Motoring expert Richard Aucock reviews six cars that are available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment. From innovative electric cars to efficient petrol cars, there’s a range of styles and sizes that offer great value for money.
The Motability Scheme is a great way to lease a brand-new car. You’ll also get the worry-free package, including insurance, breakdown cover, tyres, servicing and maintenance. There are lots of vehicles available that have no Advance Payment, or cost less than your weekly allowance. This means you can get a new car without having to make any personal payment up front.
The latest cars are better value than ever, thanks to the growth of technology, including exciting features that make driving easier, safer and more comfortable.
With changes in the new car market impacting petrol and diesel car supply, I have concentrated on electric cars (also known as EVs) below.
If you’d like to explore other cars, check out the Motability Scheme car price list to see what other vehicles are available.
The prices shown are valid for applications placed before 30 September 2024.
Go electric with the Motability Scheme
If you’re thinking of getting an EV, this how the Motability Scheme can support you with charging:
Home charging:
When you lease your first electric car through the Scheme, you will get a standard home chargepoint installation at no extra cost.
Public charging:
If you cannot have a home chargepoint installed and it’s your first EV car on the Scheme, the Motability Scheme will support you by giving you a subscription to the bp pulse network, the UK’s largest public charging network.
And, all Scheme EV customers will now receive the new Motability Go Charge card and app. This lets you charge simply at more than 50,000 public chargers in the UK without any authorisation fees and without adding credit to your card. It’s a great new way the Scheme are making charging simpler for their customers.
Fiat 600
What sort of car is it?
The Fiat 600 is a new five-seat small SUV that has a fresh, cheerful appearance.
Why is it so popular?
The charming design of the Fiat 600 is a key part of its appeal. Influenced by the world-famous Fiat 500 city car, this is a small SUV with a friendly face and lovely details. The big round headlights, with their body-colour ‘eyelashes’ are super-cute, and a choice of bright colours adds to the appeal.
It has welcoming and cheerful inside too, with an open-plan interior that’s easy to use and a high seating position that gives a good view out. The central touchscreen technology brings all the latest features, like a high-tech sat nav that shows you nearby EV chargepoints. With the support of this smart feature, plus a great range of up to 252 miles from the battery, you’ll be able to travel long-distances in your EV with confidence.
Fiat has made sure there’s decent space in the rear seats, while the 360-litre boot is big enough for three large suitcases.
Alternatives to consider: The Kia Stonic is a fun small SUV available for no Advance Payment. You can even get the petrol-powered model with an automatic gearbox for no Advance Payment. And,, if you love the idea of a small electric SUV, the Vauxhall Mokka is a great choice.
Renault Megane E-Tech
What sort of car is it?
The Renault Megane E-Tech is an electric medium-sized hatchback with a generous EV range of up to 280 miles. It is a great choice for families who want to combine electric motoring with the familiarity and practicality of a five-door hatchback design.
Why is it so popular?
The Renault Megane E-Tech is a sleek and stylish car, with a modern and high-tech appearance. I love the jewel-like LED headlights, which are bright at night and help others spot the car more easily in the day. The performance of the Renault electric car backs up the sleek appearance, with 214bhp, which gives effortless acceleration.
Inside, the Renault Megane E-Tech has an impressive Google-based touchscreen system. If you ‘log in’ via your Google account, you will have access to personalised Google Maps, the voice-activated Google Assistant, and add-on apps via the Google Play store. In practice, I found it worked brilliantly. Google Maps can also predict how much charge you’ll have at the end of a planned journey. If you need to recharge, it will automatically find chargepoints on your route.
View the Renault Megane E-Tech
Alternatives to consider: The Citroen C4 is a great hatchback option because of its smooth ride, and the electric Citroen e-C4 is available for no Advance Payment. The Nissan Leaf EV is another good choice.
Cupra Born
What sort of car is it?
The Cupra Born is a desirable medium hatchback with a real sporty side. It has a great range of around 265 miles. The electric motor produces 201bhp, which means the performance will be on the sporty side too. Cupra is a cool and exciting brand, and this electric car is one that driving enthusiasts should find appealing.
Why is it so popular?
While it has plenty of interesting features, the Cupra Born is a practical car. It is a spacious five-door car with raised seats that are easy to access. The well-bolstered front seats hold you in place comfortably, and I found them very supportive even over long distances.
