Every Brand’s Cheapest Car on PCP: A to L

Model:                   Giulia

Trim/Engine:          Sprint 2.0 Turbo (petrol)

Price When New:   £43,259

Upfront Deposit:     £4,300

Monthly Price:           £672

Final Payment:          £21,650

Overview:

The Giulia being Alfa's cheapest car is a testament to its lack of smaller models nowadays, not its bargain price. Built to take on the likes of the BMW 3-Series and the Audi A4, the Alfa wins the beauty contest, hands down. It comes very well-equipped as standard with a nice interior, 18-inch alloys, an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SatNav, digital radio, keyless go, aluminium gearshift paddles and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. The Giulia is powered by a 2.0-litre engine producing around 280PS and features sporty, keen handling. It can't quite match the refinement of its German rivals, but as an alternative to the obvious choices of BMW and Audi, it ticks the box well.

Model:                   A1 Sportback

Trim/Engine:          Sport 25 TFSI (petrol)

Price When New:   £22,710

Upfront Deposit:     £2,271

Monthly Price:           £353

Final Payment:          £11,350

Overview:

The Audi A1 Sportback blends enthusiastic handling with the convenience of a small family hatchback. The engine only produces 95PS, but in such a small car, it still performs well with the refinement you'd expect from the German automotive giant. 16-inch wheels come as standard, which aids the ride comfort, while it comes with a premium interior with a 10.25-inch digital instrument display plus an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with digital radio. This is the smallest premium family car you can buy, though the price reflects the brand.

Model:                   1 Series

Trim/Engine:          118i SE (petrol)

Price When New:   £28,290

Upfront Deposit:     £2,850

Monthly Price:           £439

Final Payment:          £14,150

Overview:

The 1-Series looks more desirable nowadays, which is no bad thing, given its previous incarnations looked a tad bland. It’s reasonably well equipped with a premium interior, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen with SatNav and leather steering wheel and cruise control, plus automatic headlights and wipers. The 135PS produced by its 1.5-litre engine should be more than sufficient to meet your needs, even though more powerful options are available, and it combines decent handling with a comfortable ride on its 16-inch wheels, all while offering plenty of practicality, too.

Model:                   C3

Trim/Engine:          YOU!, PureTech 83 (petrol)

Price When New:   £13,995

Upfront Deposit:     £1,400

Monthly Price:           £217

Final Payment:          £7,000

Overview:

All Citroens look stylishly funky nowadays, and the C3 is no exception, boasting attractive, family-friendly looks and a reasonably stylish interior. It's a very cheap car, but the drawback is that entry-level 'YOU!' trim could be better equipped, with only a very basic five-inch touchscreen. However, you do get a digital radio, cruise control and air conditioning. The 15-inch wheels make for a comfortable ride, but it’s not massively fun to drive. Some of its rivals have more space in the back, too, but it’s not bad.

Model:                   Leon Hatchback

Trim/Engine:          V1, 1.5 TSI (petrol)

Price When New:   £30,455

Upfront Deposit:     £3,050

Monthly Price:           £473

Final Payment:          £15,200

Overview:

The performance arm of SEAT presents to you the Leon Hatchback. Also available as an estate version, the Leon has style, aggressive looks and a lovely interior. It doesn't quite have the handling or poise of a proper hot hatch, but it's a great contender for those who want to enjoy driving. Even entry-level V1 trim comes generously equipped with 18-inch alloys, LED headlights and taillights, rain-sensing wipers, a 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with SatNav, voice control and a wireless charger. At the same time, the engine produces 150PS, which is more than sufficient for a car of this size. For a performance hatchback, it's reasonably priced, but those just seeking a vehicle for the school run will likely find cheaper alternatives more appealing.

Model:                   Sandero

Trim/Engine:          Essential TCe 90c (petrol or bi-fuel)

Price When New:   £13,795

Upfront Deposit:     £1,380

Monthly Price:           £214

Final Payment:          £6,900

Overview:

Dacia’s modest Sandero could be the bargain of the century as it’s pretty well-equipped given the price point, boasting 15-inch wheels, cruise control, air conditioning, electric windows and LED headlamps, plus Bluetooth connectivity and a DAB radio. The 90PS engine isn’t exactly going to deliver thunderous performance, but it’s a good car for the money, especially as it provides a comfortable ride and an excellent level of practicality. All things considered, although the Sandero is rather basic, you could pay significantly more for a car that’s not that much better.

