When choosing a car, it’s important to know it works for you and your family. There are a great range of cars available through the Motability Scheme with no Advance Payment that would be perfect for family life. Motoring expert Richard Aucock looks at six of the best Motability Scheme cars to consider for you and your family.
Family-friendly cars are among the most popular models on the Motability Scheme. Lots of customers like the combination of everyday practicality combined with the excellent value offered by all the Scheme. You can expect the latest technology in the latest cars, which helps underline this great value for money.
Right now, there’s a broad range of cars to suit different lifestyles and needs. If you’re looking for, large electric vehicles (EVs) with impressive ranges, big boots, lots of seats, or space for your pet dog, there are great options to choose from. And, with no Advance Payment, this means you can get into a roomy and flexible car without having to make an upfront payment.
Today’s family cars are more diverse than ever. You can get five-door hatchback family cars, stylish crossover-look models, accommodating seven-seaters, and large electric cars that could save you a lot of money in running costs. Use the clever Find a vehicle tool to see just what is available right now.
You’ll notice there are a growing number of EVs in the new car market that are available on the Motability Scheme. The ZEV Mandate is a rule that means manufacturers will need to produce more EVs every year, which is resulting in petrol and diesel cars being phased out. The growth of more affordable EVs aligns with the changing needs of the car market, but will mean the prices of petrol and diesel models will increase.
Go electric with the Motability Scheme
The Motability Scheme supports customers as they make the switch to electric. When you lease a brand-new car with the Scheme, you’ll get access to the worry-free package, including support with your home charging and public charging. You’ll also get insurance, breakdown cover, tyres, servicing and maintenance too.
Of the many great value family cars available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment, here are six of my highlights.
Renault Megane E-Tech, EV60 160kW Techno Comfort Range 60kWh 5dr Auto
What sort of car is it?
The Renault Megane is another popular five-door hatchback family car. Motability Scheme customers have been enjoying it for years and now it has been reinvented as a fully electric Renault Megane E-Tech. It’s great for those who want a long-range electric car, because it can cover up to 280 miles before needing a charge.
Why is it so popular?
The Renault Megane E-Tech is a pretty and elegant-looking car. I know people who have fallen in love with it just for how it looks. You would not know it was an electric car, as it does not have the quirky looks of some other EVs. It is powerful too, with 214bhp giving a swift response to the accelerator, and the silent-running EV smoothness is also appealing.
I think Renault’s latest touchscreen tech is brilliant. It is based on Google technology, so you get built-in Google Maps and Google Assistant, plus even more apps through the Google Play store. I found it feature-packed and easy to use, particularly once I’d logged in using my Google account. With a huge 440-litre boot, I was impressed by its practicality too, with the Renault Megane E-Tech easily taking even awkwardly-shaped loads.
View the Renault Megane E-Tech
Volkswagen Golf Hatchback, 1.5 TSI Life 5dr
What sort of car is it?
The Volkswagen Golf is one of the most famous family cars in the world. A roomy five-door hatchback, it has been further enhanced for 2024 with a big facelift. This brings a new look and fresh colours on the outside, and a new touchscreen control system inside.
Why is it so popular?
The Volkswagen Golf is 50 years old in 2024 and has developed through eight generations. All this experience has helped make this latest version an impressive all-rounder. The big improvement is with the dashboard touchscreen, which is larger and easier to use than before, and links in seamlessly with your mobile phone. The voice assistant is now even powered by clever ChatGPT tech.
The 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine is punchy and economical, and the manual gearbox is effortless. I also really like the Volkswagen Golf’s sheer ease of use, from its easy-to-access front seats, its logical controls and great visibility, to the roomy rear seat and big boot. This is a family car that is enormously popular for good reason.
Alternatives to consider: The electric equivalent of this trusty car is the Volkswagen ID.3. This is a Match Pro model, with large battery that gives a range of up to 269 miles and is available on the Motability Scheme for an Advance Payment of £499. If you’d prefer an alternative Volkswagen with no Advance Payment, then the Volkswagen Taigo may be of interest. It’s roomy inside, and has coupe SUV styling on the outside, meaning it’s certainly a style-conscious choice.
Citroen e-C4, 100kW E-series 50kWh 5dr Auto
What sort of car is it?
The charming Citroen e-C4 is an electric family car that has a fun and characterful appearance. Designed to be bolder and more distinctive than some of its rivals, it is a five-door hatchback model that has been designed with families in mind. In terms of appearance, it is almost identical to the petrol-powered Citroen C4. This is intentional, to help bring the EV version into the mainstream.
