Cheapest cars to buy 2026
Searching for a brand-new bargain? These are the cheapest cars in the UK right now
Until recently, there was a strong sense of 'you get what you pay for' around the cheapest new cars in the UK. Today that idea is being undermined by increasing competition at the lower end of the market, particularly from Chinese newcomers. It is much harder for manufacturers to get away with stripped-back, utilitarian products. Even if the price is low.
This means that the cheapest cars in the UK aren’t obviously cheap in look or feel and many are actually quite appealing. Not only are overall running costs generally quite low, you also get reasonable levels of in-car kit as standard.
You might think that the cheapest cars on the market are exclusively petrol-powered, but there are quite a few electric cars now making their way on to our cheap cars countdown. This is in part thanks to some competitive manufacturer discounts, but also the recent introduction of the UK government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG).
Top 10 cheapest new cars on sale
You'll find the UK's top 10 cheapest new cars listed in order of official Recommended Retail Price (RRP) below.
| Rank | Make and model | Prices from |
| 1. | Dacia Sandero | £14,765 |
| 2. | Dacia Spring | £15,990 |
| 3. | Leapmotor T03 | £15,995 |
| 4. | Dacia Sandero Stepway | £16,065 |
| 5. | Kia Picanto | £17,095 |
| 6. | MG3 | £17,495 |
| 7. | Renault Clio | £17,995 |
| 8. | Hyundai i10 | £18,365 |
| 9. | Citroen e-C3 | £18,495 |
| 10. | BYD Dolphin Surf | £18,675 |
Our expert road testers have driven and reviewed every car on the list so scroll down to learn how good the cheapest cars currently on the market really are, or click the jump link above to go directly to a make and model..
1. Dacia Sandero
If you’re after the cheapest brand-new car to buy, look no further than the Dacia Sandero.
- Prices from £14,765
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For a long time, the Dacia Sandero has been one of the cheapest cars you can buy, and while it no longer is a sub-£6,000 car it once was, the Romanian manufacturer still offers simplicity, comfort and surprising practicality for those who are after basic transport without any gimmicks.
The interior is actually more spacious than many of the Sandero's supermini rivals, running costs are usefully low and the mechanicals have proven their worth in the past, so the Sandero should be reliable. Thanks to its Renault heritage, the latest Sandero shares a platform with the current Renault Clio, a much more expensive supermini.
This means the car’s chassis is more modern than in previous editions and it feels sophisticated to drive. Build quality can be questionable in places, but some of the engine line-up uses Renault’s latest fuel-saving technology, meaning the Sandero is surprisingly efficient and perky on the road.
“They say the most simple ideas are often the best, and despite not being one of those trendy small SUVs, Dacia’s well-judged, great-value supermini is right up there with the best in the class.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter
2. Dacia Spring
The Dacia Spring might have been pipped to the post by the Sandero as the cheapest car on sale, but it is the cheapest electric car you can buy.
- Prices from £15,990
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Dacia has become known for producing cars which are great value for money, but what might shock you is that the Dacia Spring is a car which is purely electrically powered.
In order to keep the cost down, the Spring is a little on the basic side compared with most of its rivals, but where the Spring shines is with its range of up to 140 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. This figure is pretty accurate as we managed to match it when we put the Spring head-to-head against its closest rival, the Leapmotor T03.
While 140 miles might not seem that impressive, if you often find yourself regularly zipping around city streets on shorter journeys, this should prove more than enough. There’s a reasonable amount of essential kit included as standard too, such as air-conditioning and rear parking sensors.
The Dacia Spring might be dinky in stature, but for an electric city car it is reasonably spacious. The boot is a generous 308 litres, matching much larger rivals like the Vauxhall Corsa in the class above, and kneeroom for rear passengers is similar to what you get in small SUVs like the Jeep Avenger.
The lofty driving position provides great all-round visibility, but some drivers might struggle to get comfy behind the wheel thanks to a lack of height or reach adjustment, so we recommend you thoroughly test drive the Spring before parting with your hard-earned cash.
“The Dacia Spring makes a tempting case for itself, with its low price making it easier to overlook the flaws that often come with a car built down to a budget.” - Alex Ingram, contributor
3. Leapmotor T03
Leapmotor might be a relatively unknown brand in the UK, but backing from the Stellantis group means you’re in safe hands with the T03.
- Prices from £15,995
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As part of efforts to increase its share on the budget car market, Stellantis has introduced the Leapmotor T03 to the UK. This Chinese city car is fully electric, and with a £15,995 starting price, it’s taking aim squarely at the Dacia Spring.
With an official WLTP combined range of 165 miles, the Leapmotor does have a slight advantage when it comes to distance, and it comes with its fair share of standard kit, too. The T03 is such a compelling little package, that this small electric car was commended at the 2025 Auto Express New Car Awards, and is already mixing with the best in-class.
