Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids and EVs: the cheapest cars of every type in the UK

The best things in life are free, but that doesn’t really apply to cars – most of the time, if you want the best, you’ll need deep pockets. So cars that major on value and low purchase price really appeal – but finding the cheapest one for your needs can be a pain.

To help you out, our expert road test team has rounded up the cheapest cars in every category. So whether you want a small hatchback, something big enough to fit the whole family in, or a new electric car, you should be able to find an option below that doesn’t break the bank.

These aren’t necessarily the best cars you can buy, mind you – they’re just the cheapest. So you’ll also find recommendations for alternatives if the cheapest car is a bit of a lemon, and you can always check out our best cars pages for a full round-up of the highest-rated options.

Whether you’re looking for , you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Cheapest small hatchback: Dacia Sandero (£14,715)

The Dacia Sandero’s crown has actually been stolen – for years and years it’s been the cheapest car in the UK, but the Leapmotor T03 now undercuts it by a few hundred quid thanks to aggressive manufacturer discounting.

However, it’s still the cheapest petrol car you can buy new in the UK, and it also happens to be a very good one. Despite using technology and interior fittings that are a generation or two old, it feels every bit the modern car, and the 1.0-litre petrol engine is fizzy and more than powerful enough. It’s also really spacious for its size. Bear in mind the low Euro NCAP score – it doesn’t make the Sandero unsafe in a crash, but newer small cars do have greater levels of advanced safety kit.

Cheapest seven-seater: Dacia Jogger (£18,970)

Dacia’s value focus continues as you move into its larger cars, with the seven-seat Dacia Jogger undercutting any rival three-row alternatives by many thousands of pounds. It’s a bit of an odd duck – not quite an estate car, MPV or SUV – but as a result you get a shocking amount of space for adults in all three rows but with the easygoing driving experience of a hatchback.

As standard the Jogger comes with a 1.0-litre petrol engine that feels a little outclassed by a fully-loaded car – the 1.6-litre hybrid is a much better bet in this regard. You simply won’t get more space for less money – but if you’d rather something with a bit more panache, you could opt for a used Volkswagen Touran for a similar price.

Cheapest small SUV: Dacia Duster (£19,380)

We love the Dacia Duster here at Carwow – we named it Smart Spender in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards thanks to the sheer amount you get for its low price tag. The Duster looks seriously cool thanks to its chunky dimensions, and that carries through to the interior with a funky design masking pretty cheap materials.

You can get the Duster with a hybrid engine or with four-wheel drive, while the cheapest version will even run on LPG as well as petrol – potentially saving you a fair sum at the pumps if you live near a station.

Cheapest large SUV: Dacia Bigster (£25,215)

Where the Duster leaves off, the Dacia Bigster starts – it’s a Nissan Qashqai-sized SUV with similarities to the Duster but a whole lot of extra practicality. It’s the poshest car Dacia’s ever made with top-spec versions getting things like a powered tailgate and large sunroof, but it retains that rugged feel and great-value attitude from the Duster.

You get a choice of full or mild hybrid engines, and there’s a 4×4 option – but all variants are good to drive and economical. You do feel where Dacia’s saved money inside, but given the price difference between this and most alternatives you can forgive that.

Cheapest seven-seat SUV: Chery Tiggo 8 (£28,545)

You might not be too familiar with the Chery name – though it’s one of China’s largest car manufacturers, it’s only just started selling cars in this country. And it’s going in strong on the value front, as the Chery Tiggo 8 leaps forward to become the cheapest seven-seater SUV you can buy.

It’s available with a petrol engine or Chery’s so-called ‘Super Hybrid System’ plug-in hybrid setup, and it looks a lot posher than you’d expect for the money – though there are still some rough edges.

Cheapest saloon car: Citroen C4 X (£25,535)

Saloon cars are something of a dying breed as more and more drivers favour SUVs – so Citroen has split the difference and made a small SUV with a saloon boot. The Citroen C4 X is longer and sleeker than the slightly gawky Citroen C4, but not quite as practical – even though its saloon boot offers tons of capacity.

There’s nothing to differentiate the two cars from the boot forward, so the C4 X feels posher than you’d expect for the price and comes with a range of efficient engines. You can also get the all-electric e-C4 X, though that doesn’t quite have the same headline price tag.

Cheapest estate car: Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer (£26,410)

Estate cars aren’t an area of the market new brands have focused on too much, so it’s actually quite nice to see a stalwart brand take a win here with the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. It’s a pleasant car to drive, thanks to its comfortable suspension, efficient engines and supportive seats.

It’s not particularly exciting, but if you like practicality you’ll get a buzz on seeing its huge, 600-litre boot.

Cheapest small electric car: Leapmotor T03 (£14,495)

The Leapmotor T03 was good value when it launched, but Leapmotor has since cut the price – in response to the government’s EV grant. As a result, the T03 is now not just the cheapest electric car in the UK – it’s the cheapest car, period.

You do feel the price tag somewhat. The T03 is a tiny car, only capable of seating four with a dinky boot. It’s only capable of 165 miles on a charge and you feel a bit outclassed on the motorway. On the flip side, you get lots of equipment, and it’s perfect for city driving. Still, a bigger, more substantial-feeling car like the Citroen e-C3 is better for more people.

Cheapest electric small SUV: Ford Puma Gen-E (£26,245)

The Ford Puma Gen-E was one of the first cars to get the full £3,750 amount from the government’s latest EV grant scheme, and this price cut makes it the cheapest electric small SUV you can buy. It also undercuts the regular, petrol-powered Ford Puma, which is one of the UK’s best-selling cars.

The Gen-E gets a small battery but uses it quite efficiently so maximum range is 233 miles. It’s also very spacious, with a vast boot thanks to the waterproof underfloor ‘Gigabox’. The lightweight battery means it also drives very similarly to the regular Puma – it’s fun, agile, and ideally suited to the city.

Cheapest electric large SUV: Leapmotor C10 (£32,750)

The Leapmotor C10 is the bigger brother to the Leapmotor T03 – much bigger. It’s a proper family-sized SUV, especially in the back where even tall adults can stretch out. It also gets loads of equipment.

It’s a bit underwhelming to drive and the 263-mile range isn’t fantastic, but with Leapmotor offering its own discount to match the government’s £3,750 EV grant it is extremely strong value. A Skoda Elroq is smaller, but a better car to own and drive, and it matches the Leapmotor’s range.

Cheapest self-charging hybrid: MG3 (£19,245)

MG’s smallest model is one of its best, and the MG3 also has the distinction of being the cheapest proper hybrid car you can buy in the UK – any cheaper models are only partially hybrid or ‘mild hybrid’ and as such aren’t capable of travelling on electric power alone.

The MG3 is unusually powerful for a hybrid – with 190hp it’s up there with some hot hatchbacks in terms of straight-line performance – and it has a big battery too, so it feels more like an electric car in some scenarios. You get lots of standard equipment and good fuel economy too, though a Toyota Yaris is a more accomplished all-rounder.

Cheapest plug-in hybrid: Chery Tiggo 7 (£29,995)

The smaller sibling to the Tiggo 8 (above), the Chery Tiggo 7 is a five-seater SUV and uses the same ‘Super Hybrid System’ as you can get on that car, as well as the big-selling Jaecoo 7. You get a long range of 56 miles per charge, and combined with a big petrol tank you should be able to go a long distance without refuelling.

It’s a big SUV for a small price, and gets lots of standard equipment – though like the Tiggo 8, you can see where corners have been cut.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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