Best new car deals 2023
Thinking of buying a new model? Check out our list of some of the best new car deals right now
The key when looking for a new car, is doing your research. Car finance can be tricky to understand, and trawling through endless lists of new car finance deals can be a bit of a slog, of course, and that’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best deals currently on the market.
We’ve looked at finance packages from all of the major car manufacturers to find some of the best new car deals on the market. We’re focusing on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) plans, since it’s a very popular kind of car finance to buy new cars and delivers low monthly payments but those who prefer to lease rather than buy can visit our leasing deals page.
There are three main key areas when looking at PCP deals – the deposit, monthly repayments, and optional final payment are all key to getting a great deal. If you’re not sure about what those are, read our handy PCP finance guide.
It’s also important to know the length of the agreement, mileage limit, deposit contributions from the manufacturers and APR interest rate – as this can affect your suitability. Most of our deals assume you’ll be putting down a deposit of around 10 to 15 per cent, and will be covering around 8,000 miles a year but the flexibility of PCP car finance means you’ll be able to adjust the deals to your own requirements.
With the cost of everything going up at the moment, it might be a good time to bag a new car bargain. If you can afford to stump up a large initial deposit, you’ll lower your monthly payments and the overall amount of interest paid but there are also low deposit deals for those who want to pay less up front - offering decent value for every budget.
Best new car deals 2023
Below you’ll find some of the best new car finance deals we can find on new cars that our reviewers rate. We hope there’s a bargain here for you…
Small cars
- Dacia Sandero - £180 per month
- Volkswagen Polo - £183 per month
- Citroen C3 Aircross - £199 per month
- Renault Clio - £87 per month
Family Hatchbacks
- Mazda 3 - £279 per month
- Volkswagen Golf - £267 per month
- Hyundai i30 - £277 per month
- MG4 – £129 per month
Family SUV
- Mazda CX-30 - £279 per month
- Dacia Jogger - £234 per month
- Ford Kuga - £410 per month
- Hyundai Tucson - £369 per month
- Lexus NX - £397 per month
Executive cars
- Skoda Octavia - £295 per month
- BMW 3 Series - £475 per month
Best small car deals
Dacia Sandero TCe 90- £180 per month
- Per month: £180
- List price: £13,795
- Deposit: £1,884
- APR: 7.9%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £6,134
Since its introduction to the UK market in 2013, the Sandero’s price may have increased, but it’s still one of the most affordable new cars on the market. Similarly sized to its supermini rivals, the Sandero offers roomier rear cabin and boot space than the Citroen C3.
With the entry level Essential spec, you still get air conditioning, remote central locking, cruise control, DAB and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. Additionally, a three-year/ 60,000-mile warranty with roadside assistance and a three-year service plan at a fixed £599 should keep running and maintenance costs at a minimum.
TrustpilotGet the deal on the Dacia website...
Volkswagen Polo Life - £183 per month
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- Per month: £183
- List price: £20,070
- Deposit: £4,014
- APR: 6.9%
- Deposit contribution: £1,500
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £9,080
For decades, the Volkswagen Polo has always been near the very top of the sales charts – and it’s not difficult to see why. With decent practicality and a grown-up driving dynamic, it’s one of the more premium superminis on the market.
While all trim levels within the range offer a decent amount of kit, we reckon the Life trim is the best place for your cash with its alloy-wheels, air-con, cruise control and an eight inch touchscreen with DAB radio and smartphone mirroring. With a reasonably priced service plan and a healthy deposit contribution, the Polo should be on your shortlist.
Get the deal on the Volkswagen website…
Citroen C3 Aircross - £199 per month
- Per month: £199
- List price: £19,270
- Deposit: £4,862
- APR: 7.9%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £8,762
There’s a lot to like about the Citroen C3 Aircross – so much so it won our Small SUV of the Year in the 2018 New Car Awards when it was introduced and picked up our Used Car of the Year in 2021
On the road, the engines offer a good blend of decent performance and efficiency, with the 1.2-litre turbo engine returning up to 51.5mpg meaning it should be cheap to run. Living with the car day to day should be effortless as there is plenty of interior storage and a good amount of passenger head and legroom. The sliding rear bench seat gives the C3 Aircross up to 520 litres of boot space – making it a practical alternative to the Renault Captur or Ford Fiesta Active. Standard equipment is also generous with the base model being equipped with automatic air-conditioning and LED lights being added at no extra cost.
