skoda Kodiaq, especially at this price point. Leave it to sensible, practical and family-first Skoda to absolutely knock it out the park with its full-sized SUV. Space is class-leading for boot and passenger space, especially for the front two rows of seats. It’s also chock full of the Simply Clever touches I’d be able to wax lyrical about for at least a fortnight. Expect modular boot storage, door-based umbrellas and even little tool to wipe away fingerprint marks on the infotainment. They sound small but are all worthwhile touches.
As a big family-first SUV, don’t expect bucketloads of sportiness here, instead expect strong comfort levels and economical running. There’s a nice range of models available for under £300 per month, including a super-frugal 2.0-litre diesel option, an increasing rarity in 2025. A handful of plug-in hybrid models even squeak into budget, but these are strict five-seaters. Blame the big battery for that.
The cheapest Kodiaq I could find on a PCP deal is £444 per month with a £3,800 deposit (10% of the car's value), for an entry-level five-seat model – you’ll need to spend an extra £10 per month to get seven seats. Skoda’s APR isn’t great, but there’s a nice £2,000 manufacturer contribution on offer to help keep the monthlies down.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Kodiaq review
As a big family-first SUV, don’t expect bucketloads of sportiness here, instead expect strong comfort levels and economical running. There’s a nice range of models available for under £300 per month, including a super-frugal 2.0-litre diesel option, an increasing rarity in 2025. A handful of plug-in hybrid models even squeak into budget, but these are strict five-seaters. Blame the big battery for that.
The cheapest Kodiaq I could find on a PCP deal is £444 per month with a £3,800 deposit (10% of the car's value), for an entry-level five-seat model – you’ll need to spend an extra £10 per month to get seven seats. Skoda’s APR isn’t great, but there’s a nice £2,000 manufacturer contribution on offer to help keep the monthlies down.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Kodiaq review
Pros
- Stylish and user-friendly cabin
- Lots of room in the back
- Hushed ambience at speed
Cons
- No driving thrills
- PHEV is only a five-seater
The fun family transport
Cupra’s replacement for the aging Ateca offers a lot to get excited about. It shares its underpinnings with the latest Volkswagen Tiguan but wraps it all up in a more stylish body and offers better equipment levels for your money – sounds like a win-win to us. The interior is our favourite bit about the Terramar, it manages to look premium and expensive without compromising on passenger space or cost.
It's otherwise pretty like-for-like with the Tiguan – with good boot space and a range of frugal yet peppy engines to pick from – there’s even a tax-friendly PHEV example. The ride is on the firm side for this class, and the trade-off of a more enjoyable driving experience isn’t quite enough to make it worth it in our opinion. The aging Ford Kuga remains the driver’s pick for this class, but the Terramar is the better car.
There’s a blend of V1 and V2s available for less than £300 per month, with either a mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain. We’d look for a V2 purely as it gains heated front seats and a 360-parking camera, two useful additions. A mild-hybrid V2 on a PCP deal over four years with a 10% deposit (£3,900) and mileage limit of 10,000 miles per year will cost £475 per month, but does come with a hefty £4,000 manufacturer deposit contribution.
To find out more, read our full Cupra Terramar review
It's otherwise pretty like-for-like with the Tiguan – with good boot space and a range of frugal yet peppy engines to pick from – there’s even a tax-friendly PHEV example. The ride is on the firm side for this class, and the trade-off of a more enjoyable driving experience isn’t quite enough to make it worth it in our opinion. The aging Ford Kuga remains the driver’s pick for this class, but the Terramar is the better car.
There’s a blend of V1 and V2s available for less than £300 per month, with either a mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain. We’d look for a V2 purely as it gains heated front seats and a 360-parking camera, two useful additions. A mild-hybrid V2 on a PCP deal over four years with a 10% deposit (£3,900) and mileage limit of 10,000 miles per year will cost £475 per month, but does come with a hefty £4,000 manufacturer deposit contribution.
To find out more, read our full Cupra Terramar review
Pros
- Exciting design yet still practical
- Well equipped for the money
- Plenty of power and performance
Cons
- Firmer ride than many rivals
- Slightly forgettable driving experience
Outstanding value saloon
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a striking electric saloon with streamlined looks and a strong focus on comfort. Its sleek, aerodynamic shape helps deliver impressive efficiency, with real-world ranges of 300 miles. Inside, the cabin is well finished and spacious for front occupants, while rear headroom – limited by that swooping roofline – lets down an otherwise roomy rear space. It’s a strong, left-field contender against rivals like the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3, offering a smoother, quieter ride, even if that comes at the expense of sporty handling.
