Best Cheap Cars | Cheapest New Cars 2026 – Carwow

High-quality cheap cars from rated and reviewed dealers
The best cheap cars aren’t just cost-effective, they’re practical, good to drive and well-equipped for the price. Gone are the days when a cheap car had to be a supermini with plastic bumpers, with examples such as the Chery Tiggo 8 and Renault Captur proving you can get behind the wheel of an SUV that doesn’t break the bank.
A Renault Clio has a properly posh cabin at a bargain price, too, while the Dacia Jogger is one of the most practical cars on sale – regardless of price. Our expert reviews team has comprehensively tested the cheapest cars on sale in the UK to put together this list of the ten best options:
The free, easy way to get 5,500+ dealers all over the UK bidding on your car
If you’re shopping for a family car, or regularly carry passengers or lots of luggage in the boot, it’s worth taking a look at some of the SUVs or larger hatchbacks on sale – even if they’re a touch more expensive than most of the superminis.
Electric or plug-in hybrid cars typically have a higher purchase price than a petrol car, but if you can charge at home, you might find they’re so cheap to run that it works out costing less in the long run. And because of the tax benefits that come with these cars, they can be incredibly affordable for company car choosers.
Just because a car is cheap doesn’t mean it has to have no badge appeal or feel barren inside. Renault is leading the way with its affordable cars at the moment, as the Clio, Captur and the electric Renault 5 all have fantastic interiors and handsome styling.

Leapmotor T03
The Leapmotor T03 is cheap, but don’t let its cutesy, Angry Birds piggy looks fool you, it’s not quite as cheerful as it appears. It’s actually quite nice to drive for a car of this price, but a range of just 165 miles, miniscule boot, annoying touchscreen and lack of smartphone mirroring takes the shine off of what could have been a great little car.
BYD Dolphin Surf
If the Leapmotor T03 looks like a pig from Angry Birds, then the BYD Dolphin Surf is one of the birds. It may be sharp to look at and well-equipped, but much like the Leapmotor it has a small boot and poor interior quality, while it’s uncomfortable to drive and not much fun, either.
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.
All car types
* Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term, 8000 miles annually, inc VAT, excluding fees. Vehicle returned at term end.
** Our marketing claims explained.
Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Carwow vs manufacturer RRP. Where it is shown that the EV Grant is included, this refers to the Government grant awarded to manufacturers on certain EV models and derivatives, the amount awarded under the EV Grant is included in the Savings stated and applied at the point of sale. Carwow is the trading name of Carwow Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities (firm reference number: 767155). Carwow Leasey Limited is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking (firm reference number: 313486) Carwow and Carwow Leasey Limited are each credit brokers and not a lenders. Carwow and Carwow Leasey Limited may receive a fee from retailers advertising finance and may receive a commission from partners (including dealers) for introducing customers. All finance offers and monthly payments shown are subject to application and status. Carwow is covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (please see www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk for more information). Carwow Ltd is registered in England (company number 07103079), registered office 2nd Floor, Verde Building, 10 Bressenden Place, London, England, SW1E 5DH. Carwow Leasey Limited is registered in England (company number 13601174), registered office 2nd Floor, Verde Building, 10 Bressenden Place, London, England, SW1E 5DH and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Carwow Ltd.

source