It’s pretty tiny by modern car standards, but thanks to some clever design, the T03’s cabin can still accommodate four adults in reasonable comfort, but you might struggle when it comes to boot space, which is only 210 litres and much smaller than the Dacia Spring’s. It rides surprisingly well over poorer road surfaces, too.
“There are a few quirks to the driving experience, and it does look a little ungainly from some angles, but as a first step into EV ownership there’s really very little not to like about the T03.” - Richard Ingram, deputy editor
4. Dacia Sandero Stepway
If you like the look of the Dacia Sandero but wish it had a higher driving position, the Dacia Sandero Stepway is perfect.
- Prices from £16,065
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The Dacia Sandero Stepway takes the best bits of the standard Sandero and adds in more rugged SUV-style looks, a little extra space and extra features that bring the base Stepway more in line with mid-spec city car rivals; as opposed to the rather sparse nature of the standard Sandero.
The base Essential trim includes a DAB radio, Bluetooth, air-conditioning and cruise control as standard. You can only get the Sandero Stepway with a manual gearbox, and the sole engine option comes in the form of a pure petrol-powered TCe 90, but it’s a tried-and-tested powertrain from Renault and running costs should prove affordable.
With its 328-litre boot and plenty of storage space dotted around the interior, the Sandero Stepway is an affordable family option, too.
“Although the Sandero Stepway is underpinned by the same CMF-B architecture as the Renault Clio, it uses a more rudimentary suspension setup. While it doesn’t provide much in the way of driving fun, instead offering a focus on comfort which suits the car’s family bias” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter
New Dacia Sandero Stepway deals
5. Kia Picanto
If you want a small city car which feels incredibly grown up, the Kia Picanto could be ideal.
- Prices from £17,095
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The Kia Picanto is now in its third generation and has developed into a stylish little city car with enough kit to make it genuinely desirable, even before the price is even taken into account.
It’s easy to see why the Picanto is so popular because this small car offers tremendous ride quality and the brand’s famous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, which is a great deal for such a low-priced car.
There are a number of Picanto variants available, but the cheapest is a basic model in Pure trim fitted with a 66bhp 1.0-litre engine and manual gearbox. If you want an automatic gearbox, you’ll have to pay around £700 more.
For a car of this stature, the Picanto is very spacious. Being a five-door car, getting into the back is very easy and being a four-seater, rear passengers won’t be squabbling over space. Boot space is 255 litres which is pretty reasonable for the class.
“The latest Picanto is better equipped, has impressive interior space, and a grown-up driving experience.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter
6. MG3
The MG3 is one of the best Chinese cars currently on sale in the UK thanks to its strong equipment list and low sticker price.
- Prices from £17,495
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The reborn MG brand has already shaken up the electric car and SUV markets, and now it finally seems to have found its supermini mojo with the second-generation MG3.
While cost-cutting to achieve the original model’s low price was painfully obvious in places, the latest car is a vastly improved machine. Not only is it well-equipped and comfortable, but it’s enjoyable and engaging to drive, too.
You’ll be looking at the petrol-powered MG3 if you want the very lowest starting price but, if you’re prepared to fork out a couple of extra thousand, we recommend considering the full-hybrid model.
Not only is the hybrid version is a serial winner at our New Car Awards, taking home the Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year two times in a row, its WLTP combined fuel economy figure of 64.2mpg is pretty accurate and a figure we were able to get very close to when we lived with the MG3 Hybrid on a long term test.
The MG3 doesn’t boast class-leading amount of space, but is on par with rivals and what people will be expecting from a modern supermini. The boot is a little on the small side at 293 litres and while there aren’t any clever storage solutions, we didn’t find this too much of an issue when we were living with the car.
“The MG3 is among the most fun to drive, comfortable and best-equipped cars in its class. It shouldn’t be overlooked” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter
7. Renault Clio
The Renault Clio is a stalwart of the supermini class, and with its combination of low running costs, stylish looks and long list of tech, it’s easy to see why.
- Prices from £17,995
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While the next-gen Renault Clio has appeared on the horizon, you really shouldn’t discount the current generation car. This Clio is so strong as a package we still rate it as one of the best superminis currently on the market at any price. It’s a serial Auto Express New Car Awards winner, after all.
From behind the wheel the Clio feels incredibly refined and comfortable. It can easily soak up the worst the UK’s pockmarked roads can throw at it; and when you get to a twisty country road it is quite engaging to drive. Great all-round visibility and short overhangs make it easy to park and drive around town.
The majority of the materials used around the cabin feel both up-market and hard-wearing, making it an ideal family workhorse. Speaking of being suitable for families, the Clio is just as practical as many larger hatchbacks from the class above. Clever packaging means there’s plenty of leg- and headroom in the rear, and a 391-litre boot makes it one of the largest in its class. The boot space is even larger than you’ll find in a Volkswagen Golf (381 litres) or Toyota Corolla (361 litres).
