10 of the best cars for under £300 per month | May 2024

A £300 monthly budget for car finance is a healthy position to be in, giving you the choice of a good few brand-new cars. But, as with any budget, you’ll get much more for your money by buying used.

Sure enough, some of these cars will make your neighbours think you’ve spent a lot more than you actually have. You’ll find high-end petrol, hybrid and electric options, as well as hot hatchbacks and fantastic family SUVs for your budget. The choice is almost overwhelming!

For even more options, browse our wide range of cars under £300 per month.

BMW 3 Series

It’s long been a default choice if you want a premium saloon, and the BMW 3 Series is available for well under £300 per month if you don’t mind not having the very latest registration plate. You’ll typically find petrol models in the sporty and sought-after M Sport trim with decent mileage for this budget, or you can choose the 330e plug-in hybrid in nearly any trim level you like.

Whichever engine and trim level you pick, you’ll enjoy the 3 Series’ posh interior, generous power, sweet handling and motorway brilliance. As always, the 3 Series is available as a sleek saloon or a roomy estate (pictured).

Shop used BMW 3 Series cars for sale or read our BMW 3 Series review

Peugeot 3008

The Peugeot 3008 has just been replaced by a brand-new model, but it hasn’t started appearing on UK streets yet and is much more expensive than this one. Two-year-old 3008s are easily within budget, and that includes high-spec GT cars with the futuristic plug-in-hybrid engine.

But every 3008 gets a whole load of equipment and a fancy interior. It’s clear that Peugeot really put the effort in to the 3008’s cabin, with a sleek design, piano-key buttons and a pleasing mix of materials and textures. Further back, the 3008 offers plenty of space for a growing family.

Shop used Peugeot 3008 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 3008 review

Mercedes C-Class

The latest Mercedes C-Class still looks like a brand-new car, but now you can drive one away from a Motorpoint store of your choice for under £300 per month. Its sleek lines and moody dark paint shades ooze class, and its interior will draw sharp intakes of breath from anyone who’s lucky enough to be a passenger. The huge central touchscreen looks state of the art, and is actually borrowed from the S-Class limousine (which costs three times as much!).

Like the S-Class, the smaller C-Class puts comfort far above sportiness – this is a relaxed motorway cruiser and every journey will keep the adrenaline down rather than pumping it up. And… relaaax.

Shop used Mercedes C-Class cars for sale or read our Mercedes C-Class review

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota’s entrant into the hotly contested small SUV class is one of the most economical, thanks to its clever hybrid engine borrowed from the standard Yaris hatchback. Even with the Yaris Cross’ bigger bodywork, you’ll easily manage more than 60mpg in normal driving.

So far, so Yaris, but the Yaris Cross addresses its little sibling’s drawbacks. The Yaris Cross is easily big enough to take four adults, and has a larger boot than the Yaris too. It’s marginally more comfortable than a Yaris, because you’re slightly further away from potholes, and is brilliantly easy and intuitive to drive.

Shop used Toyota Yaris Cross cars for sale or read our Toyota Yaris Cross review

Ford Kuga

Another of our favourite midsize SUVs is the Ford Kuga, which blends the must-have practicality with a sporty driving experience that rivals overlook. ST-Line versions have the interior to match, with lots of go-faster red stitching and soft suede upholstery.

High-mileage drivers are best off with the EcoBlue diesel engines, which are capable of over 55mpg on long journeys. If your driving includes more of a mix of town stuff and faster roads, get the EcoBoost petrol engine. The 1.5-litre engine – shared with the phenomenal Fiesta ST, no less – is responsive and eager, ready to give you all of its power when you ask for it.

Shop used Ford Kuga cars for sale or read our Ford Kuga review

Skoda Superb

The Skoda Superb undersells itself. It’s more than superb, it’s almost unbeatable in several areas. Chiefly, practicality – the Superb has unbelievable amounts of rear legroom and a class-leading boot which, at 660 litres for the estate version, is big enough to qualify for its own postcode.

We feel old-fashioned saying this, but the diesel engine suits the Superb down to the ground. It excels at covering long distances, with outstanding comfort and the promise of close to 60mpg. There are also petrol and plug-in hybrid engines available if you’re not a high-mileage driver and, as we’ve come to expect from Skoda, these engines are also excellent.

Shop used Skoda Superb cars for sale or read our review of the 2024 Skoda Superb

Range Rover Evoque

Blending Land Rover’s essential go-anywhere tech with more compact, city-friendly dimensions, the Range Rover Evoque is one of the most desirable SUVs on our roads. It helps that it’s immensely stylish, too.

The Evoque is bigger inside than it looks, with proper space for adults and a good-sized boot. Up front, the Evoque feels just as premium as more expensive Range Rovers, and has a smart touchscreen with all the features you could wish for. Add in a choice of diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid engines, as well the option of two- or four-wheel drive, and the Evoque appeals to a broad church of buyers.

Shop used Range Rover Evoque cars for sale or read our Range Rover Evoque review

Citroen C5X

The Citroen C5 X is hard to classify. Even Citroen says it’s a mix of saloon, estate and SUV. Whatever it is, it’s striking and handsome. There’s more joy once you get past the styling, too, as the C5 X offers the soothing comfort that only a big Citroen barge does.

It looks expensive, so it might surprise you that the C5 X is actually one of the best-value cars on this list. Under £300 per month buys you a top-spec Shine Plus car that’s only a year or so old, with Citroen’s brilliant 1.2-litre petrol engine and an easy automatic gearbox. Let curiosity get the better of you and book a test drive.

Shop used Citroen C5 X cars for sale

BMW X1

The BMW X1 certainly doesn’t feel like the entry-level BMW SUV – it has all the sophistication and talents of the brand’s larger SUVs, even though it doesn’t cost as much. It’s still a motorway cruiser, and yet it’s also fun on the back roads – the X1 feels just like a bigger 1 Series. But it’s much more practical than the 1 Series, and the sheer amount of space inside will make you wonder why you’d go up to the BMW X3. 

The X1 also has a strong engine range, with the plug-in hybrid xDrive25e joining punchy petrol and diesel engines. This is perfect for driving around town, with a competitive all-electric range and the backup of a petrol engine for longer journeys.

Shop used BMW X1 cars for sale or read our BMW X1 review

Audi A6

An Audi A6 for the price of a compact hatchback? It’s true, and we’re even talking low-mileage A6s that aren’t quite three years old yet. Plump for the Sport trim and you can pick from powerful petrol or mile-munching diesel engines, as well as smaller alloy wheels that maximise ride comfort.

The A6 boasts Audi’s very latest interior design and infotainment technology, plus a suite of driver assistance features that almost let the car drive itself. Perfect for those boring journeys where you’d rather just get to your destination.

Shop used Audi A6 cars for sale

Read our top picks for other monthly budgets

• 10 of the best cars for under £150 per month
• 10 of the best cars for under £200 per month
• 10 of the best cars for under £250 per month

Affordable finance on used cars

Check out Motorpoint's huge selection of nearly new and used cars, all with a range of flexible finance options.