The Motability Scheme is one of the most affordable ways to lease a brand new car. Research shows it can be over 40% cheaper than other leasing options. As I’ll show here, dozens of cars available with no Advance Payment, too. This helps make it even more accessible for customers.
No matter what new Motability Scheme car you choose, you will get the same all-inclusive leasing package. The lease package 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.
The new car market is changing fast. The drive to zero emissions means the car industry is switching over to electric. Lots of new electric cars, also known as EVs, are now being launched. The UK’s commitment to phase out regular petrol and diesel cars from 2030 is driving this.
If you have a driveway, your first electric car lease includes a home charger and standard installation. This is the cheapest charging option. 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 get 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, don’t worry. As I’ll show here, there’s still a broad 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.
These are my six top choices of cars this quarter. They show the range 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!
Volkswagen T-Cross
No Advance Payment
The Volkswagen T-Cross is the smallest SUV in VW’s wide-ranging line-up. It is still large enough for everyday life though, with good passenger space and a big boot. This well-equipped Match version is currently available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment.
Why is it so popular?
I think the Volkswagen T-Cross is a smart and fun small SUV. It has a well-crafted and confident appearance. It is the same inside, where the solid dashboard has all the user-friendliness you’d expect of a Volkswagen. This Match version has convenient features such as keyless entry and a crisp rear-view parking camera.
The 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is very smooth and refined. It has ample performance and is also good on fuel, averaging nearly 51mpg. The T-Cross has plenty of space both front and rear, and a big boot too. A standard sliding rear seat can expand it from 385 litres to a huge 455 litres. Fold the rear seats and it grows to almost 1,300 litres.
Alternatives to consider: The Renault Symbioz is another practical small SUV available for no Advance Payment. It is also good for both boot space and rear passenger comfort. The 1.3-litre engine is surprisingly powerful too, making it a good all-rounder.
Dacia Spring
No Advance Payment and £76 a week
The Dacia Spring is a small electric car with the potential to save you a lot of money. It is available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment. What’s more, it costs less than your weekly allowance, at just £76 a week.
Why is it so popular?
The Dacia Spring is one of the most city-friendly new cars on sale. It measures just 3.85 metres long. This means it is really easy to park. It is simple to drive on tight streets or in cramped car parks. It feels compact and nimble behind the wheel, so you have the confidence to squeeze through gaps when the roads get jammed. It even has a really tight turning circle.
The Dacia Spring has a 24kWh battery. If you can plug in at home, it will cost just a couple of pounds to fully charge it. And on a full charge, it has a 140-mile range, which is more than enough for the average UK motorist. Other Dacia Spring strengths include its five-door, four-seat layout and a roomy 308-litre boot. This wallet-friendly version even comes with essential luxuries such as air conditioning and rear parking sensors.
Alternatives to consider: The Hyundai Inster is another small electric car that’s ideal for the city. Several versions are currently available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment.
Mazda2 Hybrid
No Advance Payment
The Mazda2 Hybrid is, as its name suggests, a hybrid-engined sister car to the long-running Mazda 2 small hatchback. It is closely related to the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, but given a Mazda makeover so it has its own unique face. It is currently available for no Advance Payment.
Why is it so popular?
Fuel economy is one of the Mazda2 Hybrid’s biggest strengths. It is remarkably efficient, particularly in town where it can run in EV mode a lot of the time. You get this benefit without the need to plug it in, too. It is what’s sometimes called a ‘self-charging hybrid’.
The Mazda2 Hybrid feels well-built inside, and the wraparound driving position is nice. It isn’t over-reliant on the centre touchscreen either, with a good array of buttons. The screen itself is mounted high on the dashboard, and pairs easily with your mobile phone. The Mazda2 Hybrid is a five-seater. It has a 286-litre boot with the rear seats up, expanding to 935 litres with them folded.
Alternatives to consider: The MG3 Hybrid+ is another hybrid car with the potential to be really good on fuel. It has a bit more space inside than the Mazda, so could be worth checking out if you regularly carry people in the rear. It is currently available for an Advance Payment of just £299.
Ford Puma
No Advance Payment
The Ford Puma has for years been the best-selling new car in Britain. It picked up where the old Ford Fiesta left off in winning the hearts of the nation’s motorists. Its popularity is easy to explain, as the Puma is a really complete all-rounder.
Why is it so popular?
The Ford Puma is a sporty and stylish car. It has distinctive rounded lines that give it a strong stance on the road. It has a driver-focused feel inside too. The supportive seats give a good view out and the driving position is multi-adjustable. I like the large-format touchscreen too, which is sophisticated to use. Along with decent rear seat space, the Ford Puma has a huge 456-litre boot. The clever 80-litre ‘Megabox’ space under the boot floor is particularly useful.
The Ford Puma I’ve chosen here has a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine with mild hybrid technology. This uses a small electric motor to boost the engine, which helps save on fuel. It also means you won’t notice the engine stop-start tech working! It helps the Ford Puma return impressive average economy of over 52mpg.
Alternatives to consider: If you like the Ford Puma, I’d certainly take a close look at the Volkswagen T-Cross too. The two are similar in size and are both fun to drive. Like the Puma, you can also get the T-Cross in a fun bright yellow paint colour!
MG3
No Advance Payment
The MG3 is a practical supermini-style small car from this famous brand. It has a lot of space and a generous amount of equipment, despite being available for no Advance Payment.
Why is it so popular?
The MG3 is certainly a winner in terms of standard equipment. This SE version has a 10.25-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also features sat nav with speed limit recognition, and the MG Pilot safety and driver assist setup. Smart alloy wheels and bright LED lights are included too.
The MG3 is a roomy car on the inside. The driving position is spacious and the rear seats are comfortable. There’s plenty of space for feet and the flat floor is a nice touch. At 293 litres, the boot has just enough space, and it expands to almost 1,000 litres with the rear seats folded. The rear seat folds down in one piece so you can do this quickly if you’re in a hurry.
Alternatives to consider: The Dacia Sandero Stepway is five-door small car that is infused with a bit of crossover SUV cool. It rides a bit higher than the regular Sandero, so it is easy to get in and out of. It is comfortable to drive as well. There are several versions currently available on the Motability Scheme for no Advance Payment.
Kia Stonic
No Advance Payment
The Kia Stonic is a small crossover SUV that has received a big series of updates for 2026. It has a striking new look both front and rear. It also has a modern interior with an upmarket panoramic driver display.
Why is it so popular?
The Kia Stonic is popular because it combines city-friendly exterior dimensions with a good balance of interior space. It has a well-judged semi-raised driving position. This is a bit higher than a regular small car, but not too high off the ground. This makes it easy to get in and out of. Rear passenger space is OK too, and the Kia Stonic has a useful 352-litre boot.
This Kia Stonic is the Pure version, with a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. The six-speed manual gearbox is slick, and the clutch is light. I enjoyed driving it, as it has a snappy and fun nature. Inside, the updated 12.3-inch touchscreen display looks modern. It has a built-in reversing camera and rear parking sensors are also standard. Electric front and rear windows are another luxury touch, and you even get standard cruise control.
Alternatives to consider: If the Kia Stonic is a bit on the large side for you, how about checking out the Kia Picanto? This too was facelifted a little while back, improving onboard tech and equipment. Several models are available for no Advance Payment, including the sporty-looking GT-Line S version.
Am I eligible?
You need to receive one of the qualifying mobility allowances, with at least 12 months left, to be eligible to join the Motability Scheme.
About the writer
Richard Aucock(opens in a new window) 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(opens in a new window), a leading UK publisher in the industry.
