New BMW 3 Series

Jeep Avenger

Renault Captur

BMW X3

Kia Sportage

Aston Martin Vantage

BMW 5 Series

top-20-cheapest-cars-to-insure

Insurance premiums in the UK are currently at their highest ever level, according to Association of British Insurers (ABI). So,&nbsp;to help&nbsp;you save&nbsp;money on your next new car,&nbsp;we’ve rounded up the cheapest cars to insure from the&nbsp;hundreds of new models on sale.

If you want to find out more about any of the cars listed below, simply click the links through to our full reviews&nbsp;or&nbsp;free&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying service</a>.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Top 20 cheapest cars to insure

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

COMBO LIFE

Version&nbsp;1.5 Turbo D Design |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£21,390 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£21,390 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;NA |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;10E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£399

The Vauxhall Combo Life makes a fine&nbsp;choice&nbsp;if&nbsp;maximum practicality is what you're after. The interior is vast, and it's packed full of useful storage cubbies&nbsp;and clever features (such as rear seats&nbsp;which&nbsp;fold down flush with the boot floor). Despite being based on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-small-vans/n20723">small van</a>, the Combo Life is&nbsp;surprisingly comfortable to drive, with a composed low-speed ride. The diesel engine quoted here should also be cheap to run,&nbsp;especially if you do lots of motorway journeys.&nbsp;

For&nbsp;Great practicality | Decent performance&nbsp;| Lots of standard safety kit

Against&nbsp;Fiddly infotainment system&nbsp;| Low-rent interior&nbsp;| Poor body control

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n9">Vauxhall Combo Life&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/up/hatchback/deals">Vauxhall Combo Life&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=17: Vauxhall Combo Life

Hatchback

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

SCALA

Version&nbsp;1.0 TSI 95 SE |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£20,535 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£20,535 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;NA |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;10E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;5

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£399

The Scala is one of our favourite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family cars</a>, and that's largely because it's a brilliant all-rounder for the money. It has a&nbsp;supple ride, decent handling, a good infotainment system and amazing rear seat space. Plus, the boot is absolutely vast. In terms of insurance,&nbsp;the entry-level 94bhp unit is the cheapest.&nbsp;It's a good performer, but in a car of this size&nbsp;it can feel a little flat. So, for that reason, we'd recommend going for the 104bhp version if you're happy to pay a bit extra.

For&nbsp;Comfortable ride&nbsp;| Spacious rear seats and big boot&nbsp;| Cheap to buy and run

Against&nbsp;Noisier at speed than some rivals&nbsp;| Poor resale values&nbsp;| Interior feels cheap

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/scala/hatchback/review/n19190">Skoda Scala&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/skoda/scala/hatchback/deals">Skoda Scala&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=17: Skoda Scala

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

Version&nbsp;1.0T GDi SE Connect |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£22,700 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£21,451 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£262 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;10E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£399

The i30 is one of the few&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family cars</a>&nbsp;on this list, so if you're looking for a bit more space than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>, but&nbsp;still want to keep insurance costs down,&nbsp;it could make a good choice. The i30's biggest strength is arguably its ride comfort, and&nbsp;the fact that it comes with plenty of kit as standard. Our favourite SE Connect trim, for instance, gives you&nbsp;a leather-trimmed steering wheel,&nbsp;automatic lights and wipers&nbsp;and power-folding door mirrors as standard.

For&nbsp;Comfortable ride&nbsp;| Good infotainment system on upper trims&nbsp;| Reasonably well equipped

Against&nbsp;Mediocre performance from entry-level engine&nbsp;| Fuel economy isn't great&nbsp;| Uninspiring&nbsp;handling

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/hatchback/review/n36">Hyundai i30&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai/i30/hatchback/deals">Hyundai i30&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=17: Hyundai i30

Estate

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

DUSTER

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel Essential |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£17,295 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£17,090 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£220 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;10E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£399

You may be surprised to see the Duster is&nbsp;cheaper to insure than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a>. Indeed, the latter doesn't even feature on this list. So, this&nbsp;means&nbsp;you get much more space for the money with the Duster, and a similar line-up of engines. In this instance, the&nbsp;Bi-Fuel version is the cheapest to insure. It should also be cheap to run thanks to the fact that it can&nbsp;run on&nbsp;liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)&nbsp;as well as regular unleaded petrol.

