Motoring expert Richard Aucock reviews six cars that are available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment, including city-friendly small cars, long-range electric cars and a roomy, practical people-carrier.
The Motability Scheme is a great way to lease a safe, reliable and practical new car. The many new cars that are available for no Advance Payment are very popular, particularly given latest developments in the car market. Cars with no Advance Payment help you can get into a brand new model without having to make any personal payment up front.
Leasing a new car today is very exciting. The latest cars are better value than ever, thanks to the growth of technology. They have never been more feature-packed, with functionality that makes driving easier, safer and more comfortable. A new car on the Motability Scheme looks after you and others while you drive. It also makes motoring more fun!
Because petrol and diesel cars are being phased out from 2030, I have included several electric cars (also known as EVs) here. More affordable EVs are being added to the Motability Scheme all the time, as my electric car choices here make clear. Use the clever comparison page to see how different electric cars compare for range and value for money.
When you lease your first electric car, Motability Scheme customers with off-street parking, like a driveway or garage, will get a home charger and standard installation at no extra cost. This means you can charge at home in the most cost-effective way, and start each day with a fully charged battery. If you cannot have a home chargepoint installed, you’ll get a subscription to bp pulse, giving you access to the UK’s largest public charging network. All EV customers will also receive the new Motability Go Charge card and app, which gives easy access to more than 50,000 public chargers in the UK.
I have also included petrol-powered cars available for no Advance Payment here too, for those who are not yet ready to make the switch. And whether it is petrol, diesel or an electric car lease, all cars come with the worry-free full lease package offered through the Motability Scheme, which includes insurance, road tax, servicing and breakdown cover.
These are my choices with no Advance Payment this quarter, but there are plenty more new cars available on the Motability Scheme to suit all needs. Read on to be inspired about your next new mobility car!
All prices correct until 31st Dec 24.
Suzuki Swift
What sort of car is it?
The Suzuki Swift is a cheeky small car with a cheerful appearance. This all-new model arrived earlier in the year, and rightly continues to be the most popular new Suzuki car of all. With five doors, it is practical and accommodating, while an overall length of under 3.9 metres means it’s easy to drive and park.
Why is it so popular?
The latest Suzuki Swift is all-new for 2024. It has clean new lines and a fresh range of colours that make it look more distinctive on the road. You can even get a contrast black roof colour to really set off the colourful bodywork below. Your local dealer will be able to take you through the options.
Inside, it is more modern and better quality. The larger-format touchscreen system has been improved, and pairs easily with your mobile phone. The clever mild hybrid technology means the 1.2-litre petrol engine is very good on fuel, and responsive on the open road. The Suzuki Swift is surprisingly roomy as well, and a really light and easy car to drive.
Nissan Leaf
What sort of car is it?
The Nissan Leaf is a British-built electric car that has helped popularise the idea of EV motoring. It is a small family-sized hatchback, with a right-sized 39kWh battery that gives a manufacturer range of almost 170 miles. Being an electric car, it is smooth and responsive to drive.
Why is it so popular?
The Nissan Leaf is a familiar sight on UK roads, thanks to its well-proven nature and overall ease of use. Its five-door practicality is useful, and it has a particularly large boot for this type of car. With 433 litres, it can easily take five large suitcases, with space to spare.
This N-Connecta version comes with winter-friendly front heated seats, and as a nice added extra, the rear seats are heated as well! It also has a convenient electronic parking brake and the ProPilot advanced driver assist system. There’s an ingenious ‘around view monitor’ that gives a bird’s eye view when parking, too.
Toyota Aygo X
What sort of car is it?
The Toyota Aygo X is a very fashionable five-door small car. It is extra-compact on the outside, measuring just 3.7 metres long. But it also has a high-riding crossover SUV-style appearance, making it look chunky, confident and ready to take on much bigger cars.
Why is it so popular?
The Toyota Aygo X is a really stylish car. Its rugged appearance looks appealing, and a higher ride height means it’s easier to step in and out of. The rugged bumpers and wheelarch extensions help shrug off city scrapes too. Inside, it has four-seat practicality. The 226-litre boot is a bit small for bulky mobility aids, but easily expanded by folding the rear seats.
The engine is a fuel-sipping 1.0-litre petrol, with a light and easy five-speed manual gearbox. The model I’ve chosen here is the Pure, which has good-looking 17-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera and 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This model is suitable for under-25s as well.
Skoda Enyaq
What sort of car is it?
The Skoda Enyaq is a large SUV-style family car that is fully electric. It has a confident appearance, and the high-riding stance makes it a really practical all-rounder that is ready for everything that family life can throw at it. Being available for no Advance Payment is another key draw of the Skoda Enyaq.
Why is it so popular?
This Skoda Enyaq comes with a 55kWh battery. It gives a manufacturer range of 234 miles. Using a public rapid charger, it can go from 10% to 80% charge in around 30 minutes, which helps make it more convenient for longer journeys.
The Skoda Enyaq has a really roomy interior, with extra-comfortable seats. It is easy to step in and out of, and legroom for rear seat passengers is vast. The 585-litre boot capacity is very generous too, easily taking four large suitcases. The boot space is also really well-designed, helping make this very practical car even more convenient.
Fiat 600e
What sort of car is it?
The Fiat 600e is a fresh-faced new car on the market. It is a small SUV-style machine, that sits higher off the ground than more conventional cars. This helps it feel safer inside, while retaining the charmingly-rounded lines seen in other popular Fiats. A bright choice of colours is an extra draw.
Why is it so popular?
The Fiat 600e is welcoming and calming inside as well. The clean dashboard layout combines a central touchscreen with an electronic driver’s display. Both are set into a really good-looking body-colour trim strip. Comfortable seats are trimmed in stylish upholstery, space in the back isn’t bad and the 360-litre boot is a good size.
The Fiat 600e has a 54kWh battery. This means it has a manufacturer range of 252 miles, and it’s able to use 100kW public rapid chargers for faster top-ups on a longer trip. I like its effortless drive, with plenty of pulling power to make it feel safe and reassuring. It also has the low noise levels that make EVs such relaxing cars to travel in.
Toyota Proace City Verso
What sort of car is it?
The Toyota Proace City Verso is a roomy people carrier from the famed Japanese brand. It has recently been updated, becoming electric-only, with other enhancements improving its appeal both outside and in. This ‘Long’ version has the advantage of seven seats, and is offered for no Advance Payment.
Why is it so popular?
The Toyota Proace City Verso is a boxy and Tardis-like large family car. It has an easy step-in driving position and high-set seats, plus a dashboard featuring the latest touchscreen technology. The electric motor performs silently, the automatic gearbox is convenient and the battery has an electric range of 207 miles. It will also charge from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes at a powerful public rapid charger.
What really impresses me is the sheer space in the back. Sliding rear doors open up a middle row with lots of space for three. Two extra seats are in the third row, along with a decent boot even seven-up. Fold the third row and the boot expands greatly. If you fold all the seats, this family people carrier turns into a van, with acres of space on board.
View the Toyota Proace City Verso
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