10. Nissan Qashqai – £27,120
The Nissan Qashqai is the original family crossover that combines an SUV's practicality with a hatchback's efficiency. It has been much improved over the years, featuring a sleek and stylish design and a spacious and comfortable cabin with oodles of room for five passengers and their luggage. It also comes with a bunch of features, such as a digital dashboard, wireless charging and ProPILOT assist. The Qashqai is a mild hybrid powered by a 1.3-litre DIG-T petrol engine with 140 or 158PS. Both are smooth and refined, with up to 44.8mpg and as low as 142g/km of CO2 emissions.
9. Ford Puma – £24,940
The Ford Puma is the best-selling car of 2023 so far, and it’s not hard to see why. It is a compact SUV that offers a lot of style and substance, with a dynamic design and a clever interior. The Puma has a large boot with an innovative storage solution called the MegaBox, which can fit items up to 115cm tall. It also has a range of smart features, such as wireless charging, adaptive cruise control and blind spot assist. The Puma is powered by a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine that comes with 125, 155 or 200PS. The first two are mild hybrids that boost performance and efficiency, with up to 52.3mpg and 122g/km of CO2 emissions.
8. Vauxhall Corsa – £19,275
The Vauxhall Corsa has been around for 30 years, and its recent overhaul means it’s better than ever, with a fresh look and new technology. It has a sharp, sporty design and a modern and spacious interior, with plenty of equipment and connectivity options. It also vaunts a range of safety features, like automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and traffic sign recognition. The Corsa is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol unit that comes with 75PS, 100PS or 130PS, with the latter two turbocharged. They are all peppy and efficient, with up to 51.4mpg and 122g/km of CO2 emissions.
7. Hyundai i10 – £15,420
The Hyundai i10 is a small, stylish vehicle with a quality ride. It has a choice of 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines that produce 67, 84 and 100PS, all of which are economical and eco-friendly, with up to 55.4mpg and 116g/km of CO2 emissions. It comes with great equipment, including alloy wheels, LED lights, and smartphone integration. The i10 is available with a five-year warranty and a 0% APR interest PCP deal. You can get it for £169 per month with a £2,000 deposit.
6. Fiat Panda – £14,740
The Fiat Panda is a cute and chic Italian supermini that has existed for over 40 years. It has a distinctive design and a quirky personality, with colourful details and funky fabrics. The Panda is also surprisingly versatile, with a spacious cabin and a flexible seating arrangement that allows you to fold or slide the rear seats. The Panda is equipped with a 1.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol unit that produces 70PS and achieves up to 58.9mpg, producing 110g/km of CO2. It is fun to drive and easy to manoeuvre due to its light steering and compact dimensions.
5. Volkswagen up! – £14,630
The Volkswagen up! (complete with exclamation mark) is one of the smallest motors on the market, but it has a lot of character and offers a surprising amount of practicality. It has a spacious interior, with enough room for four adults and a decent-sized boot. The VW also boasts impressive features, such as smartphone integration, lane assist and rear parking sensors. The up! is propelled by a 1.0-litre petrol engine that delivers 65PS and returns up to 55.4mpg and 115g/km of CO2 emissions. We are looking at the three-door version here, but it’s also available as a five-door variant. It is easy to drive and park, making it ideal for urban journeys. The three-door model is available in just one trim which takes the same name as the car, while there are three trim levels (up!, Beats, and R-Line) on the five-door version.
4. Citroen C3 – £13,995
The Citroen C3 is an unconventional and appealing alternative to the more mainstream superminis. It has a distinctive style and a customisable appearance, with various colours, trims and accessories. The Citroen also has a comfortable and spacious interior, with soft seats and generous headroom and legroom. The C3 is driven by a 1.2-litre PureTech petrol powerplant that comes in two versions with 83 or 110PS. Both offer good performance and efficiency, with up to 54.5mpg and 123g/km of CO2 emissions.
3. MG 3 – £13,820
The MG 3 is a good-looking small car that offers excellent value for money. It has a sporty look and a roomy interior, with space for five passengers and their belongings. What's more, it comes with a generous seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty and low monthly payments. The MG 3 is powered by a 1.5-litre VTI-tech petrol engine that delivers 106PS and returns up to 43.3mpg, emitting 147g/km of CO2. It is lively and responsive to drive, with good handling and stability.
2. Dacia Sandero – £13,795
The Dacia Sandero is arguably the best-value supermini on the market, offering a lot of car for not much money. It is slightly larger than most of its rivals, with enough space for five adults and a big boot. The Dacia also has decent equipment, including air conditioning, electric windows, LED headlights and cruise control. The Sandero is powered by a 1.0-litre TCe petrol engine that produces 90PS. It is economical and eco-friendly, with up to 53.3mpg and 119g/km of CO2 emissions. Plus, for the same money, there’s a bi-fuel petrol/LPG edition which will save you money at the pumps.
1. Kia Picanto – £13,665
The Kia Picanto is currently the cheapest petrol car on sale in the UK, but it doesn’t compromise on quality or features. It has a smart design and a well-built interior, with plenty of storage space and valuable gadgets. Furthermore, it comes complete with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty and low running costs. The Picanto is propelled by a 1.0-litre petrol unit that generates 67PS and achieves up to 52mpg and 110g/km of CO2, though the top-of-the-range version gets a turbocharged 100PS. It is agile and nippy to drive, especially around town, where it excels at zipping through traffic.