Motoring expert Richard Aucock* reviews his six top picks available on the Motability Scheme this quarter. These include a city-friendly small car for the under-25s, a fashionable new electric car and a roomy, practical people-carrier.
The prices shown are valid for applications placed before 31 March 2025
The Motability Scheme is a great way to lease a safe, reliable and practical new car. More than 800,000 customers enjoy an all-inclusive package to help them lead independent, fulfilling lives. It includes car insurance, breakdown cover, servicing and maintenance. It is the most affordable, worry-free new car package around.
As you may be aware, new car prices have been increasing over the past few years. This is due to global factors including much higher prices for car parts. On the Scheme, there are added pressures. These include a 25% increase in car insurance prices. Many other costs have risen too.
There is also the drive towards electric cars (“EVs”), as mandated by the government. This means there are more new EVs and fewer petrol and diesel cars to choose from. Petrol and diesel cars are also now more expensive than they once were.
However, while some prices on the Scheme have increased, it still remains the cheapest place to obtain a new car. As mentioned, the all-inclusive package means you don’t have to worry about ongoing costs. What’s more, Scheme prices are fixed for three years, providing certainty for when you’re budgeting.
If you are considering your first EV and have a driveway, the Scheme package includes a home charger and standard installation. If you don’t have a driveway, a bp pulse charge subscription is included. All EV drivers on the Scheme also get a Motability Go Charge card, giving access to more than 50,000 public chargers.
These are my top expert choices this quarter. Remember, there are plenty more new cars available on the Scheme to suit all needs. Read on to be inspired about your next new car!
Hyundai Inster -NEW!
My top electric car choice
No Advance Payment
The Hyundai Inster is a really exciting new electric car. It is a city-friendly five-door car with modern styling. You can choose from two battery sizes. The larger 49kWh version I’ve picked here has a range of 230 miles. Even better, this desirable new EV is currently available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment!
Why is it so popular?
The Hyundai Inster is a cleverly-designed new electric car. It measures just over 3.8 metres long, so is easy to drive and stress-free to park. But the boxy design means there’s a surprising amount of space inside. It has lots of headroom and rear seat space is good. Thanks to its SUV-infused design, it is easy to step in and out of. The driving position feels safe.
Living up to its futuristic design, the Hyundai Inster has lots of helpful technology inside. There are plenty of safety features to keep you secure while driving. Smart Cruise Control helps make longer journeys less tiring. Climate control air conditioning is standard too. The Hyundai Inster also has something called a heat pump. This helps improve the battery range when the weather is cold
Alternatives to consider:
If you like the idea of a small city-sized electric car, the Dacia Spring is also worth checking out. It is currently available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment and just £60 a week.
Mazda CX-5
My choice with a big boot
From £699 Advance Payment
The Mazda CX-5 is a large SUV with a premium appearance. It has luxury design features that mean it has plenty of status on the road. This Centre-Line version has a good amount of standard equipment. It is available on the Scheme for an Advance Payment of just £699.
Why is it so popular?
The Mazda CX-5 is an upscale family SUV with a range of useful features as standard. These include a clever monitor that alerts you when cars are hidden in your blind spot. This version has a 2.0-litre petrol engine with mild hybrid technology. It delivers an electric boost that helps save fuel, without needing to be plugged in.
The Mazda CX-5 has a large boot. It has more than 520 litres of space even with the rear seats up. Fold them down and it expands to over 1,600 litres. It has a flat floor load space. This helps make transporting large, bulky loads such as wheelchairs much easier. What’s more, the space remains flat even when the rear seats are folded down.
Alternatives to consider:
The Nissan Qashqai is another SUV that’s renowned for its practicality and large 504-litre boot. Meanwhile, if you would rather have an electric SUV with a big boot, it is well worth checking out the Skoda Enyaq.
Kia Picanto
My top choice for less than your weekly allowance
No Advance Payment and £68.20 a week
The Kia Picanto is a stylish city car. It has recently been updated with a modern, distinctive new look. This five-door city-sized car is a great overall pick on the Scheme. It is available for no Advance Payment and just £68.25 a week.
Why is it so popular?
The Kia Picanto is a Scheme bargain that’s also cheap to run, thanks to its fuel-efficient petrol engine. It’s also worth mentioning you can get a model with an automatic gearbox. Again, this is for less than your weekly allowance.
