Motoring expert Richard Aucock* reviews his seven top car picks that are available on the Motability Scheme this quarter.
These include advanced new electric cars, roomy estate cars and stylish cars for drivers aged under 25.
It is an exciting time for the new car market in the UK. The drive to zero emissions means the car industry is switching over to electric. More new electric cars, also known as EVs, are being launched all the time. The UK’s commitment to phase out regular petrol and diesel cars from 2030 is driving this.
Many new electric cars are available for low or even no Advance Payment. If you have off-street parking next to your home you could get a home chargepoint and standard installation included in your lease. Charging at home is the cheapest charging option if you are on the correct tariff. It can save you a lot of money compared to running a petrol or diesel car.
If you do not have a driveway, you will be offered a bp pulse subscription included in your lease instead. This gives Scheme customers cheaper rates at bp pulse chargers, which is Britain’s largest public charging network. All Scheme customers also get a free Motability Go Charge card. This gives access to more than 50,000 public electric car chargers.
However, if you’re not yet ready to make the switch to electric, do not worry. There’s still a diverse range of petrol cars available on the Motability Scheme. This is part of a mission to offer the right car for everyone, no matter what your mobility needs. In this guide, I have included petrol-powered estate cars, accessible cars and models for those aged under 25.
No matter what new Motability Scheme car you choose, you will get the same all-inclusive leasing package. This covers all the major costs of motoring, including car insurance, servicing and routine repairs. It also includes car tax and breakdown cover. This makes it the cheapest way to drive a new car in the UK.
These are my seven top choices of cars this quarter. They show the sheer breadth of choice available on the Scheme to suit all independent mobility needs. Read on to be inspired about what could be your next new car!
- Top electric car: Skoda Elroq
- Top for accessibility: Kia Niro
- Top for no Advance Payment: Nissan Juke
- Top for city driving: Hyundai Inster
- Top for boot space: Dacia Jogger
- Top 7-seater: Citroen Berlingo
- Top for under-25s: Toyota Aygo X
My top choice of electric car
No Advance Payment
The new Skoda Elroq is an exciting new electric car from this popular brand. It is a smaller alternative to the existing Skoda Enyaq. It is neat and stylish on the outside, with plenty of space on the inside. Best of all, it is available on the Motability Scheme with no Advance Payment.
Why is it so popular?
The Skoda Elroq is a modern-looking car. It has a closed-off grille, slim LED headlights and Skoda lettering on the bonnet instead of a traditional logo. Inside, it has an excellent driving position, and a clearly-designed dashboard. Skoda offers some smart colour choices both outside and in.
Rear seat space is particularly impressive. The Skoda Elroq has enough room even for six-footers. There is a large 470-litre boot and plenty of thoughtful touches to make life easier. The Skoda Elroq is a smooth and comfortable car to drive, and it is very quiet at speed. This version has a battery range of more than 230 miles.
View the Skoda Elroq.
Alternatives to consider: Other family-friendly electric cars include the Fiat 600, Peugeot e-2008 and new Vauxhall Frontera. If you need a bit more space, try the Volkswagen ID.3 and BYD Atto 3.
My top choice for best accessibility
No Advance Payment
The Kia Niro is a car with great accessibility. It is higher off the ground than regular hatchbacks, so it is easy to get in and out of. However, it is not too high, so shorter drivers won’t find it tricky. What’s more, its squared-off dimensions are not too big, so you shouldn’t struggle for access if someone parks too close to you.
Why is it so popular?
The Kia Niro is a modern and fashionable-looking car. Its crossover styling is packed with smart details, from the distinctive headlights to the sporty rear body pillar. You can even choose to have this painted in a contrast colour.
Inside, the Kia Niro has seats that are easy to slide on and off. They give a good view out. There’s good space in the rear and the near-flat floor is practical. Boot space is superb, with 451 litres available. Even the boot is easy to access, thanks to an adjustable floor and low load lip.
View the Kia Niro.
Alternatives to consider: If you want a small and compact car with good accessibility, the Suzuki Swift is worth checking out. It’s really easy to step in and out of. Meanwhile, the Skoda Fabia is another spacious and practical car with good accessibility, while the KGM Tivoli is a bigger alternative that’s also practical.
No Advance Payment
The Nissan Juke is one of the best-selling cars in the UK. It is made at the firm’s huge factory in Sunderland, so carries ‘built in Britain’ kudos. The lively design also means it stands out, particularly if you choose the latest fun option of Iconic Yellow paint!
Why is it so popular?
The Nissan Juke is a cleverly-designed car. It combines decent all-round passenger space with comfortable seating and a useful 422-litre boot. Because it is a high-riding crossover, both the interior and the boot are easy to access. Fold the rear seats and space expands to 1,305 litres.
This revised Nissan Juke has an improved interior. It has a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is angled towards the driver so it’s easier to reach. The home screen is simpler, and it has natural voice recognition. Nissan also fits an electronic handbrake instead of a heavy, old-fashioned lever.
View the Nissan Juke.