I've seen base-spec examples for as little as £200 per month to lease, which is stonking value for money. The top-spec Ultimate models are the ones to go for though, with an exceptionally well-appointed cabin, complete with ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, and an upgraded sound system. These can often be found for under £300 per month and are well worth seeking out.
Introduce finance and it proves just how good the leasing rates are – great news for consumers looking for a premium car on a tighter budget, as long as they don’t mind not owning it. An Ioniq 6 Ultimate will set you back nearly £700 per month on PCP over four years with a 10% deposit (of £5,000) and a 10,000-mile annual limit. This is helped slightly by the Hyundai Electric Grant, which knocks £1,500 off the list price.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Ioniq 6 review
I've seen base-spec examples for as little as £200 per month to lease, which is stonking value for money. The top-spec Ultimate models are the ones to go for though, with an exceptionally well-appointed cabin, complete with ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, and an upgraded sound system. These can often be found for under £300 per month and are well worth seeking out.
Introduce finance and it proves just how good the leasing rates are – great news for consumers looking for a premium car on a tighter budget, as long as they don’t mind not owning it. An Ioniq 6 Ultimate will set you back nearly £700 per month on PCP over four years with a 10% deposit (of £5,000) and a 10,000-mile annual limit. This is helped slightly by the Hyundai Electric Grant, which knocks £1,500 off the list price.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Ioniq 6 review
Pros
- Dramatic new, head-turning design
- Claimed 300-plus mile range
- Laden with cutting-edge tech
Cons
- Not as good to drive as rivals
- Rear headroom can be a little tight
Big bargain estate
The latest Volkswagen Passat is an exceptionally accomplished estate car and the ultimate motorway cruiser. It’s beautifully refined, nicely comfortable and the interior is massive. The focus on comfort and space and will make for a phenomenal family car for those of us who still prefer the lure of a load-loading estate to the onslaught of high-riding SUVs. A few ergonomic annoyances aside, it’s a brilliant estate.
It’s biggest rival, the Skoda Superb Estate, shares its underpinnings with the Passat and undercuts it on price, but it doesn’t have the same exceptionally cheap leasing costs. A well-equipped Passat with a full plug-in hybrid system for cheaper fuel bills can be had for about the same as a base-spec Superb on a leasing deal.
It looks like leasing companies can’t shift them either, so be ready to nab a bargain. I’ve seen plush R-Line examples for as little as £220 per month, with more generous 10,000-mile per year deals available for closer to a still very affordable £300 per month. A like-for-like Passat on PCP would be nearing £700 per month over four years with a 10% deposit (£5,000) and mileage limit of 10,000 miles per year.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Passat review
It’s biggest rival, the Skoda Superb Estate, shares its underpinnings with the Passat and undercuts it on price, but it doesn’t have the same exceptionally cheap leasing costs. A well-equipped Passat with a full plug-in hybrid system for cheaper fuel bills can be had for about the same as a base-spec Superb on a leasing deal.
It looks like leasing companies can’t shift them either, so be ready to nab a bargain. I’ve seen plush R-Line examples for as little as £220 per month, with more generous 10,000-mile per year deals available for closer to a still very affordable £300 per month. A like-for-like Passat on PCP would be nearing £700 per month over four years with a 10% deposit (£5,000) and mileage limit of 10,000 miles per year.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Passat review
Pros
- Excellent refinement
- Comfortable ride
- Stacks of room
Cons
- No diesel model
- Annoying luggage cover
Classy premium hatchback
The 1 Series should certainly be towards the top of your shopping list if you want a family hatchback with keen handling and a posh badge to boot. The new model may have adopted more anonymous styling than before, but it’s lost none of its sweet driving dynamics or quality fit and finish.
Despite being the least expensive model in its lineup, it still feels every bit a BMW. This is most evident in the interior – it’s full of plush materials and smartly integrated technology including BMW’s easy-to-use iDrive infotainment system. The boot and rear seats are a bit pokey, but it remains a solid and premium pick at this price point.
The 1 Series range is now very streamlined, with just three models available. There’s no chance of finding the M135 hot hatch for less than £300 per month, so your options are limited to the 120 Sport or 120 M Sport. Both are well equipped for the money, with the M Sport adding some sporty exterior touches and a vegan leather interior. A like-for-like PCP deal on a BMW 120 M Sport is £469 per month for comparison, based on a 10% deposit (£3,400) and a 10,000-mile annual limit over four years.