For&nbsp;Very cheap to buy and run | Spacious&nbsp;boot&nbsp;| 4x4 version is very capable off-road

Against&nbsp;Poor handling&nbsp;| Interior feels cheap&nbsp;| Low Euro NCAP safety rating

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/estate/review/n67">Dacia Duster&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/dacia/duster/estate/deals">Dacia Duster&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=17: Dacia Duster

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

CADDY

Version&nbsp;1.5 TSI Caddy |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£27,418 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£27,418 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;NA |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;9E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£385

Despite its van-like shape, the Volkswagen Caddy shares its underpinnings with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>. This means it offers car-like driving dynamics, with a supple ride and surprisingly tidy handling. Of course, being an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/mpvs-and-people-carriers/n17001">MPV</a>&nbsp;version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caddy/van/review/n18482">Caddy van</a>, the interior is absolutely vast. However, being based on a van&nbsp;means interior quality is pretty poor,&nbsp;with&nbsp;hard&nbsp;scratchy plastics&nbsp;being across&nbsp;the dashboard. And while it is quite cheap to insure, it is surprisingly expensive to buy,

For&nbsp;Five-star NCAP rating beats other&nbsp;MPVs&nbsp;| Pleasant to drive&nbsp;| Better warranty than most rivals

Against&nbsp;Low-rent interior | Rivals have better rear seat space&nbsp;| Expensive

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caddy/mpv/review/n24292">Volkswagen Caddy&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/caddy/mpv/deals">Volkswagen Caddy&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=11: Volkswagen Caddy

T-CROSS

Version&nbsp;1.0 TSI 95 Black Edition |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£23,905 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£22,992 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£239 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;9E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

​​Cost of insurance&nbsp;£385

The T-Cross is based on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc</a>, but adds more flexible rear seating and a lower price tag. Indeed, that means that the interior doesn't feel quite as plush as the T-Roc's, while refinement isn't&nbsp;as good. On the plus side, you do get the same range of engines, and the T-Cross is generally very good to drive. It's comfortable and less fidgety than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/stonic/estate/review/n116">Kia Stonic</a>, for instance. Black Edition is the mid-level trim level, and is slightly cheaper to insure than the entry-level SE. It&nbsp;comes with black styling details,&nbsp;LED headlights and front sport seats as standard.

For&nbsp;Spacious, flexible interior&nbsp;| Impressive for safety | Good to drive

Against&nbsp;Only slightly cheaper than the superior T-Roc&nbsp;| Interior is hardly plush&nbsp;| SEL and R-Line trims too pricey

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">Volkswagen T-Cross&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/deals">Volkswagen T-Cross&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=11: Volkswagen T-Cross

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

IBIZA

Version&nbsp;1.0 TSI 95 SE |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£19,715 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£17,937 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£218 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;9E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£385

It may be similar under the skin to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>, but the Ibiza trumps it for driving enjoyment and value for money. Our insurance quote is for the 1.0 TSI 95, which is our favourite engine because&nbsp;of its punchy nature both around town and on the motorway. Sticking with the cheapest SE trim isn’t a bad option either, because&nbsp;it comes with automatic headlights, electrically adjusting door mirrors, metallic paint and a 6.5in infotainment system.

For&nbsp;Great to drive&nbsp;| Roomy by class standards&nbsp;| Strong TSI petrol engines

Against&nbsp;Lots of road noise&nbsp;| Resale values could be better&nbsp;| Firm ride in FR versions

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/seat/ibiza/hatchback/deals">Seat Ibiza&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=11: Seat Ibiza

ARONA

Version&nbsp;1.0 TSI 95 SE |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£22,450 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£19,563 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£242 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;9E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£385

Looking for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>&nbsp;that's fun to drive? Then how about a Seat Arona, which offers tidy handling, direct steering and punchy engines – all for a lot less money than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>.&nbsp;Our insurance quote is for the entry-level 94bhp 1.0-litre engine, which provides&nbsp;a good amount of&nbsp;power so you can sit comfortably at motorway speeds. It does feel a bit sluggish at lower revs, though, so our favourite 108bhp is better option if you want a bit more power. SE trim is fairly well equipped, and includes&nbsp;17in alloys, cruise control and&nbsp;a contrasting roof colour as standard. If your budget can stretch to it, we'd recommend going for SE Technology&nbsp;because of its better infotainment system and rear parking sensors.