Alternatives to consider: Other small SUV cars available for no Advance Payment include the Hyundai Bayon, Mazda CX-30 and the Kia Stonic. The Peugeot 208, Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio are practical supermini alternatives also available for no Advance Payment.
My top choice for city driving
£399 Advance Payment
The new Hyundai Inster is an exciting electric car that is perfect for city driving. It is compact on the outside yet very spacious inside for four people. It has a high roof, excellent visibility and feels built to large-car standards. It is also available with lots of clever technology, helping make it the smartest city car around.
Why is it so popular?
The distinctive-looking Hyundai Inster has an excellent electric range of up to 229 miles. It comes with a heat pump as standard. This helps improve range when it is very hot or cold. Other technology includes a feature-packed touchscreen and advanced climate control. There is surprising space for four adults and a big boot. The rear seats also fold fully flat, and the passenger seat folds down for extra-long loads.
The Inster has sprightly acceleration too. That makes it perfect for zipping into gaps in the city traffic. An ingenious feature is a three-pin plug socket inside, so you can charge devices such as electric wheelchairs. My fellow critics also rate the Hyundai Inster, as it is a finalist for the prestigious World Car of the Year 2025 award.
View the Hyundai Inster.
Alternatives to consider: If you want a city car for no Advance Payment, the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto are well worth checking out. The Dacia Spring is an electric city car that’s currently available for less than your weekly allowance. All three come with no Advance Payment.
My top choice for boot space
£495 Advance Payment
The Dacia Jogger is a really clever car. It combines an estate car body design with crossover SUV styling. It feels familiar and car-like for the driver, yet a higher ride height makes it easier to get in and out. If you’re seeking a car with a big boot for no Advance Payment, it’s a superb choice. It even comes with seven seats as standard!
Why is it so popular?
The Dacia Jogger has a modest 160-litre boot with all seven seats in use. Fold the third row flat, though, and space grows to 565 litres. The third row seats are easily removable too, expanding space further to 696 litres. And with the middle row of seats folded flat too, there is an enormous 1,807 litres of space. That’s almost as much room as a big, executive Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate!
This expression grade has ingenious built-in modular roof bars. They can hold a roof box of up to 80kg, should you have the need for even more luggage space. The Dacia Jogger has a fuel-efficient 1.0-litre petrol engine, to keep fuel costs low. It also has an 8.0-inch colour display inside, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mobile phone functionality.
View the Dacia Jogger.
Alternatives to consider: The popular Ford Puma has a large boot with additional underfloor stowage called ‘MegaBox’. This is even larger in the new electric Ford Puma Gen-e, where it is called ‘GigaBox’. Your local Ford Motability specialist will be delighted to reveal it!
My top 7-seater choice
£495 Advance Payment
The Citroen Berlingo is a superb 7-seater. Everyone has plenty of space across all three rows of seats. This means that nobody has to draw the short straw. It is also a fully electric car, so you can start each day with a full charge and almost 200 miles of range.
Why is it so popular?
The Citroen Berlingo really is cavernous inside. It has an extra-high roof, and the interior is wide and well-shaped. Twin sliding rear doors make getting in and out easier. There’s so much space, you even get aircraft-style overhead storage in the roof.
The electric Citroen Berlingo is very refined on the move. The electric motor is responsive, and it’s an easy car to drive. The electric battery is able to use public rapid chargers, so you can top up the battery from 0-80% in just 30 minutes.
View the Citroen Berlingo.
Alternatives to consider: If you want a 7-seater that’s a bit smaller on the outside, the new Vauxhall Frontera is worth checking out. Petrol models have the option of adding a third row of seats. It’s also worth checking out the new Citroen C3 Aircross which has a similar option.
My top choice for under 25s
No Advance Payment
The Toyota Aygo X is a stylish and good-looking small car. It has the raised stance of an SUV, and plenty of tough-looking body cladding. This also means it is easy to drive, as the high seating position gives a great view out. It is a safe and reliable car that is ideal for those aged under 25.
Why is it so popular?
The Toyota Aygo X is a fashionable car for under 25s. It has eye-catching 18-inch wheels, rear privacy glass and snazzy bi-tone paintwork. Inside, there is a 10.5-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It even has a wireless mobile phone charger.
The 1.0-litre engine is extremely economical. It averages almost 59 miles per gallon (mpg), according to official figures. The higher the mpg figure, the less you’ll spend on fuel. All the controls are lights and easy, and there are lots of electronic aids to keep young drivers safe. The rear doors make it easier to carry passengers. Boot space is easily expanded by folding down the rear seats.
View the Toyota Aygo X.
Alternatives to consider: The latest Citroen C3 is a stylish choice for those aged under 25. I also like the Volkswagen Taigo, Skoda Kamiq and SEAT Arona, as they all have small SUV style.
In conclusion, these seven new cars represent the great value for money and extensive choice available on the Motability Scheme. Many of them are available for no Advance Payment. There are growing numbers of future-proof electric cars too, with low running costs.
I always enjoy searching the latest quarterly price guide. I hope my choices help inspire your next car on the Motability Scheme!
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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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