The recent revisions give it a bold new front end. It is inspired by Kia’s large luxury SUVs. There’s more equipment inside too, including an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with standard sat nav. The Kia Picanto’s practicality remains a strong point, with impressive space both front and rear. The 255-litre boot is one of the largest in its class. It expands to more than 1,000 litres with the rear seats folded.
Alternatives to consider:
The Hyundai i10 is another smart choice that costs less thank your weekly allowance. I also like the crossover-style Toyota Aygo X. Once again, the Dacia Spring is worth a look if you want a small electric car on the Motability Scheme.
Remember, all Motability Scheme cars come with the all-inclusive package.
This includes insurance cover, servicing, maintenance and MOT’s, breakdown cover and support with EV charging.
Vauxhall Combo Life
My top 7-seater choice
Advanced Payment £299
The Vauxhall Combo Life is a people carrier that’s been designed with seven-seat practicality in mind. It is huge inside, yet is available on the Motability Scheme for an ultra-low Advance Payment of just £299
Why is it so popular?
You will be amazed at how much space there is inside the Vauxhall Combo Life. Those in the front have a commanding seat position. Dual sliding rear doors open up a vast interior with loads of headroom. Three adults can sit comfortably in the middle seats, with two more in the third row. Thre are plenty of clever storage solutions, including aircraft-style overhead compartments.
The Vauxhall Combo Life is an electric 7-seater with a range of almost 200 miles. It is able to use the 100kW rapid chargers that are popping up at motorway service stations. This will take it to an 80% charge in just 30 minutes. It has a clever onboard system that lets you locate nearby charge points while on the move. It will then automatically navigate to them.
Alternatives to consider:
Other seven-seaters on the Motability Scheme right now include the Peugeot Rifter, Toyota Proace City Verso and the Citroen Berlingo. The clever Dacia Jogger is another good-value alternative.
Citroen C3- NEW!
My top choice for under-25’s
No Advance Payment
The latest Citroen C3 is a really distinctive and stylish new car. It is a supermini-sized five-door, which has been infused with large SUV styling cues. This makes it look modern and desirable. It is available as a pure electric car or, like this one, a turbo petrol engine. Both are offered with no Advance Payment.
Why is it so popular?
Citroen has gone back to the drawing board with the new C3. The clever design is space-efficient, meaning it packs in a good amount of room for those in the rear. It also has a tall and practical 310-litre boot. The 1.2 PureTech engine has ample pulling power even with a few passengers on board. I found it really good on fuel.
I love the interior design of the new Citroen C3. It is modern and characterful. There is an ingenious head-up driver display that’s clear and easy to read. It has plenty of stowage space too. The small steering wheel and high-set seats mean it’s easy to get in and out of. It is really light and easy to drive.
Alternatives to consider:
The ever-popular Peugeot 208 is another supermini available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment. I also like the Renault Clio, Mazda 2 Hybrid, Suzuki Swift and the Seat Ibiza.
Renault Scenic E-Tech
My top roomy SUV choice
From £1,495 Advance Payment
The Renault Scenic E-Tech is a very highly-rated car. It is the current European Car of the Year. This is just one of the many prizes it has been awarded recently. It also has an electric range of almost 380 miles. This cheap-to-run electric SUV is available on the Motability Scheme for an Advance Payment of £1,495.
Why is it so popular?
The Renault Scenic E-Tech is an electric car that helps put an end to range anxiety. Its 87kWh Long Range battery has an incredible range of up to 379 miles between charges. It can use speedy public rapid chargers, taking it from 15% to 80% charge in just 37 minutes. I tested it over hundreds of miles and range simply wasn’t an issue.
The Renault Scenic has a modern look and a cleverly-designed interior. A key feature is the Google-based infotainment system. Once you’ve signed into your Google account, it’s really easy use. You can even use the hands-free Google Assistant! With extra-comfortable seats and a spacious rear, the Renault Scenic E-Tech is perfect for family life. A generous 545-litre boot is icing on the cake.
View the Renault Scenic E-Tech
Alternatives to consider:
Another surprisingly roomy SUV on the Motability Scheme is the Ford Puma. It has a spacious cabin and an extra-deep boot. There’s also the Nissan Ariya, a large electric SUV with an Advance Payment of just £999.
*This amount is based on the weekly allowance rate of £75.75 (as of 8 April 2024) and will increase if the DWP makes its annual allowance increase.
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*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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