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10 of the best cars for under £250 per month | October 2024

A £250 per month budget feels like a real sweet spot for used cars.

Paying £250 a month or less usually gets you into a current-shape model that might only be a couple of years old, but for considerably less than the same car if it’d just rolled out of the factory. So you get the latest tech, a plate that’s not very old and, often, the balance of the manufacturer’s warranty.

We've chosen our 10 favourite cars at this price point, including posh hatchbacks, roomy family cars and some of the most stylish cars on sale. For even more choice, browse our range of used cars under £250 per month here.

Skoda Octavia

Skoda Octavia driving

The Skoda Octavia is a rational, measured car – what it lacks in white-knuckle excitement, it makes up for with reassuring competence. It’s comfortable, quiet, economical and sort of fun to drive, while its smart interior manages to blend hardwearing materials with premium touches to good effect.

The Octavia is based on the Volkswagen Golf and shares a lot of its qualities, but the Skoda has a much bigger boot – over 50% bigger, in fact – and costs less to buy. How can your sensible head resist?

Shop used Skoda Octavia cars for sale or read our Skoda Octavia review

MG 4

The best-value electric car? It could well be the MG 4, a spacious family hatchback with a configurable, up-to-date interior and a thoroughly modern set of powertrains. The cheapest MG 4 will manage over 200 miles to a charge – and closer to 300 miles if you only drive around town – while Long Range cars go even further.

There’s little to dislike about the MG 4. Its styling is perhaps divisive, the boot could be bigger and some of the interior trim isn’t exactly premium. But the MG 4’s main traits are all comparative with – or better than – its main rivals, which include the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech. You might even cross-shop the rapid MG 4 XPower with the Tesla Model 3.

Shop used MG 4 cars for sale

Ford Puma

The Puma takes over from the Fiesta as Ford’s entry-level model and, if both are available for a similar price, you’d pick the Puma wouldn’t you? It’s more practical, sits a bit higher, and feels a bit newer, but still is more fun to drive than its rivals. However, if you’re happy with the Fiesta, you’ve got more choice in terms of trim levels. Both will carry four adults and a weekly shop with ease, and both put a smile on your face on curling B-roads – while managing 50mpg or more.

Shop used Ford Puma cars for sale or read our Ford Puma review

Nissan Juke

Some might dismiss the Nissan Juke as style over substance but the second-generation car finally puts those criticisms to bed. The cabin feels surprisingly premium at this price point, with lots of soft-touch materials and deliberately styled elements to lift the passenger experience. What's more, as long as you're not carrying especially lofty passengers in the back, you'll find the Juke is more practical than you might expect with decent rear legroom and a usefully square boot.

Shop used Nissan Juke cars for sale or read our Nissan Juke review 

Ford Focus

A firm family favourite, the Ford Focus is still a top choice even among a seemingly endless number of SUV alternatives. The Focus offers class-leading rear legroom, a boot that’s big enough for day-to-day use, and an interior that’s as easy to use as it is connected. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol is nippy and frugal, while there’s also a 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine if you’re aiming your Focus at the motorway network. We haven’t even mentioned that it’s a hoot to drive – ideal if you moonlight as an owl.

Shop used Ford Focus cars for sale or read our Ford Focus review

SEAT Arona

The SEAT Arona combines the clever practicality of the Ibiza hatchback with blocky SUV styling to great success. It’s spacious inside, has a bigger boot than the Ibiza and sits a bit higher off the ground. Despite being small and cheap, the Arona is very refined at motorway speeds so you won’t have to raise your voice to maintain a conversation. And, talking of cheap, the majority of our Aronas come in well under £250 per month, including high-spec, nearly new and automatic models.

Shop used SEAT Arona cars for sale or read our SEAT Arona review

Peugeot 2008

The small SUV market is awash with excellent options, but the Peugeot 2008 should be in bold and underlined on your shortlist. Behind the sophisticated styling is a high-quality cabin and the sort of design flair that most rivals just don’t bother with. Excellent practicality for a small SUV makes the 2008 a perfectly suitable family car, while the 1.2-litre petrol is one of our favourite small engines. It’s willing and cheeky, and capable of over 50mpg when driven carefully. The 2008 also takes long drives in its stride and deals well with most bumps and jolts.

Shop used Peugeot 2008 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 2008 review

Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris might not be the cheapest supermini to buy, but it more than makes up for that with its ultra-low running costs. Up to 68mpg is possible in mixed driving, and you might even see more than that if you mainly drive around town. It’s wonderfully easy and stress-free to drive – progress is smooth, unwanted noise is dialled down, and every Yaris has an automatic gearbox. Entry-level cars boast big-car features like a reversing camera and adaptive cruise control.

Shop used Toyota Yaris cars for sale or read our Toyota Yaris review

Volkswagen ID.3

Spending under £250 per month on a Volkswagen ID.3 seems really good value to us. The ID.3 is essentially Volkswagen’s electric Golf – the car that takes on the challenge of converting VW drivers to battery power. Look for the 58kWh battery and ‘Pro Performance’ motor which, together, give a range of about 250 miles and acceleration that almost matches the Golf GTI hot hatch, and a delightfully smooth driving experience. It feels really spacious inside, thanks to a long wheelbase and an open, expansive dashboard. But it’s still packed full of equipment, including heated seats and climate control.

Shop used Volkswagen ID.3 cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID.3 review

Mini hatchback

If you don’t need anything so practical, why not treat yourself to something that’s fun to drive, enduringly popular and posh inside. The Mini hatchback is an icon, and it’s barely more expensive than more straight-laced superminis. This budget nets you lots of choice – there’s the mid-range Cooper, some examples of the fast Cooper S, and even electric Minis with the same fun factor as their petrol counterparts (but lower running costs if you charge at home).

Shop used Mini hatchback cars for sale or read our Mini hatchback review

Read our top picks for other monthly budgets

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