Best small cars for Motability 2024
Small cars offer Motability users transport to get from A to B, but there's much more to our three picks
Some Motability users just want to get mobile, so they don’t need anything too big. Our picks for the best small cars on Motability consist of some of the best city cars and superminis available right now.
Modern city cars are a long way from the noisy, sparsely equipped boxes of the past, too. These models offer a surprising amount of sophistication for their size but they’re still far easier on the wallet as well, with some of the lowest running costs of any cars on sale. While these models are at their best in town, they're certainly capable of venturing beyond city streets for longer runs on the motorway when needed.
Best small cars for Motability
Dacia Spring
- Model: 27kWh Extreme 65 48kW 5dr
- Advance payment: nil
- PIP weekly cost: £60
- Car size: city car
- Fuel type: electric
- Gearbox: automatic
In a world of bulky, tech-riddled EVs, the Dacia Spring is a back-to-basics electric car that offers zero-emission motoring for a fraction of the typical price. This is currently Britain’s cheapest electric car to buy brand new, and it’s equally cheap through the Motability scheme. With up to 140 miles of range between charges, the Spring is best at covering shorter urban hops rather than long commutes, but if what you need is a no-nonsense car that costs peanuts to run, you probably don’t need to look any further.
Kia Picanto
- Model: Picanto 1.0 2 5dr
- PIP weekly cost: £69.25
- Advance payment: nil
- Car size: city car
- Fuel type: petrol
- Gearbox: manual
The city car market is dwindling, but the latest Kia Picanto makes a very strong case for these compact motors. With its sporty design, considerable list of standard kit and enjoyable driving experience, the Picanto offers plenty of bang for your buck. It won’t set the world on fire when it comes to performance, but it makes up for this with the sort of refinement that you’d expect in a larger model. The baby Kia is reasonably spacious for its size, too.
Hyundai i10
- Model: i10 1.0 [63] Advance 5dr [Nav]
- PIP weekly cost: £69.25
- Advance payment: nil
- Car size: city car
- Fuel type: petrol
- Gearbox: manual or automatic
Our two-time City Car of the Year truly feels like a fully sized car that’s been shrunk down. Driving and parking the Hyundai i10 is an absolute breeze thanks to its compact stature, yet it’s comfortable and quiet enough to chew up motorway miles in, too. You can even comfortably fit four adult passengers inside the i10’s cabin, while the 252-litre boot will take the weekly shop in its stride.
Toyota Aygo X
- Model: Aygo X 1.0 VVT-i Edge 5dr
- PIP weekly cost: £74.65
- Advance payment: nil
- Car size: city car
- Fuel type: petrol
- Gearbox: manual
If you like the appearance of an SUV but prefer the low running costs and agility of a much smaller car, the Toyota Aygo X could be the choice for you. This beefed-up city car may have big ambitions, but its 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine keeps running costs low, thanks to its official WLTP combined fuel economy figure of 58.9mpg. Just remember, though, that this car is very much intended to stay on the road rather than venture off it.
Dacia Sandero
- Model: Sandero 1.0 Tce Journey 5dr
- PIP weekly cost: £75.75
- Advance payment: nil
- Car size: supermini
- Fuel type: petrol
- Gearbox: manual
The Dacia Sandero has become a go-to name for those looking for an affordable car, but the latest model is by far the best all-round bargain yet. Not only is it a better-looking car than its predecessor, but the Sandero has also been given some significant quality and technological upgrades. It still feels like a low-cost car, but the Sandero’s Renault Clio underpinnings make it a surprisingly nice car to drive as well as to live with.
Fiat 500e
- Model: 500e 87kW Red 42kWh 3dr Auto
- PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
- Advance payment: nil
- Car size: city car
- Fuel type: electric
- Gearbox: automatic
Much like its 20th century ancestor, the Fiat 500e certainly isn’t the biggest or the most practical car in the world. What it is, though, is a delightfully funky city car that’s very affordable to run and pleasing to drive. Of course, the modern car also has the significant advantage of a zero-emission electric powertrain, and the on-board technology is a far cry even from the previous modern Fiat 500.
Suzuki Swift
- Model: Swift 1.2 Mild Hybrid Motion 5dr
- PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
- Advance payment: nil
- Car size: supermini
- Fuel type: petrol
- Gearbox: manual
While most cars are becoming ever more complex, the latest Suzuki Swift remains a rather simplistic offering. Value for money is the priority here, and while cost-cutting is evident in areas such as the cabin materials, the Swift does feel well put together. One area that has undergone a bit of an evolution, though, is the engine. The 1.2-litre petrol unit is accompanied by mild-hybrid tech, and this combination can deliver over 60mpg.
Like the look of these compact models? These are the best small cars to buy...
