With the cost of fuel and road tax continuing to rise, many are trying to find new ways to save money.
The price of insurance is one of the major considerations when looking at ways to cut running costs, and choosing the right new car can help you save a substantial amount.
The simplest way to do this is to buy a car that’s in one of the lowest insurance groups. We’ve been looking at some of the all-new cars arriving in 2012, and have picked out a selection of the cheapest models to insure.
While there are the obvious small city cars, there’s also a seven-seat people carrier and some good medium sized hatchbacks to choose from.
To see new cars for 2012 we selected, read on.
Why buy? The SEAT Mii is part of the little city car trio from the Volkswagen group, which also includes the Volkswagen up! and Skoda Citigo. As well as the incredibly low insurance costs, there are also models that are exempt from road tax. Despite its small stature it offers decent levels of refinement and a high quality interior. Vital statistics Rating: Four stars Model: 1.0-litre Ecomotive 5dr Price: From £8,000 (est.) Insurance group: 1 Fuel economy: 62.8mpg Road tax cost: £0 |
Why buy? The little Italian car has built itself a strong reputation since first going on sale way back in 1983. Along with the enjoyable city-focused performance, it has been a big hit due to the extremely low running costs. This latest model looks set to enhance the reputation, and now gets an improved interior design as well as enjoyable two-cylinder TwinAir engine. Vital statistics Rating: Four stars Model: 1.2-litre Pop Price: From £8,900 Insurance group: 4 Fuel economy: 54.3mpg Road tax cost: £30 per year |
Why buy? The previous i30 was the first car in the South Korean firm’s range that really showed it could be a genuine contender to the established European rivals. This new model has once again moved the game along. There’s a selection of excellent diesel engines and even better interior finish, plus the standard five-year warranty remains. Vital statistics Rating: Four stars Model: 1.4-litre Active Price: From £17,245 Insurance group: 7 Fuel economy: 68.9mpg Road tax cost: £20 per year |
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Why buy? In a market of ordinary and mundane looking cars, the Honda Civic has proven something of an unorthodox alternative to the likes of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. This latest model loses a little of the edge from the previous car but it gets a more comfortable ride. It also retains the huge bootspace and economical diesel engines that helped make the previous model so popular. Vital statistics Rating: Three and a half stars Model: 1.4-litre i-VTEC SE-T Price: From £17,490 Insurance group: 8 Fuel economy: 52mpg Road tax cost: £95 per year |
Why buy? Following on from the Beetle’s regeneration in 1999, the new model for 2012 has been given sharper styling, better practicality and a wide range of engines. Volkswagen claims that this isn’t just another retro-styled model, but the new Beetle still retains much of the vintage-inspired charm that helped make the previous car so successful. Vital statistics Rating: Three and a half stars Model: 1.2-litre TSI DSG Price: From £16,490 Insurance group: 10 Fuel economy: 47mpg Road tax cost: £115 per year |
Why buy? On sale alongside the standard Zafira, the Tourer is the manufacturer’s more upmarket version of its standard seven-seater. The Flex 7 system has been improved, making it even easier to get the right seating configuration. It’s incredibly practical and is a real rival to the likes of the Ford Grand C-Max and Renault Grand Scenic. Vital statistics Rating: Four stars Model: 2.0-litre CDTi (110bhp) ES Price: From £22,265 Insurance group: 11 Fuel economy: 54mpg Road tax cost: £115 per year |
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