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Best SUVs for less than £300

  • Great SUVs available on PCP finance
  • Wide range of sizes to choose from
  • Low running costs with practicality

Written by Keith Adams Updated: 30 April 2024

There are some great new car deals available on SUVs at the moment and, thanks to monthly finance, you can buy to suit your budget. There’s a large selection of cars for less than £300 per month, and on this page, we’re highlighting some of the best available right now at this price point.

There’s everything from tiddly city car-sized SUVs up to big family-friendly ones. They’re all efficient, good to drive and come with plenty of standard features, including air conditioning and smartphone connectivity.

We’ve covered personal contract hire (leasing) deals here, as these typically offer the most bang for your monthly buck – but you’ll never own the car. Alternatively, PCP deals require an upfront deposit, a series of monthly payments then the option to buy via an optional final payment.

If you want to see some other types of car available for similar money as these SUVs, check out our pick of the best cars for £300 per month.

Best SUVs for £300 per month in 2024

Ford’s small SUV is a delight to drive

The Puma was the UK’s bestselling in 2023. It’s also the best of the myriad small SUVs available. It’s roomy and practical enough for family life, there’s the ingenious 70-litre Megabox under the boot floor, it’s very well made and just great to drive. The interior’s a bit sombre, but it’s user-friendly and well-equipped.

Ford is offering a deal on the Titanium model which comes with satnav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, air conditioning, rear parking sensors and cruise control. The 125hp mild hybrid petrol engine is a perky performer and returns well over 40mpg.*

To find out more, read our full Ford Puma review

Pros

  • Modern and economical engines
  • Enjoyable and capable handling
  • Flexible and practical

Cons

  • Dull dashboard lets the interior down
  • No full hybrid options

Smallest Skoda SUV is a comfortable choice

Skoda has a reputation for building thoroughly sensible cars that the Kamiq more than lives up to. It has generous space for four adults and a 400-litre boot packed into its compact form. It’s comfortable with it, solidly made and full of Skoda’s thoughtful little touches, such as a parking ticket clip in the windscreen and an ice scraper on the fuel filler flap.

The best version is the SE model, which comes with air conditioning, cruise control and smartphone connectivity to the infotainment system. The 110hp petrol engine gets the car to 62mph in 10 seconds and returns over 50mpg.*

To find out more, read our full Skoda Kamiq review

Pros

  • Practical and packed with neat touches
  • Easily accommodates four adults
  • Good engines and generous tech

Cons

  • No all-wheel-drive option
  • Not interesting to drive

Big Citroen offers supreme comfort

We like the C5 Aircross – it's a family SUV with major amounts of individuality. It’s a welcome return to the big Citroens of old with an emphasis comfort. It’s hugely spacious and practical, too. It even handles quite neatly and dispatches a long cross-country jaunt with ease.

All models come with dual-zone aircon, cruise control and smartphone connectivity. The 130hp petrol is connected to an automatic gearbox, which offers enough performance and easy 40mpg. Definitely one for comfort lovers and individualists.*

To find out more, read our full Citroen C5 Aircross review.

Pros

  • Comfortable ride and seats
  • Lots of interior space
  • Appealingly individual design

Cons

  • Soft suspension won’t appeal to some
  • Limited model line-up

MG’s biggest SUV is great value for money

The HS is an awful lot of car for the cash. An update in 2023 added a new grille among assorted other tweaks. There’s generous amount of space for four adults and the boot’s a decent size, too. The infotainment system can be temperamental, and the seating position might not suit taller drivers, but the HS is fantastic value and has a seven-year warranty.

Our budget easily gets you into a top-grade Trophy model that has satnav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a parking camera and heated leather seats. The 162hp petrol engine is relatively sprightly but only averages 36mpg.*

To find out more, read our full MG HS review.

Pros

  • Stacks of interior space
  • Generously equipped
  • Seven-year warranty

Cons

  • Unrefined engines
  • Driving position won’t suit everyone

A family SUV that’s as capable as it is affordable

The Duster has long been a popular choice among those wanting an inexpensive family SUV. It’s very practical and robust, characterful, even quite good to drive and comfortable enough for the long haul. Sure, the interior materials feel a bit cheap and it’s not the quietest of cruisers, but that’s to be expected at this price.

