Motoring expert Richard Aucock reviews his seven top car picks that are available on the Motability Scheme this quarter, including a fuel-efficient city car, a roomy diesel 7-seater and a fun car for under-25s.
The prices shown are valid for applications placed before 30 June 2026.
The Motability Scheme is a great value way to lease a safe, reliable and practical new car. There are hundreds of models on the Scheme to choose from. All cars come with the Motability Scheme’s all-inclusive lease package. This includes insurance, servicing and breakdown cover. The support available from the Motability Scheme is second to none.
Leasing a new car is an exciting prospect these days. The latest cars are better than ever thanks to the growth of technology. They are packed with features that make driving easier, safer and more comfortable. Modern high-efficiency petrol engines are really economical too. This means your new car can save money on your fuel bills.
Because petrol and diesel cars are being phased out from 2030, I have also included some electric cars (also known as EVs) here. More affordable EVs are being added to the Motability Scheme all the time. 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 will get a home charger installed at no extra cost. This means you can charge at home in the cheapest way. You can start each day with the convenience of a fully charged battery, too.
If you’re wondering whether an EV might work for you, take a look at the Motability Scheme’s unique new set of interactive tools. These will help you explore running costs, charging options and personalised EV suggestions.
These are my choices this quarter for a range of budgets, 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!
Top for No Advance Payment: Ford Puma
The Ford Puma is regularly the best-selling new car in the UK. People love its design, practical interior and fun drive. Here, I’ve chosen the 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV mild hybrid petrol engine, in good-value Titanium trim.
Why is it so popular?
The Ford Puma small SUV is a great all-rounder. It has a comfortable driving position with a good view out, and plenty of adjustment for all shapes and sizes. The centre touchscreen is large and stylish. Those in the rear seats have ample space, and the boot is a vast 456 litres. An extra-special feature is the underfloor space, called the Ford MegaBox. It is immensely practical.
The fun petrol engine is an easy-going drive, thanks to its clever MHEV tech. This helps it return over 52mpg as well. Despite this, the Puma will not struggle on the open road, and handles motorway jaunts with ease.
View the Ford Puma.
Alternatives to consider: The Kia Stonic is another spacious small SUV. It has recently been updated, with a distinctive new front end and revised interior. It looks more modern outside and in, yet is still available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment.
Top choice for boot space: Kia Sportage
£199 Advance Payment
The Kia Sportage is another popular best-seller in the UK. This family-sized SUV was updated in 2025, meaning there’s still plenty that’s fresh and new to discover. This version uses Kia’s 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine. Here, it is combined with a slick and light manual gearbox.
Why is it so popular?
The Kia Sportage has an enormous boot. Even with the rear seats in place, it stretches to a vast 591 litres. This makes it among the largest boots of any new SUV on sale. The rear seats can be folded flat, expanding the space to almost 1,800 litres.
Already a stylish car, the latest Kia Sportage is even more eye-catching. I love the updated front end, with its high-tech vertical LED running lights. Customers can choose from a stylish range of colours, too. This Pure version has user-friendly standard equipment, including front and rear parking sensors, and a colour reversing camera. Even with a fully-loaded boot, you’ll be able to see behind you when reversing.
View the Kia Sportage.
Alternatives to consider: Another car with a big boot is the Volkswagen Tayron. It has seven seats, but you can fold the third-row seats into the boot floor. This opens up space to around 1,900 litres.
Top choice for city driving: Toyota Aygo X Hybrid
£395 Advance Payment
The Toyota Aygo X Hybrid is a recently-revised version of the Japanese brand’s smallest car. The five-door city car has now gained hybrid drive, which both boosts the pulling power of its 1.5-litre engine, and significantly improves its fuel economy. An automatic gearbox is also now standard.
Why is it so popular?
The compact, city-friendly dimensions of the Toyota Aygo X have been retained with this new hybrid version. It measures less than 3.8 metres long, making it easy to drive on congested streets, and even easier to park. It is a small car with big car levels of equipment too, including automatic air conditioning and a wireless smartphone charger. The 10.5-inch touchscreen infotainment is packed with features.
The hybrid engine in the latest Toyota Aygo X uses ‘self-charging’ tech. You don’t need to plug it in, yet it will still offer a good amount of pure electric running. During testing in town, I could drive in EV mode more than half the time. Fuel economy benefitted accordingly. My best on one seven-mile trip was a remarkable 90.7mpg!
View the Toyota Aygo X.
Alternatives to consider: If you’d prefer a small, city-sized electric car, why not consider the Dacia Spring? It is available for no Advance Payment and, at just £75 a week, less than your weekly allowance. It is another car that’s recently been updated, with more powerful motors and extra interior features.
Top 7-seater: Volkswagen Tayron
£3,499 Advance Payment
The Volkswagen Tayron is a fresh choice on the Motability Scheme with many unique attributes. It comes with seven seats as standard, and this version also uses a fuel-saving 2.0-litre diesel engine. It has an automatic gearbox as standard as well.
Why is it so popular?