Model:                   DS 3

Trim/Engine:          Performance Line, PureTech 100 (petrol)

Price When New:   £25,920

Upfront Deposit:     £2,600

Monthly Price:           £403

Final Payment:          £12,950

Overview:

The DS 3 is a crossover SUV that blends practicality with head-turning looks. Even entry-level Performance Line is well equipped, featuring 17-inch alloys, automatic headlights, Alcantara upholstery and power-folding door mirrors, while the engine is reasonably economical, if not especially powerful. It provides a relatively comfortable ride, though it's a little hard, considering the handling isn't set up to be particularly agile. And, given it's larger than a family hatchback, the rear seats don't offer much more room, and the boot isn't as large as some of its competitors. Nevertheless, it's a lovely car to look at with a nice interior.

Model:                   Panda

Trim/Engine:          Panda, 1.0 (petrol, mild hybrid)

Price When New:   £14,740

Upfront Deposit:     £1,450

Monthly Price:           £230

Final Payment:          £7,350

Overview:

The Fiat Panda has been a family favourite for years, though its forthcoming transformation is badly needed, as it's been surpassed by nearly all its rivals in recent years. It isn't especially practical compared with its competitors and is relatively slow. On the plus side, it’s got cutesy, lovable looks, and its height makes it suitable for taller drivers. It's comfortable and relatively manoeuvrable, too, but the interior is rather cheap, and it didn't even achieve a one-star rating when crash-tested by Euro NCAP. It’s not unsafe, but it's well past its sell-by date and will be replaced by an all-new model soon.

Model:                   Fiesta

Trim/Engine:          Trend, 1.1 Ti-VCT (petrol, mild hybrid)

Price When New:   £19,350

Upfront Deposit:     £1,950

Monthly Price:           £300

Final Payment:          £9,675

Overview:

It’s a shame Ford has announced the Fiesta will be discontinued, as it’s a great car and comes well-equipped as standard, even in entry-level Trend trim. 15-inch alloys maximise ride comfort, while you’ll also get an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with digital radio, LED headlights, cruise control, a heated windscreen and air conditioning. The 1.1-litre engine only produces 75PS, so it feels sluggish, but you can upgrade if you're willing to pay a bit extra. It's lots of fun to drive and practical for a small car, too.

Model:                             G70

Trim/Engine:               Premium, 2.0 Turbo (petrol)

Price When New:    £33,450

Upfront Deposit:      £3,300

Monthly Price:           £520

Final Payment:          £16,750

Overview:

If you want something akin to a Bentley for nowhere near the price, then the Genesis G70 offers the closest you can get. Genesis is the luxury auto arm of Hyundai and a relatively new brand, but its cars look incredible, inside and out, with luxury in abundance. It's very well-equipped, boasting 18-inch alloys, dual-front LED headlights, electric front seats and lumbar support, smart cruise control, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with SatNav and an 8-inch digital dashboard. However, as a large saloon, it’s not especially quick, the fuel economy isn't much to write about, and it's nowhere near as refined as the premium-brand rivals it's hoping to match. For a car that turns heads, though, there’s nothing quite like it.

Model:                   Jazz

Trim/Engine:          Elegance, i-MMD 107PS (petrol, self-charging hybrid)

Price When New:   £25,900

Upfront Deposit:     £2,600

Monthly Price:           £401

Final Payment:          £13,000

Overview:

The Honda Jazz is a great little car that's spacious for its size, boasting excellent practicality. It’s got personality-driven looks and a stylish interior. It is very well-equipped, with a reversing camera, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and taillights, plus a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. It also boasts a very configurable rear seating arrangement, adding convenience. The engine is a self-charging hybrid, so it's fuel efficient and relatively fast for such a small engine, given it only produces 97PS. It comes with 15-inch wheels, and while the Honda Jazz isn't the best in its class for handling or ride comfort, it ticks plenty of boxes for most people, though it is on the expensive side.

Model:                   i10

Trim/Engine:          Advance, 1.0 (petrol)

Price When New:   £15,015

Upfront Deposit:     £1,500

Monthly Price:           £233

Final Payment:          £7,500

Overview:

The Hyundai i10 is a decent compact car at a sensible price. It’s more spacious than its size suggests and has impressive handling, given it's not a car geared towards performance. The engine is sluggish, taking nearly 15 seconds to get from 0-62mph, but that's okay if you're mainly going to be popping into town or doing the school run. It comes well-equipped, too, featuring voice recognition, a rear-view camera, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, electrically adjustable door mirrors, cruise control, leather steering wheel and gear lever, air conditioning and keyless entry, plus it’s got a smart interior and is comfortable to drive on its 15-inch alloys.