For&nbsp;Tidy handling | Roomier than many rivals | Well equipped

Against&nbsp;So-so interior quality&nbsp;| Top trims are too pricey | Rivals have more flexible rear seats

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/seat/arona/hatchback/deals">Seat Arona&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=11: Seat Arona

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

STONIC

Version&nbsp;1.0T GDi 99 2 |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£21,225 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£19,958 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£220 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;9E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

​​Cost of insurance&nbsp;£385

The Stonic is essentially a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/rio/hatchback/review/n17367">Kia Rio</a>&nbsp;on stilts. So, that means it's both compact and&nbsp;cheap to insure, while the driving position gives you a good view of the road.&nbsp;Being based on the Rio, the Stonic is offered with the same engine options. In this instance, the entry-level 99bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged unit is the cheapest to insure. It's&nbsp;a good choice&nbsp;if you're looking to keep the purchase cost down. Even though the mid-level 3 trim is&nbsp;our favourite, 2 comes with all the essentials (including&nbsp;cruise control and air conditioning).

For&nbsp;Punchy turbo engine | Plenty of standard kit&nbsp;| Agile handling

Against&nbsp;Rivals have more flexible rear seats&nbsp;| Firm ride&nbsp;| Other&nbsp;small SUVs are more practical

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/stonic/estate/review/n116">Kia Stonic&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/kia/stonic/estate/deals">Kia Stonic&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=11: Kia Stonic

Version&nbsp;1.0T GDi SE Connect |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£23,450 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£22,158 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£276 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;9E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£385

In times gone by, 1.0-litre engines were only reserved for the smallest of cars. Nowadays, you can find them in anything from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118">Skoda Karoq</a>&nbsp;family SUV&nbsp;to this – the Hyundai i30 Tourer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/estate-cars/n16998">estate car</a>.&nbsp;Mind you, that's certainly no bad thing, because the i30's&nbsp;turbocharged engine is impressively strong and efficient. It's also surprisingly well insulated, with&nbsp;little vibration or road noise seeping&nbsp;into the&nbsp;interior. Unfortunately,&nbsp;the i30 Tourer is&nbsp;remarkably bland to drive on the whole, with a surprising amount of body roll for a car with a firm suspension set-up.

For&nbsp;Refined engine | Decent boot&nbsp;| Simple but functional interior

Against&nbsp;Sedate performance&nbsp;| Less interior space than rivals&nbsp;| Bland handling

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/estate/review/n17293">Hyundai i30 Tourer&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai/i30/estate/deals">Hyundai i30 Tourer&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=11: Hyundai i30 Tourer

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

PANDA

Version&nbsp;1.0 Mild Hybrid |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,765 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,113 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£190&nbsp;|&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;8U&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;1

​​Cost of insurance&nbsp;£367

The Panda is outclassed by newer rivals, such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a>, but some people will simply fall for its quirky looks. The fact that it’s fairly cheap&nbsp;to insure may also tempt&nbsp;you, but just make sure you test drive the alternatives before committing because it’s slow,&nbsp;not good&nbsp;to drive and poorly equipped. What's more, it has a terrible Euro NCAP safety score of zero stars out of five.&nbsp;

For&nbsp;Individual looks | Decent headroom&nbsp;| Good rear visibility&nbsp;

Against&nbsp;Abysmal Euro NCAP safety rating&nbsp;| Poor rear leg room | Slow and poor to drive

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/panda/hatchback/review/n128">Fiat Panda&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/fiat/panda/hatchback/deals">Fiat Panda&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=10: Fiat Panda

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

CAPTUR

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe 90 Evolution |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£22,495 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£20,562 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£224 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;8E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£367

The Captur was one of the first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUVs</a>, and it’s the most affordable to insure, pitching in at a similar price to far smaller city cars. The second generation Captur, introduced in 2019, is roomier and plusher than the original, and it has lots of safety kit. There’s no need to splash out on a pricey trim because entry-level Evolution&nbsp;comes with cruise control, automatic lights and wipers and keyless entry.