Even the mid-range Journey model comes with satnav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, air conditioning, cruise control and a rear-view camera. At this price point, though, you'll be able to get a top-of-the-range model. The 130hp TCe petrol engine has plenty of get-up-and-go and is reasonably efficient.*

To find out more, read our full Dacia Duster review.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money
  • Doesn’t feel like a budget option
  • Practical and pleasant to drive

Cons

  • Three-star Euro NCAP rating
  • Rear seats don’t fold flat

Stylish Peugeot packs lots of tech

The 3008 is certainly one of – perhaps the – most striking-looking small SUV, both inside and out. But there’s substance behind the style. The interior is spacious, the boot’s among the biggest in the class, it’s relaxing to drive and feels like a premium-grade product. The driving position won’t suit everyone, but that’s the only significant complaint.

All models are relatively well equipped, and come with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, air conditioning and rear parking sensors. With a 110hp petrol engine, it’s quick enough and can return more than 50mpg. Keep an eye out for hyper-competitive deals, as there's a new model coming out in 2024.*

To find out more, read our full Peugeot 3008 review.

Pros

  • Stylish design, inside and out
  • Spacious, practical interior
  • Peppy PureTech petrol engines

Cons

  • Digital instruments won’t appeal to all
  • Driving position can be awkward

Rugged family car with true off-road capability

As smallish SUVs go, the Suzuki Vitara’s appeal lies primarily in that it’s spacious, relatively inexpensive and optionally available with four-wheel drive. Yes, it’s getting on a bit, but it’s still in demand.

We’d heartily recommend the manual Boosterjet model as a good-value and fun-to-drive car. It’s not as practical as a Ford Puma nor does it feel as upmarket as a Peugeot 2008, but if you want something sturdy, attractive and a bit different the Vitara is a good choice.*

To find out more, view our full Suzuki Vitara review.

Pros

  • Genuine off-road capability
  • Good to drive
  • Excellent hybrid engine

Cons

  • Limited load space
  • Infotainment is dated

Sensible but charming SUV offers great fuel economy

Toyota did a great job with the Yaris Cross. It’s reasonably priced, spacious enough to carry a family and surprisingly good to drive. It’s also ruthlessly efficient as the only engine you can have with it is a 1.5-litre self-charging hybrid unit.

During our long-term test of the car, we averaged 63.3mpg – and on urban routes, we found the Yaris Cross could run on EV mode for anywhere between 60 and 75% of the time. Just make sure you avoid cars fitted with four-wheel drive, as it jacks up your monthly payments.*

To find out more, read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review

Pros

  • Cheap to lease and run
  • Space for four adults
  • Available with all-wheel drive

Cons

  • Hard work on the motorway
  • Unremarkable safety kit and rating

Best-selling SUV makes a great family car

If you’re in the market for a medium-sized SUV, the Qashqai should be at, or very near the top, of your shopping list. It’s one of the most technically advanced SUVs available, is excellent to drive, and as this week's deal is for the 1.3 DiG-T, very economical, too.

It’s also practical, with some very clever interior touches, as you’d expect for a product that’s now entered its third generation. The quality and interior are also up there with the very best-in-class.*

To find out more, read our full Nissan Qashqai review

Pros

  • Tech packed, quality interior
  • Lots of tech that works well
  • Seriously refined

Cons

  • Engine can feel underpowered
  • No high-performance version

Chunky, funky and fun family SUV

The VW T-Roc has enough attitude to justify a place on your driveway, and it will definitely appeal to small families looking for something practical yet funky. It’s cheaper and more spacious than an Audi Q2.

If you want economy, we recommend picking the 1.0-litre petrol engine, and this deal does just that coming in Life trim. At a little more that £200 per month, it's a lot of car for your money.*

To find out more, read our full Volkswagen T-Roc review.

Pros

  • Stand-out styling
  • Low running costs
  • Decent driving experience

Cons

  • Disappointing interior
  • R-Line's firm ride

* These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 29 January 2024, 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.


Keith Adams

Keith Adams is the Editor of Parkers. During his career he has been the editor of Classic Car Weekly, Modern Classics and Honest John Classics, as well as writing for CAR magazine, Practical Classics, Octane, Autocar and The Independent among others. Keith lives in rural Lancashire and enjoys buying and selling cars and reading and writing about them.