Model:                   XE

Trim/Engine:               R-Dynamic S, D200 (diesel, mild-hybrid)

Price When New:   £33,230

Upfront Deposit:     £3,300

Monthly Price:           £517

Final Payment:          £16,600

Overview:

The Jaguar XE has plenty going in its favour, offering an alternative premium choice to the German brands of Audi, BMW and Mercedes. It’s got good, sporty looks, and it undercuts its rivals. While the build quality of the interior isn't entirely on par with its competitors, it's still got a premium feel to it. It offers a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with digital radio, a rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, LED taillights, directional indicators, heated, power-folding door mirrors, dual-zone climate control and satin chrome gearshift paddles. The engine is reasonable and provides plenty of grunt, and, despite being a diesel, it's pretty quiet, offering excellent fuel economy. On top of that, it's fun to drive, with sharp handling but retains excellent ride comfort on its 18-inch alloys.

Model:                   Renegade

Trim/Engine:          Limited 1.5 T4 E-Hybrid (petrol, mild hybrid)

Price When New:   £30,030

Upfront Deposit:     £3,000

Monthly Price:           £467

Final Payment:          £15,000

Overview:

Jeep's Renegade is a typically rugged SUV. Though it perhaps looks a tad utilitarian compared with other SUVs, it's still got plenty of creature comforts, including 17-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control, electrically adjustable heated leather seats and heated steering wheel, plus LED headlights, dual-zone air conditioning and an 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen. The engine isn't potent, and the handling and ride comfort could be better, plus the interior feels very dated. Nevertheless, if you're into your Jeeps, none of these things may matter. There's a plug-in hybrid version, too, if you don't mind spending a little extra.

Model:                   Picanto

Trim/Engine:          1, 1.0 (petrol)

Price When New:   £13,415

Upfront Deposit:     £1,350

Monthly Price:           £208

Final Payment:          £6,700

Overview:

The Kia Picanto is a surprisingly good little car. It's nimble and agile and handles well, though the 1.0-litre produces just 67PS and takes over 14 seconds to get from 0-62mph. This won't bother you if you're popping to the shops or taking the kids to school, though. The equipment list isn’t particularly generous – and you only get 14-inch steel wheels – but it does come with front electric windows, central locking, a USB slot, Bluetooth and a trip computer. One thing worth noting is that most trims are only four-seaters, and you’ll need to go for X-Line S trim if you want a five-seater version, which adds £4,000 to the sticker price.

Model:                   Evoque

Trim/Engine:          Evoque, D165 (diesel)

Price When New:   £34,070

Upfront Deposit:     £3,400

Monthly Price:           £529

Final Payment:          £17,050

Overview:

Range Rovers are very expensive and out of the price range of many of us, but the Evoque offers an opportunity to get your hands on a Land Rover car at a reasonable price. You won’t feel like you’re losing out by choosing the entry-level Range Rover Evoque either, as it’s well-equipped as standard, with 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, LED taillights, dual-zone climate control, digital radio, leather steering wheel and 10-inch Pivi touchscreen. The entry-level 2.0-litre diesel engine could be faster, but it does the job, and it's good to drive, offering excellent practicality for a car of its size.

Model:                   UX

Trim/Engine:          250h, 2.0 (petrol, self-charging hybrid)

Price When New:   £34,770

Upfront Deposit:     £3,500

Monthly Price:           £539

Final Payment:          £17,400

Overview:

The Lexus UX is an outlier to the premium brands, and it lacks the refinement of its rivals, which are more practical and have bigger boots. It’s not especially fun to drive either, and the 8.0-inch infotainment system could be better. However, it’s got personality in spades in terms of its looks, while the interior is pleasant to sit in. 17-inch alloys, electric windows and dual-zone climate control are all offered as standard, while the infotainment touchscreen includes SatNav on this entry-level model. The engine is a match for its rivals in terms of pace, and it feels very stable, albeit not quite as comfortable as some of its competitors. Despite its drawbacks, it offers an interesting alternative to the other premium manufacturers.