Richard Aucock of Motoring Research has selected and reviewed six automatic cars that are available to lease on the Motability Scheme with no Advance Payment. This means that if you’d like to lease these cars you simply exchange your qualifying mobility allowance.
The prices shown are valid for applications placed before 30 June 2022.
If you’re seeking a new car that’s easy to drive and convenient, nothing beats an automatic. Without a clutch pedal or gear lever to worry about, motorists can focus instead on the drive itself. Automatic cars also work well with driving adaptations, and are very popular on the Motability Scheme as a result.
Cars that come with no Advance Payment are always popular on the Scheme as well. While the ongoing semiconductor shortage means that some cars are temporarily unavailable, there remains a good array of popular automatic cars that can still be had with no Advance Payment. Here, I’ve highlighted six exciting automatics that will appeal to all types of customers.
Remember that there are ongoing supply issues with new cars, so it’s best to speak with your dealer for the most up-to-date information.
Kia Picanto 1.0 auto GT-Line
What sort of car is it?
The Kia Picanto is a popular five-door city car with compact dimensions that make it really easy to park. Despite this, it is surprisingly spacious inside, with enough space in the rear for two adults to sit comfortably. The 1.0-litre engine and automatic gearbox combine to return a wallet-friendly 52mpg, too.
Why is it so popular?
The Picanto may be a small city car, but it drives like a much larger model, with good refinement and stable handling. The automated gearbox gives it two-pedal simplicity, and the car’s light weight means decent performance in town and plenty of miles’ driving for every tank of fuel.
The Picanto I’ve chosen here is particularly appealing. The GT-Line version features chunky alloy wheels, sports front and rear bumpers, crisp bright LED lights and rear privacy glass. It’s cool inside too, with black and red faux leather upholstery and an easy-to-use 8.0-inch touchscreen display. Sporty looks outside and in, without the hefty fuel bills!
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2T 100 auto Ultimate
What sort of car is it?
The Vauxhall Corsa is currently the nation’s best-selling new car, continuing the trend it achieved in 2021. The latest version is rightly popular as it blends refined styling, a modern interior and excellent on-road manners within a practical five-door package.
Why is it so popular?
The latest Corsa is a great car to drive. The 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine is smooth and punchy, and also surprisingly good on fuel. It is combined here with a sophisticated eight-speed automatic gearbox that further enhances the luxury car feel – it has the high-tech manners of a luxury executive car, but in a city-friendly, five-door style.
The Ultimate is the range-topping Corsa, with a fittingly high level of standard equipment. On the outside, the 17-inch bi-colour alloy wheels cut a dash, as does the 10.0-inch colour touchscreen with satellite navigation inside. The Corsa Ultimate also has heated front seats, a panoramic rear-view camera and ultra-clever LED matrix headlights that automatically adjust to oncoming traffic.
DS 3 Crossback E-Tense Bastille
What sort of car is it?
The DS 3 Crossback is a chic crossover SUV from a fast-growing French luxury brand. Impressively, the pure electric E-Tense variant is available on the Motability Scheme with no Advance Payment – a great option for many. Being fully electric means it’s not only future-proof, but also has a two-pedal automatic gearbox as standard.
Unsure about electric cars?
Read our handy guide which explains how electric cars work and what you should know when considering one.
If you are a Motability Scheme customer, take a look at the electric cars section of our website to find out how we are supporting the switch to electric.
Why is it so popular?
The electric DS 3 Crossback E-Tense has a more-than-ample range of 200 miles. If you’re able to get a wall box charger installed at your house, you may never have to visit a fuel station again. Even if you do have to use a public charger, the car’s rapid-charge functionality means you won’t be stopped for long.
The DS 3 Crossback is a very luxurious-looking car, with an upmarket appearance and well-equipped interior. It has climate control and a beautiful set of ‘premium comfort’ seats as standard, while the crossover SUV stance not only brings a commanding driving position, but also delivers good rear-seat space and an ample 350-litre boot.
Nissan Micra 1.0 IG-T CVT Acenta Vision Pack
What sort of car is it?
The Micra is Nissan’s smallest car, a five-door supermini hatchback with ample rear-seat space and a generous 300-litre boot. The petrol-powered 1.0-litre IG-T engine is combined here with a seamless-shifting CVT automatic gearbox.
Why is it so popular?
The Micra’s combination of a turbocharged engine and ultra-efficient automatic gearbox means it feels slick and responsive behind the wheel. Its nimble size makes it great for city driving, while it copes well on longer motorway journeys too.
