How much does a 0% APR car deal really save you?

Is a 0% APR deal actually worth it? I used three of the best-selling cars of 2026 so far to work out how much this type of finance can actually save you.

A 0% APR car finance deal sounds like a no-brainer: no interest and potentially hundreds of pounds saved. But how much are you actually saving compared with a standard finance deal?

To find out, I’ve crunched the numbers on three of the UK’s best-selling cars of 2026 so far – the Ford Puma, Kia Sportage and Jaecoo 7. For each, I’ve compared a three-year, circa-30,000-mile PCP with interest against an equivalent 0% APR offer, with a £5,000 deposit in all cases.

I used the manufacturers’ own finance calculators to get the vehicle prices, monthly payments and APRs, then calculated the total amount paid over the three-year agreement, assuming the car is handed back at the end of the term rather than the optional final payment being made to keep the car.

The comparison is based on the finance offers available at the time of writing, so these figures may change as manufacturers update their deals.

The results show just how much the cost of financing can vary – and whether 0% APR deals are really as attractive as they first appear.

Remember, 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.

Ford Puma

First, let’s look at the cost of buying the UK’s best-selling car on PCP finance: the Ford Puma. The calculations are based on 9,000 miles per year over a 36-month term, as Ford’s official finance calculator only offers annual mileage options in 3,000-mile increments. And we used the entry-level Titanium version as the example, which has a starting price of £27,145.

Note that, at the time of writing, the Puma had an APR of 1.9%, which is why I’ve included the total amount payable for reference.

Here’s a breakdown of the PCP costs you’d pay with the 1.9% APR included:

Car’s list price	£27,145
Initial deposit	£5,000
Regular monthly payments	£368.24
Interest charges and fees	£910.49
Total cost to PCP if you return the car	£18,276.49

As you can see from the table above, Ford’s calculator fully discloses the interest charges and fees added to the finance. That means that, if you were to finance this car at 0% APR on otherwise identical terms, you’d save £910.49 in finance costs over the three-year term, bringing the total cost down to less than £17,400.

So, here’s what the deal could look like side-by-side:

	1.9% APR	0% APR
Monthly payments	£368.24	£342.95
Cost if car is returned	£18,276.49	£17,366
Saving	–	£910.49

You can save even more on the Ford Puma through Carwow, with average savings of £3,729 at the time of writing.

Kia Sportage

Next up is the Kia Sportage, a family SUV that comes with a generous amount of standard kit, roomy back seats and a large boot.

I used the entry-level Pure version, which has a starting price of £31,395, for my calculations.

At the time of writing, the Sportage PCP came with a 5.9% APR, meaning interest was added to the cost of the finance. Kia was also offering a £1,500 finance contribution, which I’ve factored into the calculations.

Here’s how much the Sportage would cost with the 5.9% APR over a three-year term, excluding Kia’s £1,500 finance contribution:

Car’s list price	£31,395
Initial deposit	£5,000
Deposit contribution	£1,500
Regular monthly payments	£390.29
Interest charges and fees	£3,496.13
Total cost to PCP if you return the car	£19,050.44

The table above shows the interest charges and fees added to the finance under the 5.9% APR deal. That means that, if you were to finance this car at 0% APR on otherwise identical terms, you’d save £3,496.13 in finance costs over the three-year term, bringing the total cost down to around £15,500.

We’ve compared what a 0% APR deal could look like with the 5.9% deal:

	5.9% APR	0% APR
Monthly payments	£390.29	£293.18
Cost if car is returned	£19,050.44	£15,554.48
Saving	–	£3,496.13

You can also save even more on the Kia Sportage through Carwow, with average savings of £3,383 at the time of writing.

Jaecoo 7

Last up, we have the Jaecoo 7. This Chinese SUV comes with loads of standard equipment, a well-made interior and is easy to drive around town.

As with the Puma and Sportage, I used the entry-level version, in this case the Pure hybrid, which has a starting price of £29,210.

At the time of writing, this deal came with 2.9% APR finance. Unlike the Kia Sportage, however, there was no finance contribution.

Here’s what you’d expect to pay with the 2.9% APR finance:

Car’s list price	£29,210
Initial deposit	£5,000
Regular monthly payments	£354.20
Interest charges and fees	£1,620
Total cost to PCP if you return the car	£17,397

If you were to finance this car at 0% APR on the exact same terms, you’d save £1,620 in costs over the course of three years, bringing the cost down to less than £15,700.

Here’s what the monthly payments and total cost could look like with the 2.9% APR compared to 0% APR:

	2.9% APR	0% APR
Monthly payments	£354.20	£307.91
Cost if car is returned	£17,397	£15,777
Saving	–	£1,620

Want to save more? There’s currently great deals you can get on the Jaecoo 7 through Carwow, with average savings up to £2,644.

What does this all mean for you?

Our calculations show that a 0% APR finance deal can save you hundreds of pounds in interest, but the amount you save depends heavily on the APR of the alternative finance deal.

The results show that 0% APR shouldn’t be the only thing you look for when choosing a car finance deal. While 0% finance can save you money on interest, the lower the APR, the less you stand to save, so a competitive low-APR deal can still be worth considering – particularly if the car itself is cheaper or the deal comes with a larger finance contribution.

Don’t be swayed by the headline APR alone. Compare the deposit, monthly payments, finance contribution, fees, final payment and, most importantly, the total amount you’ll pay over the term. Shop around, check the small print and compare the total cost of each deal before signing up.

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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