Why is it so popular?
Comfort is top of the list when it comes to the Citroen e-C4. The ride comfort is excellent, soaking up lumpy, bumpy roads with real finesse. I love how it simply glides along, and this smooth sensation is enhanced by the silent-running electric motor.
The battery gives a range of up to 221 miles, and a 134hp motor gives reassuring performance. The Citroen C4 has a smart interior too, with lots of neat design details, plus an easy-to-use touchscreen. The boot is roomy as well, swallowing up to three large suitcases.
Alternatives to consider: If you like the idea of the Citroen e-C4, the petrol-powered Citroen C4 might be of interest. It’s available on the Motability Scheme for an Advance Payment from £1,095.
Suzuki S-Cross, 1.4 Boosterjet 48V Hybrid Motion 5dr
What sort of car is it?
The Suzuki S-Cross is, as its name suggests, a crossover-style large family car. It combines hatchback practicality with the more rugged appearance of an SUV. Neat touches include a distinctive grille, bright LED headlights and pronounced wheel arches that have the added benefit of shrugging off supermarket scrapes.
Why is it so popular?
The Suzuki S-Cross is a car that should feel nice and familiar when you sit inside for the first time. The seats are mounted a bit higher, for a better view out, and the dashboard design is clear and logical. Suzuki prefers to keep using buttons and dials alongside touchscreen displays, so you’ll be able to get used to it quickly.
It still has modern tech though, including a central screen that pairs with your mobile phone, and lots of safety assist features. The clever petrol engine has good power and will average over 53mpg. The six-speed manual gearbox is effortless too. There’s yet another surprise with the Suzuki S-Cross as well, a huge 430-litre boot, which is much bigger than the family car norm. It will take three large suitcases and still have space to spare. As far as cars with big boots go, the Suzuki S-Cross is very impressive.
Alternatives to consider: Suzuki is a rightfully a popular brand, thanks to its great customer service. If you want a smaller, more city-friendly family model from your friendly local dealer, the new Suzuki Swift? is a great choice and is also available for no Advance Payment. I recently tested it and found it utterly charming, so can highly recommend a test drive.
Dacia Jogger, 1.0 TCe Essential 5dr
What sort of car is it?
The Dacia Jogger is a really clever car. In terms of appearance, it combines the practicality of an estate car with the style and ruggedness of a crossover SUV. And, inside, it has an extra ace up its sleeve with the seven-seat practicality, which will be perfect for growing families.
Why is it so popular?
Dacia is a family-friendly brand, that makes cars designed to cope with the rough and tumble of family life. The Jogger is a great example of this, with robust exterior design details to shrug off scrapes, and a hardwearing interior that is simple and easy to use. While the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine sounds small, it has real punch and should easily cope even when every seat is occupied.
The Dacia Jogger’s seven seats are arranged across three rows. Each row is higher than the one in front, so everyone gets a good view out. The third row can fold into the floor when it’s not needed, and you can also remove the lightweight rear seats, giving van-like practicality. With the Dacia Jogger proving nice to drive, it’s a fab family choice I’d strongly recommend you check out.
Alternatives to consider: If you do not need seven seats, or a model quite as large as the Dacia Jogger, the Dacia Sandero Stepway is a great option. It also has rugged crossover-look styling, and has the added advantage of being available with an automatic gearbox for no Advance Payment, too.
Peugeot Rifter, 100kW GT 50kWh 5dr Auto
What sort of car is it?
The Peugeot Rifter is a superb-value large family car currently available on the Motability Scheme. It has genuine five-seater capacity, with loads of space for everyone inside. For a space-efficient large car, this really is great value for money. Motability cars SUV customers will like the bold looks and high seating position as well.
Why is it so popular?
The Peugeot Rifter currently available on the scheme is the GT version. This has more distinctive styling features on the outside, and appealing trim on the inside. As a five-seater, it has a giant boot measuring over 1,000 litres even with the rear seats in place.
As this is a large electric car, the electric motor guarantees luxury car refinement. The standard automatic gearbox means it’s easy to drive, and it has a range of up to 199 miles. This is no back to basics model either, with those in the front having an SUV-style seating position and plenty of technology to enjoy, including a full touchscreen system.
Alternatives to consider: The Vauxhall Combo Life is another electric large family car available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment. It is the XL version, which has seven seats and a longer body than the regular model, adding legroom to the backseats.
The Motability Scheme price list is updated every three months. The next price list will be released on 1 October 2024. Remember, prices can go up as well as down.
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