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Rated 4.6/5 from 53,023 reviews

Best cheap cars 2024

The cost of living is getting higher and higher. And buying and owning a new car can seem like a pointlessly unaffordable endeavour.

However, there are still plenty of low-cost cars on sale in 2024 that don’t mean compromising on quality and might just be more affordable than you think. Our best cheap cars have low retail prices and affordable monthly costs but have scored highly during testing by our experienced reviews team.

Dacia Jogger
2024
Smart Spender Award

1. Dacia Jogger

9/10
Dacia Jogger review
You don’t have to settle for a dinky city car if you want a cheap car. The Dacia Jogger offers ridiculous value when you consider that it's a seven-seat SUV/estate combo that's priced to compete with city cars. It feels a bit cheap inside but it's good to drive and has so much space that it's easy to forgive some scratchy plastics. There’s also a fuel-sipping hybrid model, offering rock-bottom running costs.
Renault Clio

2. Renault Clio

9/10
Renault Clio review
The Renault Clio is one of the best-value cars you can buy, because not only does it look smart, it has a massive boot for a car of this size. It also has a more upmarket interior than most alternatives at this price. Opting for the economical hybrid pushes the price up a bit, but it's still good to drive with the basic petrol engine. Rear seat space is a bit tight, though.

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Citroen C5 Aircross
2024
Family Values Award

3. Citroen C5 Aircross

9/10
Citroen C5 Aircross review
The Citroen C5 Aircross is the most expensive car in this list, but what you get for the money is ridiculously impressive. It's comfortable like all good Citroens, and while there are cheap materials to be found inside, it feels quality overall. But more importantly, you get a massive boot that can take everything family life could throw at it. This is a practical SUV priced like an upmarket city car.
Citroen C3 Aircross

4. Citroen C3 Aircross

7/10
Citroen C3 Aircross review
Citroen is really leading the way with offering practical, affordable cars at the moment, so it's perhaps no surprise to see the C3 Aircross following its larger sibling above in this list. Just like the C5 Aircross, it's comfortable to drive and you get a big boot compared with similarly priced alternatives, though rear seat space is a bit tight.
Hyundai i10

5. Hyundai i10

8/10
Hyundai i10 review
The Hyundai i10 is a great little car, and the fact that it is not too expensive is the icing on the cake. It comes with a good level of tech, and even the cheapest cars have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The entry-level 67hp engine is sluggish, though, so you won’t be going anywhere in a hurry. Still, safety equipment is good – you get features such as cruise control and autonomous emergency braking even in the cheapest cars.
Dacia Sandero

6. Dacia Sandero

8/10
Dacia Sandero review
There was once a time when the Dacia Sandero ruled the world of cheap cars, but over the years its price has slowly increased to reflect improved fit and finish and the removal of the proper budget specification. It's still an excellent deal, though, being another small car with big car space. The boot has an annoyingly massive lip to lift things over, but it's practical enough inside to carry tall adults without them feeling cramped.
MG MG4 EV
2024
Urban Living Award
Highly Commended

7. MG 4

9/10
MG MG4 EV review
Battery range up to 323 miles
The real appeal of the MG 4 EV is that it's an electric car for less money than most petrol cars of a similar size. And it's not like it's a bad one - it was Highly Commended in the Carwow Car of the Year awards for 2024, it's endowed with a really good range on its batteries and it's better to drive than it has any right to be. It's one of the best-value cars on sale right now.
Skoda Fabia

8. Skoda Fabia

9/10
Skoda Fabia review
The Skoda Fabia follows the same recipe as most Skodas - make it big, practical, and pack it to the brim with clever touches. Here you get neat additions like a parking ticket clip on the windscreen and an umbrella under the driver's seat. It feels bigger and more upmarket than most other small cars and is comfortable on long trips. The trade off is that it's not the most fun on a country road.
SEAT Ibiza

9. SEAT Ibiza

8/10
SEAT Ibiza review
Ok, so some of the interior materials in the SEAT Ibiza feel a bit scratchy – they are not up to the standard you’d see in other Volkswagen group cars. But you do get a decent amount of space and the Ibiza has a big boot, too. The entry-level model also gets desirable features such as a touchscreen display.
Vauxhall Corsa

10. Vauxhall Corsa

7/10
Vauxhall Corsa review
The Vauxhall Corsa has been one of Britain's best-selling cars over the past few years, because it's a great all-rounder at a reasonable price. The latest model even has a stylish appearance, and it's one of the most comfortable small cars to drive. There are arguably better cars in this list, but few are as fuss-free as the Corsa, and there are always great deals to be had to save even more money...

Cheapest cars on sale 2024

You want a new car for used car money? Here are the absolute cheapest cars you can buy through Carwow thanks to our discounts. These really are the cheapest (though not always the best)…

Citroen Ami

1. Citroen Ami

5/10
Citroen Ami review
Battery range up to 47 miles
The Citroen Ami isn't technically a car, but it's too much fun to not include on this list. It's left-hand drive and has the refinement of a brick, while the 28mph top speed means it's not one for road tripping. But its quirky looks will turn heads wherever you go, and if you just need a fun electric runaround for the city, it's the perfect way to indulge your inner child.
MG MG3 (2013-2023)

2. MG3

4/10
MG MG3 (2013-2023) review
MG has been making waves with its affordable electric vehicles, the MG4 and MG ZS EV. But the MG3 was offering budget motoring long before those cars arrived on the scene. It has sporty looks, a decent equipment list and is reasonably spacious, but it's not the most pleasant thing to drive.
Citroen C3

3. Citroen C3

6/10
Citroen C3 review
The Citroen C3 is further proof that you don't need to sacrifice quality and style to get a cheap car. The C3 is comfortable to drive and looks good inside and out. It suffers from a poor infotainment system and average rear seat space, but it's an excellent value offer.
Dacia Sandero

4. Dacia Sandero

8/10
Dacia Sandero review
It might not be the cheapest car on sale anymore, but it's still pretty close. It does feel cheap inside and isn't the most fun to drive, but it's comfortable and more spacious than you'd expect for a small car.
Kia Picanto
2024
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended

5. Kia Picanto

7/10
Kia Picanto review
The Kia Picanto costs nearly twice as much as an Ami, but then this is actually a car, so it feels somewhat justified. It's still one of the cheapest cars you can buy, and even looks good and drives well - though this model will soon be replaced by a facelifted version.

More advice about cheap cars

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Cheap cars FAQs

The smaller the car, the less you’ll need to spend on both fuel and road tax. A smaller car is lighter and therefore more frugal on fuel. The Hyundai i10 or Renault Clio have efficient engines and return impressive fuel usage figures. Despite their size, they’re incredibly practical and would tick the boxes for most people’s day-to-day needs. They’re also a lot better for the environment. So not only can you feel better about the car you’re driving, but you won’t need to pay as much in road tax.

Cars that are cheap to insure are simply some of the safest available, and most economical to repair. Cheap and slow is the way to go. Every car down to each specific engine option is categorised into a group - taking performance and the cost of repair into account. These insurance groups range from 1 to 50. If you’re on a budget, try to get a car with a low insurance group number - the Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo have a few models in group 1.

Through Carwow, obviously… but you can save even more. Every model of car has options, packages and different engines to choose from. To save money on a new car just think carefully about what you need and avoid the temptation to go for the top spec. Through our website you can find easy to understand descriptions of these options to help you pick what’s best for you.

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