To find out more, read our full BMW 1 Series review
Despite being the least expensive model in its lineup, it still feels every bit a BMW. This is most evident in the interior – it’s full of plush materials and smartly integrated technology including BMW’s easy-to-use iDrive infotainment system. The boot and rear seats are a bit pokey, but it remains a solid and premium pick at this price point.
The 1 Series range is now very streamlined, with just three models available. There’s no chance of finding the M135 hot hatch for less than £300 per month, so your options are limited to the 120 Sport or 120 M Sport. Both are well equipped for the money, with the M Sport adding some sporty exterior touches and a vegan leather interior. A like-for-like PCP deal on a BMW 120 M Sport is £469 per month for comparison, based on a 10% deposit (£3,400) and a 10,000-mile annual limit over four years.
To find out more, read our full BMW 1 Series review
Pros
- Plush interior
- Prestigious image on a budget
- Superb refinement
Cons
- Cramped rear seats
- Performance versions are dull
The definitive blue-collar sports car
The MX-5 may seem like a niche product, but it actually has an enormously broad appeal. It could be your weekend toy, you could be dipping your toe into sports car ownership, or you could be a serial MX-5 owner. No matter where you fall on this line, the MX-5 will reward you with entertainment. It's without doubt the best way to get convertible fun at this end of the market and can compete against much more expensive machinery in terms of driver engagement.
Leasing isn’t the only affordable way of getting this bundle of sporty joy, it has a cheaper list price than most cars here and Mazda’s finance is promising – a 1.5-litre MX-5 with a 10% deposit (£2,800) and a 10,000-mile annual limit over four years is only £380 per month, not the giant chasm that some of the leanest leasing deals offer.
If you search around for leasing deals, the 1.5-litre dominates, and you’ll spot the occasional 2.0-litre engine available within budget. Despite being cheaper, we can't recommend the 1.5-litre. It's noticeably slower and not all that much less expensive per month compared with the larger unit. There are two roof options; a fabric drop-top or fancy folding metal arrangement, both of which can be found for about £300 per month. It’s also a fun sports car, the roof comes down on sunny days, it’s economical, and if all that wasn’t enough, it’s backed by Mazda’s cast-iron reliability record.
To find out more, read our full Mazda MX-5 review
Leasing isn’t the only affordable way of getting this bundle of sporty joy, it has a cheaper list price than most cars here and Mazda’s finance is promising – a 1.5-litre MX-5 with a 10% deposit (£2,800) and a 10,000-mile annual limit over four years is only £380 per month, not the giant chasm that some of the leanest leasing deals offer.
If you search around for leasing deals, the 1.5-litre dominates, and you’ll spot the occasional 2.0-litre engine available within budget. Despite being cheaper, we can't recommend the 1.5-litre. It's noticeably slower and not all that much less expensive per month compared with the larger unit. There are two roof options; a fabric drop-top or fancy folding metal arrangement, both of which can be found for about £300 per month. It’s also a fun sports car, the roof comes down on sunny days, it’s economical, and if all that wasn’t enough, it’s backed by Mazda’s cast-iron reliability record.
To find out more, read our full Mazda MX-5 review
Pros
- Enormously good to drive
- Well-executed yet inexpensive
- Remarkably cheap to run
Cons
- Very compact interior
- Tiny boot
Family favourite adds some much-appreciated comfort
It’s a firm favourite here in the UK and regularly squeaks onto the bestsellers list, so the Volvo XC40 is clearly doing something right – even if it’s fundamentally the same car that launched way back in 2017. It has all the hallmarks of a good Volvo, including the all-important five-star Euro NCAP crash score. It’s also one of the comfiest car in the premium family SUV class, with wonderful ride quality and soft but supportive seats. In fact, the entire interior is a calming place to be – it’s a bastion of quality materials and refined, stylish touches.
For under £300 per month, Volvo XC40 deals often include the mid-spec Plus trim, with power delivered by a two-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance. It’s thirstier than we’d like, and the car falls on the duller end of the driving spectrum, but it’s safe and sturdy. Equipment levels are good too: the Plus includes a hands-free powered boot lid, heated steering wheel and windscreen, and cross traffic alert to help when reversing. If you like the looks of an XC40 but prefer electric propulsion, the electric EX40 costs about £50 more per month to lease.
Volvo’s online finance calculator quoted £456.89 per month over four years with a 10% deposit (£3,800) and a 10,000-mile annual limit for a Plus trim model with the less powerful B3 mild-hybrid powertrain.
