Best car leasing deals: 10 top offers hand-picked for you
Car leasing can get you behind the wheel of a new car for less. Our experts have picked the best around this week.
Have you got your heart set on a brand-new car, but don’t want to splash the cash too much? Car leasing, or Personal Contract Hire (PCH), could be the answer, because it involves a reasonable initial deposit followed by low monthly payments – and the Auto Express experts have been finding and analysing the latest deals.
From family hatchbacks to SUVs and electric cars, we've scoured the market to find the best leasing deals available right now, meaning there could be a car suitable for you and your budget.
Leasing works a bit like car rental and is ideal if you don’t have the finances to buy a car outright, or if you simply aren’t interested in owning the vehicle at the end of the finance agreement and just want to hand it back. Monthly payments on a PCH are often lower than equivalent Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) car finance deals, and there’s no lump sum (also known as a balloon payment) at the end of the agreement.
There are some great leasing deals on the market at the moment, and we’ve rounded up the best – from the UK’s cheapest EV to a hugely spacious family car. All the deals are from the country’s top providers via our very own Find a Car service.
Vauxhall Corsa - £153.59 per month
- Model: Corsa 1.2 Turbo Ultimate
- Initial payment: £2,143.07
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 24 months
- Powertrain: 1.2-litre petrol
- Seats: 5
- Boot space: 309 litres
The Vauxhall Corsa has been a feature on UK roads for more than 30 years. It has typically been good value, and the latest one is certainly light on your wallet. The 1.2-litre petrol engine sips fuel and the Corsa is both comfortable and enjoyable to drive - no wonder it's a favourite with driving schools. There are usually plenty of deals on the Corsa, but this one is especially tempting. It's for the top-spec car for just £153.59 a month.
Take a look at the Vauxhall Corsa deal from Lease Car UK Vauxhall Leasing
Nissan Ariya - £233.94 per month
- Model: Ariya 178kW 87kWh 22kWC Auto Advance Sky Pack
- Initial payment: £3,107.27
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 24 months
- Powertrain: dual electric motors
- Seats: 5
- Boot space: 408 litres
It takes something special in order to earn our coveted Car of the Year award, and the Nissan Ariya did exactly that in 2022. The competition has moved on a bit since then, but this electric SUV is still far from being out of the running. The cabin feels like a high-class place to sit, with soft materials throughout. This, combined with the smooth chassis, makes the Ariya a breeze to cover long distances in. You shouldn’t be too concerned about range, either, because the uprated 87kWh battery that’s up for grabs here can cover in excess of 300 miles between charges.
Take a look at the Nissan Ariya deal from Leasing Options via Carwow
MINI Cooper S - £210.27 per month
- Model: Cooper S 2.0 Auto Exclusive
- Initial payment: £2,763.24
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 24 months
- Powertrain: 2.0-litre petrol
- Seats: 4
- Boot space: 210 litres
Few cars are as instantly recognisable as the retro MINI Cooper, but now the latest model has introduced a bit more sophistication into the mix. Along with some fancier interior fabrics and an enhanced overall sense of quality, the latest Cooper is also features a crisp OLED centre display, which houses plenty of useful tech. Above all else, though, this MINI is still as much fun to chuck around town as ever before.
Take a look at the MINI Cooper deal from Evans Halshaw Leasing MINI
Renault Scenic - £229.18 per month
- Model: Scenic E-Tech 160kW 87kWh Long Range Auto Techno
- Initial payment: £3,045.16
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 24 months
- Powertrain: Single electric motor
- Seats: 5
- Boot space: 545 litres
The Renault Scenic used to be a very popular MPV to car around the family, but now it’s swapped its multi-purpose suit for a more contemporary SUV one. More than that, the Scenic has switched to electric power and offers space for five people along with their stuff, and wraps this up in a very handsome body. The interior is well trimmed and its tech is top notch, too, thanks to a Google-based infotainment system. But there’s even more good news, because the Long Range, listed here, has a fantastic 379 miles of range on the WLTP combined cycle.
Take a look at the Renault Scenic deal from Carwow Leasey
Mazda 3 - £210.56 per month
- Model: Mazda 3 2.5 e-Skyactiv G MHEV 140 Prime-Line
- Initial payment: £2,825.72
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 48 months
- Powertrain: 2.5-litre petrol
- Seats: 5
- Boot space: 334 litres
The Mazda 3 stands out in the hatchback market primarily due to its design. Thanks to its curvy shape, there's nothing else like it, but there's more to the 3 than the way it looks. The interior is beautifully laid out and feels very plush, and the Mazda handles superbly, with an agile chassis and sharp steering. You can even get one with a manual gearbox if you want.
Another USP is the 3’s engine range – they're all larger-capacity units with mild-hybrid power. But don't be fooled by their size, because the clever tech makes them economical with fuel.
Take a look at the Mazda 3 deal from First Vehicle Leasing
Dacia Jogger - £237.68 per month
- Model: Jogger 1.0 TCe Essential
- Initial payment: £3,147.16
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 48 months
- Powertrain: 1.0-litre petrol
- Seats: 7
- Boot space: 212 litres
If you need space for seven people and don’t want an enormous SUV parked on your driveway then the Dacia Jogger is the perfect solution. We’ve named it Family Car of the Year two years running on account of its sheer good value for money and practical packaging. Space really is the name of the game here, because there’s loads of room in the second row, thanks to the car’s boxy dimensions, and space for two kids in the back seats. Even the entry-level model comes with all the features most family buyers crave, and the 1.0-litre petrol engine is fuel efficient.