Get the deal on the Citroen website…
Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid 145 - £87 per month
- Per month: £87
- List price: £22,095
- Deposit: £6,629
- APR: 0%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 25
- Final payment: £13,391
The Renault Clio has been our Supermini of the Year for three years in a row, and with its mix of sharp and responsive steering, solid body control and a ride quality to match, it’s easy to see why.
Being one of the more high-quality feeling superminis on the market, the lower monthly price of £87 per month and 0% APR makes the Clio an attractive choice, and as a proper hybrid, it’s ideal for those looking to move away from pure combustion, but unable to make the switch to pure electric.
Get the deal on the Renault website…
Best hatchback deals
Mazda 3 Homura - £299 per month
- Per month: £299
- List price: £26,355
- Deposit: £5,223
- APR: 6.9%
- Deposit contribution: £500
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £10,597
The Mazda 3 is a striking family hatchback and among the more desirable models currently on the market. Not only is it fun to drive and has groundbreaking engine technology, the overall package is really good value for money.
While it doesn’t lead the class on interior space, the driving position offers plenty of adjustment, making it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel and still offer enough capacity for most, so it’s a stylish alternative to the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. With a generous deposit contribution and lower APR than some of its rivals, the Mazda 3 would make an ideal family car.
Get the deal on the Mazda website…
Volkswagen Golf Life - £267 per month
- Per month: £267
- List price: £26,565
- Deposit: £5,313
- APR: 6.9%
- Deposit contribution: £2,000
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £10,712
The Volkswagen Golf is a well rounded family hatchback which combines classy looks, practicality and a competent ride with premium and high quality materials. We’d select the entry-level Life trim as it’s well equipped, and features new on-board tech such as a digital instrument display, a 10-inch touchscreen (although some may find it a little frustrating to use) and wireless smartphone charging and front and rear parking sensors as standard.
Overall, the Golf is an easy car to live with thanks to excellent all round visibility, enough cabin space for four adults to travel in comfort, and 381 litres of luggage space in the boot with the rear seats in the upright position. Generous deposit contributions and reasonable service plans offered by Volkswagen makes this offer an attractive prospect.
Get the deal on the Volkswagen website…
Hyundai i30 SE Connect- £277 per month
- Per month: £277
- List price: £21,950
- Deposit: £3,800
- APR: 7.5%
- Deposit contribution: £750
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £7,909
While the Hyundai i30 isn’t the most exciting family hatchback on the market, it’s a well built, refined, economical and generously specced car which should make it on to your shortlist.
We’d pick the 1.0 T-GDi engine as it offers a useful blend of performance and economy, and the SE Connect trim comes with alloy wheels, a rear-view camera, and an eight inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. Teamed with the deposit contribution and Hyundai’s five year unlimited mileage warranty, the i30 is worth a look if you’re in the market for a rational alternative to the Vauxhall Astra or Kia Ceed.
Get the deal on the Hyundai website…
MG4 EV SE Long Range - £129 per month
- Per month: £129
- List price: £29,495
- Deposit: £8,995
- APR: 0%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 25
- Final payment: £17,403
The MG4 is a car perfectly pitched to take customers away from mainstream manufacturers like Nissan, Kia and even Volkswagen, with an impressive blend of practicality, decent performance, attractive pricing (being one of the cheapest electric vehicles currently on the market) and up to 362 miles of battery range.
Standard equipment is generous with all cars featuring automatic LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and smartphone connectivity with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – the SE Long Range offers the best all round value, specification and range.
Interior space is good, being both longer and wider than both its more expensive rivals in the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech. Rear passengers benefit from a decent amount of leg and knee room and adequate luggage capacity at 363 litres with the rear seats in the upright position. With a generous seven year warranty teamed with a 0% APR deal, the MG4 should be on your shortlist.
Get the deal from MG’s website…
Best family SUV deals
Mazda CX-30 SE-L - £279 per month
- Per month: £279
- List price: £25,480
- Deposit: £4,202
- APR: 6.9%
- Deposit contribution: £750
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £11,565
The Mazda CX-30 is a well-rounded premium compact SUV, and with a record high Euro NCAP crash test score for adult occupant protection, the CX-30 has become one of Mazda’s best selling models. Boasting the same Skyactiv technology as the Mazda 3, it combines the practicality and versatility of the 3 but in a more rugged package.