To find out more, read our full Volvo XC40 review
For under £300 per month, Volvo XC40 deals often include the mid-spec Plus trim, with power delivered by a two-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance. It’s thirstier than we’d like, and the car falls on the duller end of the driving spectrum, but it’s safe and sturdy. Equipment levels are good too: the Plus includes a hands-free powered boot lid, heated steering wheel and windscreen, and cross traffic alert to help when reversing. If you like the looks of an XC40 but prefer electric propulsion, the electric EX40 costs about £50 more per month to lease.
Volvo’s online finance calculator quoted £456.89 per month over four years with a 10% deposit (£3,800) and a 10,000-mile annual limit for a Plus trim model with the less powerful B3 mild-hybrid powertrain.
To find out more, read our full Volvo XC40 review
Pros
- Lots of safety technology
- Practical and plush interior
- Comfortable ride and seats
Cons
- Mild-hybrid petrol models quite thirsty
- Limited engine range
Posh EV makes for a funky choice
We think this is the best Smart yet. The Smart #1 marks the brand’s bold return as an all-electric brand and is its first model since being reborn under the Mercedes-Geely partnership. It’s a premium small SUV that’s built to an exceptionally high standard, the EV tech is solid, and it’s wonderfully comfortable too, thanks to squidgy suspension and supportive seats.
The interior space is impressive for such a compact car, aided by a sliding rear bench on Premium models for added rear legroom. Leasing deals are strong too, with the posh Pro+ our pick of the range. It’s exceptionally well equipped, with heated seats, a glass roof, 360-degree parking camera, wireless charger, and the larger 66 kWh battery good for 261 miles on the WLTP cycle. Downsides? The boot is small for its class at 323 litres, and the driver assistance tech can be really over-the-top and annoying.
Smart is currently running aggressive PCP deals, and with the Smart Car Grant of £1,500 live, the #1 is very affordable to finance – with prices starting as low as £315 per month with a £1,461 deposit. I couldn’t extract exact quotes from Smart’s finance calculator using my variables, but I’ll update the website once I have the numbers to hand.
To find out more, read our full Smart #1 review
The interior space is impressive for such a compact car, aided by a sliding rear bench on Premium models for added rear legroom. Leasing deals are strong too, with the posh Pro+ our pick of the range. It’s exceptionally well equipped, with heated seats, a glass roof, 360-degree parking camera, wireless charger, and the larger 66 kWh battery good for 261 miles on the WLTP cycle. Downsides? The boot is small for its class at 323 litres, and the driver assistance tech can be really over-the-top and annoying.
Smart is currently running aggressive PCP deals, and with the Smart Car Grant of £1,500 live, the #1 is very affordable to finance – with prices starting as low as £315 per month with a £1,461 deposit. I couldn’t extract exact quotes from Smart’s finance calculator using my variables, but I’ll update the website once I have the numbers to hand.
To find out more, read our full Smart #1 review
Pros
- Spacious and flexible interior
- Strong performance and good range
- Lots of standard kit
Cons
- Small boot
- Annoying driver attention software
One to avoid
Too expensive to lease, not great elsewhere
On the surface a KGM Tivoli isn’t a dreadful car. It’s an affordable, rugged and roomy small SUV. That sounds okay, but in reality, it falls short of competition, outclassed at every turn. The engines are coarse, the gearbox is slow and clanky, and the interior feels cheap.
Then there are the leasing rates for the Tivoli and it seals its fate. For a car that boasts such a low-price tag, the monthly payments are simply atrocious. This is a car that undercuts everything else on this list on price, but the monthly instalments to lease one are so unattractive that this alone would be enough to stick it on our avoid list. If you really want one, cash is king here.
To find out more, read our full KGM Tivoli review
Then there are the leasing rates for the Tivoli and it seals its fate. For a car that boasts such a low-price tag, the monthly payments are simply atrocious. This is a car that undercuts everything else on this list on price, but the monthly instalments to lease one are so unattractive that this alone would be enough to stick it on our avoid list. If you really want one, cash is king here.
To find out more, read our full KGM Tivoli review
Pros
- One of the cheapest SUVs on the market
- Roomy for passengers and luggage
- Solid build, rugged reliability
Cons
- Poor automatic transmission
- Just two non-hybrids offered
Update log
31 July 2025: Added PCP deals for the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Smart #1, Volvo XC40 and Renault Scenic E-Tech. Removed deals for the Alpine A290 and Skoda Karoq. Checked and updated PCP deal prices.
These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 31 July 2025, but are subject to change without prior notice. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different and the availability of credit is subject to status. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Parkers cannot recommend a deal for you specifically.
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