The Cupra Born also has a bigger boot than many similar medium-sized hatchbacks. The 385-litre space can hold three large suitcases with room to spare. For an exciting-looking EV with sporting credentials, it is a tempting new car to lease.
Alternatives to consider: If you’re looking for a similar car with a petrol engine, the Dacia Sandero is a good choice, and it’s available with a standard automatic gearbox for no Advance Payment. I also like the SUV-style Dacia Sandero Stepway too.
Jeep Avenger (petrol)
What sort of car is it?
The Jeep Avenger is a stylish and appealing small SUV. It takes the legendary appeal of this world-famous 4×4 brand and reimagines it in a compact, easy-to-drive package. It also has a fuel-saving 1.2-litre petrol engine, meaning this small SUV should prove cheap to run.
Why is it so popular?
The Jeep Avenger’s desirable appearance can be combined with a fresh range of body colours, adding to its appeal. The interior has a welcoming feel, with seats positioned high for easy access, and a dashboard that’s easy to use.
It blends a digital touchscreen with clearly labelled buttons, so it should not feel intimidating to use. It feels good to sit in too. Front seat passengers will feel safe and confident, thanks to the commanding view of the road it gives.
The smooth 1.2-litre turbo engine is quiet and refined, with decent pulling power when you press the accelerator. The six-speed manual gearbox is light, and an electronic handbrake helps make hill starts easier.
The Jeep Avenger offers full five-seat practicality, and the 321-litre boot is easy to access with enough space to hold around two large suitcases. This interior practicality combines with a compact exterior size, making it easy to drive and park, even on busy roads.
View the Jeep Avenger (petrol)
Alternatives to consider: If the Jeep Avenger is a little too small, medium SUVs such as the Suzuki S-Cross are also available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment. The ultra-practical Dacia Jogger is a top choice too.
Volkswagen Golf
What sort of car is it?
The Volkswagen Golf is one of the most famous cars in the world. A well-known medium hatchback, it serves as the template for how a family car should be designed. The model I’ve chosen here has a punchy petrol engine and comes in well-equipped ‘Life’ trim which includes snazzy alloy wheels plus front and rear LED lights.
Why is it so popular?
The Volkswagen Golf almost needs no introduction. Across multiple generations, it has been on sale for 50 years. Throughout this time, the designers have perfected the car so it really can claim to be a ‘do-it-all’ motor. It is easy to get in and out of, major controls are well placed and it is roomy in the rear seats, even for adults.
For 2024, the Volkswagen Golf has been facelifted. The styling is crisper, there are attractive new paint colours to choose from, and onboard technology has been improved. The central touchscreen is bigger and much easier to use, as are the new buttons on the steering wheel. The interior even comes with multi-colour ambient lighting, making it feel more welcoming at night. Standard adaptive cruise control helps make long motorway trips easier, and a drowsiness monitor keeps you safe and secure.
The 381-litre boot is big enough for around three large suitcases. Even the smallest details have been carefully designed so they are easy to use.
Alternatives to consider: If you’d rather have a small car for no Advance Payment, both the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto are worth a look. The Renault Clio is a roomy five-door with chic style too.
Jeep Avenger (electric)
What sort of car is it?
The Jeep Avenger Electric is a fun small SUV that combines the legendary Jeep ruggedness with all-electric drive. It has a large battery and effortless performance Even better, this Summit model is the range-topping version, meaning it comes with a generous amount of standard features. These include fashionable 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, multi-colour interior lighting, a wireless phone charger, hands-free electric boot lid and a 360-degree parking camera with overhead view.
Why is it so popular?
The Jeep Avenger Electric looks almost identical to the petrol-powered Jeep Avenger. Apart from the green stripe on the number plate, it’s hard to spot the difference.
The Jeep Avenger Electric has a range of almost 250 miles. It has a clever fast-charge system, so you can quickly top up at a public rapid charger The Jeep Avenger Electric’s high seating position, good visibility and big boot mean it is a practical choice too.
View the Jeep Avenger (electric)
Alternatives to consider: The Peugeot e-2008 is a good small SUV alternative to the Jeep Avenger Electric, combining EV sophistication with French chic. Meanwhile, the Jeep Avenger is also available with a petrol engine for no Advance Payment.
Interested in joining the Motability Scheme?
Join over 760,000 customers who already enjoy the benefits of a worry-free lease package through the Scheme. Explore our full range of cars available using our Find a vehicle tool.
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.
Request a free information pack to learn more about the Scheme.
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