“We like that child seats can be fitted to the outer positions of the rear bench seat using a pair of standard-fit ISOFIX mounting points, along with another position on the front passenger seat, making it great for small and growing families.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter
8. Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is a compelling small car package, but if you’re after a brand-new i10 you’ll have to be quick.
- Prices from £18,365
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Not only is the Hyundai i10 one of the cheapest cars you can buy, this dinky city car is a two-time winner at the Auto Express New Car Awards, and it's not difficult to see why as the i10 is surprisingly sophisticated for its size.
The Hyundai i10 boasts a generous amount of on-board tech, as well as being comfortable to drive and offering plenty of cabin and boot space. It’s even fitted with interior mood-lighting, just like you’d get in a far bigger and pricier Mercedes. A five-year/80,000-mile warranty and Hyundai Roadside Assistance sweeten the deal, too.
The cheapest i10s are fitted with a 66bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. This unit is sluggish in terms of acceleration but, when you do reach cruising speeds, the compact Hyundai is far more comfortable than most of its rivals.
Like the Kia Picanto mentioned above, the Hyundai i10 is a surprisingly spacious little car. When we lived with the i10, we managed to comfortably fit four adults and a boot full of luggage into the car with room to spare.
If you’re looking to get behind the wheel of an i10, you’ll have to be quick as Hyundai recently announced that production of the i10 would be coming to an end.
“Hyundai’s smallest car is more comfortable and refined than ever, while the diminutive size, tight turning circle and light steering make it an absolute doddle to drive around town.” – Ellis Hyde, news reporter
9. Citroen e-C3
If you think that the cheapest cars might be lacking in comfort, the Citroen e-C3 will force you to think again.
- Prices from £18,495
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As far as small electric cars go, the Citroen e-C3 is one of the most rounded examples currently on the market, blending comfort and space into an affordable package. In fact, we’re so impressed by the e-C3 that we awarded it our Car of the Year gong at the 2024 New Car Awards.
Citroen has always stood for comfort and the new e-C3 is no different, taking rough city streets and pockmarked country roads in its stride. The suspension is nice and supple, the electric powertrain makes for a hushed ride when navigating tight city streets, and the Advanced Comfort seats are incredibly supportive. The trade-off though is a pretty unexciting driving experience.
With a starting price of under £18,500, you can notice where Citroen has cut some costs, especially if you take some time to feel around the harder-wearing cabin materials. This is far from a deal-breaker though because the overall finish is decent.
The e-C3 is strong on practicality too. During our tests, we found that it was possible to squeeze four six-foot adults inside with plenty of headroom and knee room thanks to the e-C3’s boxy silhouette.
Boot space at 310 litres is generous for a car in this class, easily outshining more expensive electric rivals like the Renault 5 with its 277 litres, or the Vauxhall Corsa Electric’s 267-litres.
“The e-C3’s interior looks fairly distinctive for a small, affordable car. White highlights - and with Max trim, lightly coloured panels on the seats really do lighten up the cabin.” - Alex Ingram, contributor
10. BYD Dolphin Surf
The BYD Dolphin surf might be one of the cheapest cars on the market, but it's far from spartan.
- Prices from £18,675
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The electric Dolphin Surf is BYD’s smallest car offering here in the UK, and with a starting price of £18,650, decent in-car kit and plenty of range, it’s got all the right ingredients to take on the city car elite.
There’s a choice of two battery options, which can return up to 136 miles or 200 on a WLTP combined cycle which should be more than sufficient for short journeys and commuting. Plus the car is easy to drive around congested streets and has great all-round visibility. Four adults can comfortably be accommodated, and with a sizeable 308 litres, the boot capacity is about 100 litres larger than what’s on offer in the Leapmotor T03.
The Dolphin Surf might be targeted at the budget end of the market, but it’s far from sparse inside. As standard, you get a 10.1-inch electronically rotatable touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity, adaptive cruise control and front and rear parking sensors.
“It’s a small car but the BYD Dolphin Surf feels very grown-up when you drive it, more like a larger supermini than a city car.” - Steve Walker, head of digital content.
Why are these cars so cheap?
To achieve those low sticker prices, cheap new cars are often stripped of everything bar the basics and they’ll sometimes feel a little low-rent next to more expensive versions of the same car just a few steps up the trim ladder.
Many buyers will happily put up with some blanked-out buttons, downmarket trim finishes or even an underpowered engine, but others will see the extra outlay needed to secure a few more creature comforts as money well spent. Either way, the cheap car’s head-turning sticker price has done its job.
In many instances, the biggest challenge facing cars at the cheap end of the market is the existence of used alternatives offering more kit, a better engine and, often, a more desirable badge for the same money.
Many people would rather sink their cash into an apparently better car with a few thousand miles on the clock, but the appeal of a brand-new model with a full warranty and finance facilities not always open to used car buyers is still strong.
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