For&nbsp;Keen starting price&nbsp;| Sliding rear seats come as standard&nbsp;| Good safety rating

Against&nbsp;Engines are relatively weak&nbsp;| Rivals have more rear seat space&nbsp;| PHEV is disappointing to drive

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/review/n20">Renault Captur&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/renault/captur/hatchback/deals">Renault Captur&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=9: Renault Captur

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

Version&nbsp;1.5 VTi-Tech Excite&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£13,820 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,458 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£182 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;7E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;2

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£349

The MG3 is one of the most affordable new small hatchbacks you can buy, undercutting most rivals, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>. And the low purchase price helps to keep insurance costs down.&nbsp;There’s only one petrol engine choice, a 1.5; this&nbsp;sounds promising on paper, but it’s actually more sluggish than smaller turbocharged alternatives. It's also not that&nbsp;frugal – especially by modern standards.

For&nbsp;Attractively priced | Interior looks fairly smart&nbsp;| Well equipped

Against&nbsp;Bumpy ride&nbsp;| Unrefined engine&nbsp;| Disappointing safety

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867">MG3 review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/deals">MG3&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=7: MG3

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

FIESTA

Version&nbsp;1.1 Trend |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£19,350 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£18,111 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£196 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;7E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£349

There are plenty of reasons why the Fiesta has been one of the UK’s best selling cars for more than a decade. It’s smart, well equipped –&nbsp;and it’s such good fun to drive that it’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The non-turbo 1.1-litre petrol engine that our insurance quote is based on isn’t as sprightly as the 1.0-litre&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a>&nbsp;turbo, but it’s well suited to urban life. The entry-level Trend trim is&nbsp;surprisingly comprehensive, and includes&nbsp;automatic lights, a 8.0in infotainment touchscreen and a heated windscreen as standard.

For&nbsp;Brilliant to drive | Punchy EcoBoost engines | Good fuel economy

Against&nbsp;Some rivals are better value&nbsp;| Decent but not class-leading practicality&nbsp;| Important safety kit not standard

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ford/fiesta/hatchback/deals">Ford Fiesta&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=7: Ford Fiesta

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

AYGO X

Version&nbsp;1.0 VVT-i Pure |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,990 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,938 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£162 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;5A&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£319

With its bold chunky styling, it can be easy to mistake the Aygo X for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>&nbsp;rather than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>. However, it&nbsp;technically&nbsp;falls into the latter camp in terms of its size, so it's&nbsp;much cheaper to buy, run and insure than an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/suvs/n26176">SUV</a>. Indeed, the Aygo X is very cheap to run, and that's&nbsp;partly helped by its puny 71bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. Okay, performance isn't&nbsp;a strong point (0-62mph takes 14.9sec), but&nbsp;it should be able to average more than&nbsp;50mpg. The Aygo X also comes with plenty of safety kit as standard, including&nbsp;automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), lane-keeping assist and&nbsp;six airbags, which is something that can't be said for most small cars.

For&nbsp;Cheap to run&nbsp;| Good level of safety kit&nbsp;| 10-year warranty

Against&nbsp;Cramped in the back&nbsp;| Small boot opening&nbsp;| Lacklustre engine

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/deals">Toyota Aygo X deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

6: Toyota Aygo X

FABIA

Version&nbsp;1.0 MPi 80 SE Comfort&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£19,170 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£18,713 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£225 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;4E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£301

No wonder 4.5 million Fabias have hit the roads since it was originally launched in 1999. It’s affordable to buy, has a solid feel inside and out – and it's pretty cheap to insure. Our quote is for the lowest powered, non-turbo 1.0-litre petrol version. Its performance won’t set the world alight, but it’s worth seeking out if you want to keep costs down. In our chosen SE Comfort trim, it provides a decent amount of creature comforts, including air con, rear&nbsp;parking sensors and a colour touchscreen infotainment system.

For&nbsp;Big boot | Roomy interior with clever features&nbsp;| Supple ride

Against&nbsp;Interior is hardly plush | Buggy infotainment system&nbsp;| Honda Jazz is more practical

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/skoda/fabia/hatchback/deals">Skoda Fabia deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

5: Skoda Fabia

POLO

Version&nbsp;1.0 80 Life&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£21,670 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£20,590&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£217 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;3E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£291

The Polo may have spent its life in the shadow of its highly-competent big brother, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>, but it shouldn’t be underestimated. Our insurance price is for the 1.0 petrol model in Life&nbsp;trim, but whichever version you go for you’ll get a car that’s good to drive, comfortable and smart and roomy inside. The fact that it’s likely to retain its value better than rivals simply adds to its appeal.