Acenta grade has a good array of standard features such as a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone functionality. The Vision Pack we’ve chosen here adds welcome extras too, such as climate control, rear parking sensors, rear electric windows and satellite navigation that includes clever TomTom real-time traffic detection. When it detects a jam, it will route you around it, so you don’t get stuck!
Hyundai Bayon 1.0 T-GDI DCT SE Connect
What sort of car is it?
The Hyundai Bayon is a crossover SUV-style car, with a modern appearance and distinctive lines. It is the largest car we’re looking at here, but its size is still manageable to use in the city, while also proving more than able to take on a long motorway trip to the coast with ease.
Why is it so popular?
With its ultra-slim LED headlights and distinctive body creases, the Bayon looks unique. It has a fresh feel inside too, with a clear dash layout and well-positioned touchscreen. It’s very spacious, with lots of leg and headroom in the rear, and a generous 321-litre boot. The high-riding setup makes it easy to get in and out of as well.
The engine is very sophisticated. It is a 1.0-litre turbo petrol motor, with a 48V mild hybrid system. This extends the engine stop-start functionality, which saves fuel in town, while also boosting the car’s acceleration. The automatic gearbox is a high-tech DCT-style setup too, further enhancing the futuristic feel that you get when driving the Bayon.
Renault Zoe GT-Line Rapid Charge
What sort of car is it?
The Renault Zoe is one of the most popular pure electric cars of recent years. It is a great introduction to the world of electric motoring, and is an appealing all-electric alternative to the well-liked Renault Clio supermini.
Why is it so popular?
The Zoe is a very elegant-looking car. Its pretty appearance is matched by its chic interior, which has a light and airy feel. It’s roomy enough for four or even five people, and the 338-litre boot is a generous size for a compact five-door. We also like the sporty trim features you get with this GT-Line grade.
The electric motor serves up a fun 134hp for surprisingly swift acceleration. The large 50kWh battery won’t leave you short though, as it gives a driving range of up to 237 miles. This model is also equipped with rapid charge functionality – at a suitable public charger, it will take on enough charge to drive 90 miles in just 30 minutes.
What are the pricing options?
There are three pricing options available when leasing through the Motability Scheme:
Cars that cost less than your mobility allowance:
There are a range of cars that cost less than your mobility allowance, giving you money back to spend as you wish. The amount you pay is fixed during your lease and the remainder is paid directly to you by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Veterans UK, depending on which mobility allowance you receive.
View less than your allowance cars
Cars that cost all of your mobility allowance:
There are also lots of cars that cost the same as your allowance, which means you swap the whole of your weekly mobility allowance for the car of your choice. There is no Advance Payment on these models. These cars will display the words ‘Total Mobility Allowance’ on the specifications page for weekly rental amount on the Car Search tool.
View Total Mobility Allowance cars
Cars that cost all of your mobility allowance and have an Advance Payment:
You can increase your choice further by paying a one-off, non-refundable upfront payment which we call an Advance Payment. The Advance Payment covers the cost between your mobility allowance and the total cost of your lease.
View cars that have an Advance Payment
How do payments work?
Payments are deducted from your qualifying mobility allowance every four weeks, then paid directly to us by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Veterans UK. If you choose a car that costs less than your allowance, the remainder is paid directly to you by the DWP or Veterans UK.
All-inclusive leasing
No matter which car you choose, all come with our all-inclusive package of insurance, breakdown cover, servicing, tyres and glass repair and replacement.
Search the full range
If you’d like to join over 640,000 customers already enjoying the benefits of a worry-free lease package through the Scheme, start exploring the full range of cars available using our Car Search tool to narrow down your options.
Our price lists are updated every three months, so you can be assured you’re getting the best prices from each manufacturer. The dates the new prices are published are:
- 1 January
- 1 April
- 1 July
- 1 October
Interested in joining the Scheme?
About the Scheme
The Motability Scheme offers an all-inclusive package. If you are in receipt of a qualifying mobility allowance you can use it to lease a car, scooter, powered wheelchair or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. The Scheme provides flexible and hassle-free access to a brand new, reliable vehicle of your choice. As well as a great choice of cars, we also provide a wide range of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, scooters and powered wheelchairs.
Eligibility
To join the Scheme, you must be in receipt of one of the following mobility allowances:
- Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP),
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA),
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment (Scotland),
- War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS),
- Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).
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