The Tayron is Volkswagen’s range-topping SUV. It is the 7-seater alternative to the popular Volkswagen Tiguan. It has a slightly more assertive appearance and the interior is even more luxurious. The seats are superb, with a large range of adjustability, and it is easy to get in and out.
The Tayron is very spacious for those in the middle row. A long wheelbase gives generous legroom, and it is very comfortable back there. Large rear doors give easy access to the third row of seats. Even these are large enough for adults on short trips. The boot is 345 litres with all seven seats in place. Fold the third row and it expands to 850 litres. Fold the middle row too and there’s over 1,900 litres of space.
View the Volkswagen Tayron.
Alternatives to consider: The Dacia Jogger is another 7-seater offered on the Motability Scheme. In 1.0-litre Essential trim, it is currently available for no Advance Payment, delivering space for seven at a bargain price.
Top choice for electric car: Hyundai Inster
No Advance Payment
The Hyundai Inster is a high-tech city-friendly electric car. It measures a compact 3.82 metres long, yet it is surprisingly spacious inside. This version has the larger 49kWh battery, which gives an EV driving range of up to 229 miles.
Why is it so popular?
The Hyundai Inster has a fun and charming design. It looks characterful, and the interior is interesting. It feels very well built, and the touchscreen tech is useful. I like how Hyundai’s retained a good array of physical buttons on the centre console as well. This helps make it less intimidating to use.
The Inster has a small SUV feel behind the wheel, with a confident driving position. The seats are extremely comfortable. It is pretty roomy in the back too, with boot space of up to 351 litres, depending on the position of the clever siding rear seat. This is a standard feature on the well-equipped Inster 02 model I’ve picked here.
View the Hyundai Inster.
Alternatives to consider: If you need an electric car with a bit more space, the Kia EV3 is well worth a look. It is a former World Car of the Year winner and is currently available for an Advance Payment of just £299.
Top car for accessibility: Chery Tiggo 7
£699 Advance Payment
Chery is a new brand to the UK, which has already scooped some top awards among motoring critics. The family-focused Chinese brand is the sister company of Omoda and Jaecoo. The Chery Tiggo 7 is its family SUV choice.
Why is it so popular?
The Chery Tiggo 7 has lots of showroom appeal. The big front grille gives an assertive appearance, and eye-catching 18-inch wheels are standard. Inside, the twin-screen interior layout is modern, and I like the handy touch-sensitive controls for the heater settings. It is well equipped too, with this Aspire including an electric driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control and leather-style upholstery
Rear seat space is impressive. I found the back seat very comfortable, with lots of headroom and legroom. A flat floor means it is better if you carry three people in the rear. Even space is pretty good, with a 565-litre space. This model uses a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, which officially averages over 40mpg. It has a standard automatic gearbox, too.
View the Chery Tiggo 7.
Alternatives to consider: Geely is another new Chinese brand in the UK and one of new manufacturers on the Motability Scheme in 2026. The Geely Starray is a direct rival to the Chery Tiggo 7. It is currently available in EM-i plug-in hybrid guise for an Advance Payment of £999.
Top choice for under-25s: Seat Arona
No Advance Payment
Seat has long been a popular brand among younger drivers. The Arona is a small SUV that has recently been updated to further boost its appeal with its target audience. It is one of around 130 cars on the Motability Scheme that can be driven by under-25s.
Why is it so popular?
The Seat Arona is compact and easy to drive in town, yet it still has the raised seating position and safe interior feel that draws so many to small crossover SUVs. It has decent interior space too, with ample headroom and a useful 400 litres. This is equal to many family-sized hatchbacks.
The recent makeover has introduced some fun and vibrant new colours to the Arona range. Perfect for fashion-conscious under-25s. The infotainment tech easily pairs with Android and Apple smartphones, helping keep them connected. And the very latest safety assist tech will go above and beyond to keep them safe out on the road as well.
View the Seat Arona.
Alternatives to consider: The practical Skoda Kamiq is another small SUV on the Motability Scheme that can be driven by under-25s. It is practical, stylish, safe and secure to drive. The 1.0 TSI SE Edition is also available for no Advance Payment.
Interested in joining the Scheme?
Exchange your qualifying mobility allowance for a brand-new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), scooter or powered wheelchair with the Motability Scheme.
You’ll get a full package. We’ll cover your insurance, servicing and breakdown.
Am I eligible?
You need to receive one of the qualifying mobility allowances, with at least 12 months left, to be eligible to join the Motability Scheme.
Stay informed about Motability Scheme changes
In the Autumn Budget, the Government announced tax changes that will increase the cost of running the Scheme. From 1 July 2026, VAT and Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) will apply to most leases.
Read the latest information, including what these changes mean for you.
*About the writer
Richard Aucock has been a professional motoring writer since 1998. He’s written about the car industry for the Motability Scheme since 2009. He has many key roles in the motoring world, including the UK juror for AUTOBEST, a juror for the World Car Awards, and Vice Chair of the Guild of Motoring Writers. Richard is also the director of Motoring Research, a leading UK publisher in the industry.
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