Whether you’re navigating tight city streets or embarking on family adventures, there’s a car on the Motability Scheme to perfectly suit your needs.
This month, the RAC reviews three great options: the compact Kia Picanto, the innovative electric BYD Dolphin, and the timeless Volkswagen Golf.
This article has been written by RAC to help you compare features, comfort, and value across some of the different cars and electric vehicles available to lease through the Motability Scheme*.
- Category: Microcar
- Advance Payment: From £0
- Fuel type: Petrol
- Seats: 5
The Kia Picanto is one of the smallest new cars on sale today, but it’s big on features and fun. It’s also available with no Advance Payment through the Motability Scheme.
Recently given a makeover with sharper looks and new technology, the Picanto is a great car if most of your driving is in towns and cities. Its fun handling, compact size and great visibility, combined with light controls, make it an easy car for dealing with busy urban drives.
Do not think that the little Picanto is basic, though, because it comes with loads of standard kit. Entry-level ‘2’ models come with cruise control, air-con, electric heated mirrors, rear parking sensors and even a rear-view camera. All versions of the Picanto come with an 8-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, too.
GT-Line models add a sportier look inside and out, with 16-inch alloys and LED headlights, while ‘3’ trim features luxury car kit such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and keyless entry. GT-Line S even adds a panoramic sunroof and blind-spot monitoring, making this one posh city car.
The Picanto is not out of its depth on the motorway, but the entry-level 63hp 1.0-litre engine is best suited to town thanks to modest performance. There’s a 78hp 1.2-litre engine that’s a bit more capable on the motorway, plus the option of an automatic gearbox. The trade-off for this lack of speed is good fuel economy, with all versions of the Picanto capable of well over 50mpg.
Simply put, the Picanto comes in a range of versions, from comfy to sporty, and while it’s best for town driving, it’s light on fuel and easy to enjoy.
There’s also more space inside than you might expect. The latest model now gets five seats as standard and there’s a surprising amount of room, while the 255-litre boot can deal with the average shopping trip.
Overall, we reckon the Kia Picanto is an excellent all-round city runabout for those who do not want something large and thirsty on fuel.
Read the RAC’s Drive in-depth Kia Picanto review here.
- Category: Hatchback
- Advance Payment: From £2,995
- Fuel type: Electric
- Seats: 5
Looking for an electric car that’s big on space and features? The BYD Dolphin is well worth a look. Never heard of BYD? It’s a Chinese giant, making everything from electric bicycles to buses and even monorails, as well as half of all iPads sold globally.
The Dolphin is a hatchback rival to cars like the Volkswagen ID.3, featuring a striking design and bold, sea-themed interior packed with quirky touches. All versions also include a classic BYD feature: a big touchscreen that electrically rotates at the touch of a button, plus a higher driving position than many hatchbacks making it easy to get in and out of and see out.
There’s a huge amount of standard kit across the range, too: adaptive cruise control, vegan leather trim, heated front seats, keyless entry and even a 360-degree parking camera to make squeezing into tight spots a doddle.
Entry-level Active models have a modest 95hp, making them best suited to town driving. The Boost, Comfort and Design models are much faster, able to cruise effortlessly on the motorway, while all versions have a comfortable ride and light controls.
An impressive five-star Euro NCAP safety rating means peace-of-mind, as does the huge array of safety features designed to stop you having an accident in the first place. Combine that with a spacious interior and a good-sized boot, and the Dolphin makes for an ideal small family car.
With a battery range of up to 265 miles, the Dolphin can easily handle longer journeys as well as short commutes and the school run. It’s not the fastest-charging EV on the market, but a 10-80% charge can still be completed in around 40 minutes using a suitable rapid charger.
Put simply, the BYD Dolphin is a funky yet talented and comfortable electric car that offers great value for money.
Read the RAC’s Drive in-depth BYD Dolphin review here.
- Category: Class C (or small family car)
- Advance Payment: From £1,449
- Fuel type: Petrol, Petrol-electric plug-in hybrid or Diesel
- Seats: 5
The Volkswagen Golf is the default choice for many when it comes to family hatchbacks, and for good reason. It’s been around for over 50 years and over 37 million of them have found homes, making it one of the best-selling European cars of all time.
Desirable with motorists young and old, the latest Golf offers the most complete package yet. A smart design hides a solid interior with a comfortable driving position, a great view out forwards and backwards and plenty of space for the family. The boot is also a good size, even if it isn’t the longest load space in this class of car.
There’s also lots of standard technology and comfort features across the range. Every version gets a large central touchscreen, LED headlights, climate control and wireless smartphone charging.
Match trim is our favourite in terms of value, adding 17-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, keyless entry and tinted windows for similar money as the entry-level car.
Improvements for this updated version include revised interior controls with more proper buttons and new software, making the latest Golf easier to live with than before. What’s more, you’ll find a quality feel inside that’s typical of the Volkswagen brand.
There’s a huge array of engines to choose from, from frugal diesels to smooth petrols – all offering a strong mix of performance and fuel economy. Our favourite is the 1.5 TSI, an excellent all-rounder that’s cheap to run but effortless to drive.
There’s also the Golf eHybrid, which is one of the longest-range plug-in hybrid cars on sale with an impressive range on a charge of up to 88 miles – enough to go from Blackpool to Leeds without the engine running.
Whichever version you go for, the Golf offers a smooth and comfortable ride, low motorway noise levels and an easy driving experience whether in or out of town.
Read the RAC’s Drive in-depth Volkswagen Golf Review here.
Interested in joining the Scheme?
You can enjoy a brand-new, reliable vehicle on the Motability Scheme. Simply exchange your qualifying mobility allowance for a brand-new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), scooter or powered wheelchair and our all-inclusive package.
Find out more information about the Scheme.
*Prices and features of car models shown are correct at the time of writing and may be subject to adjustments or withdrawal in the event of any changes taking place which affect the cost of provision of the lease agreement. Prices shown are valid for recipients of the HRMC of the DLA, and ERMC of PIP making an application between 01/04/2025 and 30/06/2025, but may be subject to change. Customers are advised to check any specifically required vehicle features with their dealer at the point of application.
Related articles
RAC Reviews: Three SUVs to consider on the Motability Scheme
Motoring expert’s top picks on the Scheme this quarter
What the changing car market means for you