For&nbsp;Good to drive | Spacious interior | Attractive&nbsp;PCP finance deals

Against&nbsp;Ford Fiesta is more fun to drive | Gutless entry-level engine&nbsp;| Standard safety kit could be better

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/deals">Volkswagen Polo&nbsp;deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=3: Volkswagen Polo

PICANTO

Version&nbsp;1.0 2 |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,415 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£13,606 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£161 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;3A&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£291

The Picanto is a fine&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small&nbsp;car</a>&nbsp;with a smart interior and tidy handling. The 66bhp 1.0 petrol engine may not be the last word in outright pace, but it’s fine for pottering around town and doesn’t mind being revved hard, so it will make decent progress on faster roads as long as you’re prepared to work it. Our insurance quote is for the fairly affordable 2 trim level, which isn’t too stingy, but we’d recommend paying a bit extra to get a model with 3 trim because it adds climate and cruise control and a touchscreen infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and&nbsp;Android Auto smartphone compatibility).

For&nbsp;Tidy handling | Frugal 1.0-litre MPi engine&nbsp;| Generous equipment on 3 trim

Against&nbsp;Slow 1.0-litre MPi engine&nbsp;| Firm(ish) low-speed ride&nbsp;| Dacia Sandero is more practical

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/kia/picanto/hatchback/deals">Kia Picanto deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=3: Kia Picanto

Temporary taxonomy to unlink review until CAP taxonomy is updated

Version&nbsp;1.0 Advance |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,420&nbsp;|&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,915 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£202 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;2E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;4

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£285

If you're looking for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">small car</a>&nbsp;that offers cultured motoring on a sensible budget, check out the Hyundai i10. It's relatively spacious, comes with a smart-looking interior, a great infotainment system and it rides and drives more impressively than plenty of bigger, pricier cars. Our insurance premium is for the three-cylinder 1.0 petrol engine, which is man enough to deal with most driving situations, although it may seem a bit wheezy at motorway speeds. Entry-level Advance&nbsp;trim should satisfy the most basic needs, but you’ll need to move up to Premium trim&nbsp;to get niceties such as&nbsp;alloy wheels, heated seats and&nbsp;a heated steering wheel.

For&nbsp;Comfortable and quiet to drive | Decent rear seat space&nbsp;| Well equipped

Against&nbsp;Three-star Euro NCAP safety rating&nbsp;| Non-turbocharged 1.0-litre engine a bit lacklustre&nbsp;| Slow auto gearbox

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai/i10/hatchback/deals">Hyundai i10 deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

=1: Hyundai i10

Version&nbsp;1.0 Up! |&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,180 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,793 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£192 |&nbsp;Insurance group&nbsp;2E&nbsp;|&nbsp;What Car? star rating&nbsp;3

Cost of insurance&nbsp;£285

The Up is a former&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2023-overall-winner/n25379">What Car? Car of the Year</a>&nbsp;because it offers fun driving manners, plenty of standard equipment and classy interior. While newer rivals are better value and have newer technology, there’s still a lot to recommend with&nbsp;the Up. For a start, it’s one of an increasingly rare breed, because some&nbsp;manufacturers are stopping production of their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a>. Indeed, that's now the case with the Up as of October 2023 (although plenty of new models are still available&nbsp;from dealer stock). The entry level Up&nbsp;is the cheapest to insure. It comes with manual air-con and electric windows, but you’ll have to step up to Beats trim if you want&nbsp;a multifunction steering wheel and an upgraded stereo system.

For&nbsp;Fun to drive | Economical engine | Classy interior for the money

Against&nbsp;Limited safety technology&nbsp;| Some rivals are better value&nbsp;| Harsh ride on larger wheels

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n9">Volkswagen Up&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;or see new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/up/hatchback/deals">Volkswagen Up deals</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

<hr />
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

<h2>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-10-cheapest-new-cars-you-can-buy/n25148">The 10 cheapest new cars you can buy</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</h2>

=1: Volkswagen Up

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