Take a look at the Dacia Jogger deal from Carwow Leasey Dacia
Polestar 2 - £382.42 per month
- Model: Polestar 2 220kW 82kWh Single motor Auto Long Range
- Initial payment: £4,828.99
- Annual Mileage: 5,000 miles
- Term: 48 months
- Powertrain: single electric motor
- Seats: 5
- Boot space: 405 litres
If you fancy an electric executive car, the Tesla Model 3 may be the first model that comes to mind. However, the Polestar 2 has been a stubborn thorn in Tesla’s side for years and is well worth considering. It offers excellent build quality, impressive technology and some punchy performance stats to boot. There’s more good news, too, because the Long Range model that’s included with this deal can return more than 400 miles on the WLTP combined cycle.
Take a look at the Polestar 2 deal from VehicleFlex Polestar
Volkswagen T-Roc - £217.98 per month
- Model: T-Roc 1.5 TSI R Line
- Initial payment: £2,915.75
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 24 months
- Powertrain: 1.5-litre petrol
- Seats: 5
- Boot space: 445 litres
The nation’s roads are filled with small SUVs, and the Volkswagen T-Roc certainly isn’t an uncommon sight. Being based on the Volkswagen Golf hatchback means the T-Roc comes with a real sense of familiarity about it, and it offers the same levels of quality and simplicity that have been striking a chord with Golf buyers for many years. Of course, being an SUV means the T-Roc has the added advantages of a higher driving position and more space inside.
Take a look at the Volkswagen T-Roc deal from Leasing Options Volkswagen
See our Volkswagen T-Roc deals
Suzuki Swift - £185.12 per month
- Model: Swift 1.2 Mild Hybrid Motion
- Initial payment: £2,516.44
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 36 months
- Powertrain: 1.2-litre petrol
- Seats: 5
- Boot space: 265 litres
The Suzuki Swift is a real winner if you want a fun little supermini that’s also cheap to run. The key to the Swift is lightness – it's a true featherweight in the small-car class, and this improves its handling, and, more importantly, lowers its running costs. The interior feels a little on the cheap side, but the dashboard is well laid out and there's plenty of equipment. Even this entry-level Motion model has big-car features such as privacy glass, rear parking sensors and camera, plus full smartphone connectivity.
Take a look at the Suzuki Swift deal from Carwow Leasey Suzuki
Dacia Spring - £133.36 per month
- Model: Spring 27kWh Auto Expression 45 33kW
- Initial payment: £1,895.32
- Annual Mileage: 5,000
- Term: 36 months
- Powertrain: Electric motor
- Seats: 4
- Boot space: 308 litres
It's little surprise that the UK's cheapest new EV is also a steal on the leasing market. You can hop into the dinky Dacia Spring for less than £150 a month right now, and in many ways the Spring rewrites the EV car rulebook. It's light, efficient and brimming with character – what's not to like? Its 26.8kWh battery is good for a claimed 140 miles, while its 44bhp electric motor means city commutes are a doddle.
Take a look at the Dacia Spring deal from Carwow Leasey Dacia
How does car leasing work?
Car leasing deals work in the same way as Business Contract Hire (BCH) offers, except VAT is included. You pay an advance rental payment or deposit, select your annual mileage and contract length, and then pay a flat monthly fee for the duration of your agreement. When your contract ends, you hand the car back.
Traditionally, leasing a new car is simpler and easier than a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and more importantly, it generally has lower monthly payments. For these reasons, lease deals are growing in popularity, with a large number of motorists simply handing back their cars at the end of the lease and signing for a new one straight away. As their popularity is growing, so is the competition between providers, meaning buyers have the freedom to choose from the cream of the crop.
In addition to the cheaper monthly payments, car leasing can offer many other useful benefits that could help you avoid the faff of dealing with independent dealerships. Car tax, breakdown cover, car maintenance and tyre repair and replacement can all be included within your agreed payment plan.
Independent lease broker deals
If the car of your dreams isn’t offered on a lease deal direct from the manufacturer, don’t worry. Instead you can go through a leasing broker. These are independent firms that use their expertise to negotiate supply and funding deals with car makers and lending companies, and stitch together leasing deals for all manner of vehicles. In some cases the brokers offer extended contract terms, too.
Lease brokers have traditionally been focused on the fleet market, but nowadays there are plenty who offer lease deals to private customers as well. The main difference between private and fleet or business lease deals is cost, because prices for business leases are quoted without VAT being added.
While the figures in our selected car deals above are a good starting point, take care when assessing quotes, because some lease deals may involve additional admin or set-up fees. It’s also vital to scrutinise the cost of exiting a lease contract before its official end, because ‘penalty’ charges for early termination can be significant.
Business car leasing
If you’re a VAT-registered business user, there could be more financial benefits from leasing your car or cars. Many leasing companies quote two prices: a personal lease and a business lease. Our prices are all for the former aimed at private customers, but business prices are without the 20 per cent VAT, which makes these deals even more affordable. Just remember, the contract has to be taken out by a business or sole trader, though, and the VAT rebate is limited to 50 per cent if the car is used for private mileage.
Looking to sell your current car quickly and for a good price? Get offers from top dealers with our Sell My Car service...