Don’t spend more than you have to – a £150 monthly budget is enough to get behind the wheel of some very impressive cars
Chances are you probably spend more than £150 a month on food, so you might think such a tight budget for a car might get you a ropey old thing with no equipment or redeeming features. Luckily, that’s not the case. If you’re happy to look at nearly new and used cars, the choice of low-mileage cars available under £150 per month is astounding.
Most of our picks are small hatchbacks, which are not only cheap to buy but blissfully cheap to run as well. And the majority have space for four adults and a bit of luggage. You’ll also find a couple of great-value SUVs on our list, showing that you can have space without paying a premium.
Fiat 500
We start with one of the most characterful cars on the road. The Fiat 500 will brighten up any miserable commute with its chic styling, funky interior and zippy handling. There are plenty available for under £150 per month, so you can pick your perfect trim level and colour. We like the Dolcevita version, with its long equipment list including a panoramic glass roof for those rare times when the weather gets Italian. Get one with the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid engine and you’ll be able to manage up to 57mpg.
Shop used Fiat 500 cars for sale or read our Fiat 500 review
Vauxhall Crossland X
Young families will find a lot to like in the Vauxhall Crossland X, especially its price. The Crossland is also one of the more spacious cars on this list, with plenty of rear-seat room to get babies and toddlers in and out, and a boot that’s more than up to the task of carrying a pushchair or more party bags than you’d ideally like. A comfortable ride, easy-going driving experience and economical engines make the Crossland a fuss-free daily driver.
Shop used Vauxhall Crossland X cars for sale or read our Vauxhall Crossland X review
Citroen C3
If the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo aren’t quite your cup of tea, check out the Citroen C3. It immediately looks a lot different to its rivals, with cuddly yet SUV-aping styling that includes some fun details. The onus is on comfort rather than sportiness, so it’ll appeal if you’re fed up with potholes and don’t ever try to drive your supermini like a supercar.
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Peugeot 108
Underneath, the Peugeot 108 is the same as the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo, but the dinky Peugeot manages to feel slightly more sophisticated than its siblings. It’s still cheap and cheerful inside, with durable materials and just enough tech to feel modern – there’s smartphone mirroring and a reversing camera, keeping you connected and helping you squeeze into the tightest parking spaces. All 108s come with a frugal 1.0-litre petrol engine, but there’s also the option of a ‘Top!’ version with a folding fabric roof.
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Vauxhall Corsa
The UK’s most popular car is widely available for under £150 per month. It’s not only a big seller because it’s affordable, but because it’s a talented all-rounder of a thing. Fun to drive and peppy, yet economical and mostly comfortable. Well equipped for the price, yet also big enough to carry your friends without them feeling scrunched up behind you. Typically, you’ll be able to choose lower-spec cars with low mileage or higher-spec cars with slightly higher mileage for your hundred-and-a-half.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Kia Picanto
Perhaps the most impressive city car currently on sale, the Kia Picanto does everything a big car does but in a deliciously easy-to-park footprint. It’ll seat four adults with (some) room to spare, there’s enough space in the boot for a small weekly shop and high-spec cars get sat nav and even heated seats. But it still has the small-car flickability and fun handling. And all that is wrapped in the balance of a seven-year warranty.
Shop used Kia Picanto cars for sale or read our Kia Picanto review
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross
Now, you probably didn’t expect a family-size SUV on this list, did you? The Suzuki SX4 S-Cross isn’t the first SUV you’ll think of – nor the most crisply named – but in terms of value, it’s almost unmatched. Its low PCP finance prices are appealing enough, but most SX4s come with a mild-hybrid Boosterjet petrol engine that’s able to return 50mpg if you drive gently. While an infotainment system is curiously absent, you do at least get Bluetooth, DAB radio, adaptive cruise control and two-zone air conditioning.
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Nissan Micra
No longer a meek, bulbous thing, the latest Nissan Micra has gained an attitude in the styling department. Its chiselled looks make it stand out, and the good news continues inside. The interior feels well-built and has premium-feeling materials in choice locations – it’s a little plusher than an equivalent Corsa. £150 per month is just enough to buy a Micra in mid-spec Acenta trim with a willing turbocharged petrol engine and under 20,000 miles on the clock.
Shop used Nissan Micra cars for sale or read our Nissan Micra review
Volkswagen Up/ Skoda Citigo
They have different names and faces, but in most other respects the Volkswagen Up and Skoda Citigo are identical twins. Both have a big-car feel with impressive stability at motorway speeds, but are fun when you stick them into a fast corner. It’s possible to see over 60mpg from the simple 1.0-litre engine. What’s more, the box-on-wheels look maximises practicality, with actual space for four adults and a deep boot that’ll swallow more than you might expect.
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Vauxhall Astra
One of the pillars of the family hatchback market, the Vauxhall Astra focuses on ease, equipment and, most of all, value. You’ll be looking at late versions of the last-generation Astra for this budget, but you’d struggle to get close to the Astra’s age and mileage in a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. The Astra’s one of the largest cars on our list, capable of carrying four adults or a family in cosseting comfort. And there’s a competitive 370-litre boot behind. The Astra was made for British roads and it shows – potholes are well rounded off and don’t jolt into the cabin. We’d choose the 1.2-litre petrol engine for perky acceleration and long-distance fuel economy.
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