With interior quality that surpasses most of its main rivals, stylish looks combined with a good deposit contribution and competitive APR makes the CX-30 a cracking alternative to the Skoda Karoq, SEAT Ateca or Peugeot 3008.
Get the deal on the Mazda website…
Dacia Jogger Essential TCe 110 - £234 per month
- Per month: £234
- List price: £18,295
- Deposit: £2,502
- APR: 7.9%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £8,350
For those after more space or seven-seat flexibility, the Dacia Jogger offers the best value for money on the market. Awarded our 2022 Family Car of the Year title, the low purchase price of the Jogger and strong residual values will appeal to buyers.
Entry-level Essential trim includes rear parking sensors, cruise control, air-conditioning, DAB radio and bluetooth, and focus has been placed on usable space. The car is pretty compact at 4,457mm long, making the Jogger much easier to park around town and in tight spaces in comparison to the Skoda Kodiaq, and passenger space is generous – the rear seats can accommodate three adults easily.
With no real seven-seat rivals at this price point, the Dacia Jogger shows that you can have a new family car and not break the bank.
Get the deal from the Dacia website…
Ford Kuga ST Line Edition - £410 per month
- Per month: £410
- List price: £38,855
- Deposit: £8,857
- APR: 0%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 24
- Final payment: £20,178
Ford’s third attempt at the Kuga is easily its best yet, offering practicality and decent levels of on-board and safety kit as standard, in a package which handles the road well with comfort and composure on longer journeys, but also agility when pressing on through the corners.
ST-Line trim and a 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid engine is where you will find the best value and savings in fuel and CO2. Interior space, head and knee room is plentiful and more than adequate for a family of four, with a versatile boot thanks to sliding rear seats – there’s up to 526 litres with the seats moved forward, outshining its Skoda Karoq rival.
With a competitive 0% APR and varying contract lengths, the Ford Kuga is practical and efficient family SUV which is great to drive.
Get the deal from the Ford website…
Hyundai Tucson 150ps 2WD- £369 per month
- Per month: £369
- List price: £30,200
- Deposit: £3,800
- APR: 7.5%
- Deposit contribution: £1,500
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £12,824
If the Ford Kuga doesn’t take your fancy, Hyundai is keen on establishing the current generation of Tucson at the upper end of the class for drivers who want something with a little more style and refinement, but need decent overall space, practicality and day-to-day functionality.
With generous trim levels from the outset and the option of hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains across the board, the Tucson is able to rival more upmarket brands like Audi and BMW but without the premium price tag.
With Hyundai’s fantastic five year unlimited mile warranty, substantial deposit contribution and low customer deposit, the Tucson is great value for money.
Get the deal from the Hyundai website…
Lexus NX 350H - £397 per month
- Per month: £397
- List price: £45,435
- Deposit: £15,902
- APR: 8.4%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £18,720
The Lexus NX is one of the Japanese manufacturer’s best-selling models in the UK as well as our 2022 Midsize Premium SUV of the Year. Not only does it offer excellent efficiency, comfort and technology worthy of its premium status, it’s also an attractive alternative to the usual German models offered by Audi with the Q5, the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC.
With 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a 9.8-inch media touchscreen with an integrated sat-nav, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay and heated front seats, even the entry-level NX can still provide a premium experience.
Get the deal from the Lexus website…
Best executive car deals
Skoda Octavia Hatch SE - £295 per month
- Per month: £295
- List price: £24,540
- Deposit: £4,908
- APR: 7.9%
- Deposit contribution: £1,000
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £8,999
The Skoda Octavia is one of the most accomplished and versatile hatchbacks in its class, offering a refined drive and great all-round usability without compromising on space.
The Ocativa was crowned our 2021 Car of the Year, while the estate was crowned our Estate Car of the Year as it combines great value, low running costs and heaps of practicality. The Octavia is noticeably larger than the Volkswagen Golf with which it shares a platform, being 4,689mm long and 1,829mm wide. Boot space is also plentiful at 600 litres, 220 litres more than the Golf. Trim levels are generous, with our pick being the SE, which includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather trimmed multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, climate control, and rear parking sensors.
