The best cars on sale for £300 per month

It’s common for dealers to entice buyers with big discounts on new models. These often come in the form of finance deals, breaking down intimidating prices into bite-size monthly instalments. Generally, these deals are available via either Personal Contract Hire (PCH) or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements.

In short, a PCH scheme is a leasing scheme which allows a customer to drive around in a car they might not be able to afford to buy. PCP offers buyers one of three options at the end of the term – pay a lump sum to buy the car outright, give the car back to the dealer, or use its value to trade against a brand new model.

The final value is generally quite high, meaning most buyers go for the third option. This ensures repeat trade for the dealer and a healthy stock of used cars to fill its forecourts. So if you’ve set yourself a budget of £300 per month, what are the best deals today? From practical MPVs to two-seat sports cars, here are five of our favourites.

BMW 1 Series – £298/month

Model: 118i M Sport 5-door hatchback
Agreement type: PCP
Agreement length: 48 months
Deposit: £1,750

A very affordable way into BMW ownership, the 118i version of the 1 Series is fitted with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Producing a more-than-adequate 136hp, it’ll still exceed a claimed 52.3mpg in regular use. It also handles crisply and boasts a smart, well-built cabin.

Through this deal, the 1 Series will set you back £298 per month over four years. BMW also provides a deposit contribution if £1,327, so you’re effectively receiving a generous discount. If owning the car outright isn’t a requirement, then even cheaper deals can be had via a three-year PCH, the 118i M Sport is available for just £259 per month.

See the savings offered by picking your ideal BMW 1 Series in our car configurator or see more info here.

Ford S-Max – £279/month

Model: 1.5 EcoBoost Titanium 7-seat MPV
Agreement type: PCH
Agreement length: 36 months
Deposit: £6,138

For those who need just a little more practicality than the 1 Series can provide, the seven seat S-Max can be leased from Ford for a similar monthly rate.

There is a fairly sizeable £6,138 to pay up-front but, from there, are few ways to drive away in so much car for the money. At the agreed rate, the user is limited to 9,000 miles per year, with the rate increasing by a couple of pence for every additional mile driven. For the money, you can enjoy the comfortable cabin of the S-Max in mid-level Titanium spec, powered by a 158hp 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

Choose your perfect Ford S-Max in our car configurator to see what deals are available or view more info here.

Kia Sorento – £302/month

Model: 2.2 CRDi KX-1 7-seat SUV
Agreement type: PCP
Agreement length: 37 months
Deposit: £7,465

One of the most handsome large SUVs on sale currently, the Kia Sorento represents great value for money, too. You’ll have to stretch the budget by £2 per month, but it’ll bag you a seven-seat SUV powered by a strong 2.2 turbodiesel engine, making it not only a practical people-mover, but a great tow car, too.

Best of all, the Sorento is backed up by Kia’s market-leading seven year warranty, for the ultimate peace of mind.

See what reductions are offered by picking your ideal Kia Sorento in our car configurator, or see more info here.

Mazda 6 – £294/month

Model: 2.0 (143hp) SE 5-door hatchback
Agreement type: PCP
Agreement length: 42 months
Deposit £1,000

The Mazda 6 is as stylish and as fun as they come in the large family car segment, offering an interesting alternative to the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. Through Mazda’s current special offer, it’s great value for money, too. Offered via a zero per cent PCP deal, the agreement lasts for three-and-a-half years, with an optional final payment of £5,599.

If you’re willing to front more than a £1,000 deposit (Mazda themselves contribute £1,500) then monthly rates can drop even lower. Running costs should be fairly reasonable, thanks to a 2.0-litre petrol engine claimed to return 51.4mpg, and a group 18 insurance rate which is competitive for the class.

Spec up a Mazda 6 in our car configurator to see the discounts on offer, or see more info here.

Mercedes SLK – £299/month

Model: SLK 250 d 2-seat roadster
Agreement type: PCH
Agreement length: 36 months
Deposit: £3,826

These practical, sensible cars are all well and good, but what if you’d rather let your hair down (figuratively) and mess it up (literally)?

The SLK is a two seat sports car which, via Mercedes’ lease deal, can be paid for at just under £300 per month. It’s fun to drive, fast and frugal – not only will it crack the 0-62mph sprint in 6.6 seconds, but it’ll return a claimed 70.6mpg, too.

If the priority is to get the prestige of a Mercedes badge on the drive (and a sporty version at that) then the SLK represents great value for money.

Put the Mercedes SLK in our car configurator to see how much carwow could help you save, or see more info here.

What next?

Not only does carwow’s car configurator find you great discounts on new cars, but it also finds the most affordable finance packages, too. For more options, visit our deals page or, for more help picking your next car check out our car chooser.