Get the deal from the Skoda website…
BMW 320i M Sport - £475 per month
- Per month: £475
- List price: £40,717
- Deposit: £7,000
- APR: 5.9%
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Number of payments: 48
- Final payment: £17,280
The BMW 3 Series offers the perfect blend of performance, driving dynamics, technology and refinement, teamed with low running costs, making this car one of the leaders in the compact executive class.
All cars are well equipped, with this M Sport model having cruise control, BMW’s Live Cockpit, curved display, heated seats and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alongside the M Sport Body kit. Head and leg room are better than ever, either matching or beating its rivals for interior space. It’s wide enough to accommodate three child seats side by side in the rear, and there’s ample leg and headroom for passengers, thanks to the extended wheelbase. A 480 litre boot should be more than adequate for most buyers.
The low APR rate and three year unlimited mileage warranty, including BMW Emergency Service and roadside assistance, makes the 3 Series an attractive option.
Get the deal from the BMW website…
How does PCP finance work?
More than 90 per cent of the new cars sold in the UK are purchased using some kind of finance, so while list prices are often referred to, monthly figures and deposits are arguably more relevant. Most car makers have their own version of a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and they all work in the same way.
PCPs are best thought of in three parts: the deposit, the monthly repayments, and the optional final payment. The deposit is the cash you’ll put down up front. This can either be a straightforward lump sum, the value of your part-exchange, a deposit contribution from the manufacturer, or a combination of all three.
The size of the deposit will affect the size of your monthly repayments. These are typically made over a 24, 36 or 48-month period, but can be scaled up or down to suit your circumstances. The final part is the optional final payment, which is sometimes referred to as the ‘balloon payment’. Your deposit and monthly payments only go part of the way to paying off the car; in fact, they’re actually paying off its depreciation over the time you’ll have it. To own the car you’ll need to pay the full amount off, but not every buyer does.
Many drivers use the car’s ‘equity’ as the deposit on their next one. This ‘equity’ is made up of overpayments you may have made, since makers often overestimate how much a new car will depreciate to play it safe. This quirk of PCPs means you might not necessarily have to find a big deposit each time you take out a new deal.
If you don’t want to own the car outright or roll any ‘equity’ into a new deal, your third option is to hand the car back with no additional payments, and walk away.
Other ways to finance
Few buyers have the means or motivation to spend tens of thousands of pounds in one go. So while PCP deals are the most popular finance option, retailers also have an alternative, called Personal Contract Hire (PCH).
PCH
Also known as personal leasing, PCH deals require less capital up front. After an ‘initial rental’ or up-front payment, you make a series of regular payments until the agreement ends, after which you hand back the car and walk away.
While there’s no large deposit, unlike a PCP, which offers a reasonable degree of flexibility, a PCH will tie you in for the duration, with no option of handing the car back early without a financial penalty.
Hire purchase
Not many people choose hire purchase now, but it’s still possible to take out an old-fashioned HP agreement on a new car.
Put down a deposit then make monthly repayments that, unlike with a PCH or PCP deal, pay off the value of the car. At the end of the term you own the car outright.
HP agreements are secured against the vehicle, so tend to offer more attractive interest rates than those offered with unsecured bank loans, for example.
Cash, cards & loans
The days of cash being king are long gone in the new-car market and you may find the deals offered via this purchase method are less attractive than those available were you to take out a PCH or PCP deal.
Credit cards offer a level of consumer protection but have heavy interest rates. A bank loan with an attractive interest rate is another route. You’ll pay cash for the car, so dealer discounts are harder to come by.
Choosing the right car for you
The cars listed above are our considered recommendations, but they won’t suit everyone. You should spend time ensuring that the model you choose has the space, style, economy, and performance you need.
Once you’ve drawn up your shortlist, call round dealers to book test drives, and put the car to good use. Make sure you, and anyone else who will be driving it, is satisfied and can find a suitable driving position behind the wheel.
Take the kids along to ensure they can get comfortable, too, and that it’s easy to get child seats in and out. And if you have hobbies with specific requirements, make sure the car is up to the job.
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