Best superminis for Motability 2024
Use your Motability allowance wisely, and you can get a supermini that's practical as well as fun to drive
Moving up to a supermini from a city car will give you more practicality, with extra boot space and room for three in the back. As superminis have grown in size, the range of their abilities has increased, too, and many of the latest models are just as user-friendly as larger cars.
Motability customers can also benefit from a zero advance payment on several superminis, meaning it's even easier to get behind the wheel.
Best superminis for Motability 2024
There are plenty of great superminis to choose from, and these are our favourite models that you can lease via Motability.
Renault Clio
The Clio was already a firm Auto Express favourite when Renault performed its latest series of updates. Now, a striking new look, lashings of technology and an enjoyable driving experience all work in the stylish supermini’s favour. Long-gone are the days of French car reliability jibes, too, as the level of build-quality is excellent.
Renault offers the choice of petrol or hybrid power for the Clio, and both versions drive well — even if they’re not particularly rapid. Opt for the hybrid version and you’ll have the better performance of the two, along with the added advantage of fully-electric power when driving below 20mph. If practicality is more important to you, though, the petrol-powered Clio has the advantage with an impressive 391-litre boot - 90 litres more than the hybrid. Whichever version you choose, you’ll get five doors for easier access.
Dacia Sandero Stepway
The Dacia Sandero Stepway takes all the qualities of our 2023 Supermini of the Year and enhances them even further with rugged SUV styling. Admittedly, the Stepway looks more off-road capable than it actually is, but when kept on the tarmac it’s a pleasantly straightforward car that offers everything you’ll realistically need. There’s space for five, 328 litres of boot space, and some useful creature comforts such as air-conditioning and cruise control. All this is provided without any unnecessary gimmicks.
There is one quirk with the Sandero Stepway, though, which is the option of a factory-fitted bi-fuel LPG system. The LPG option does offer potential savings at a time when petrol prices are uncomfortably high, but finding somewhere to fill up can be a challenge. On the plus side, the petrol-powered 1.0-litre TCe engine isn’t particularly thirsty. We managed to easily stay north of the 35mpg mark when testing the Sandero Stepway over several months and thousands of miles.
Skoda Fabia
As part of Skoda’s ‘simply clever’ ethos, the Fabia is a supermini that gets the essentials right and accompanies these with some genuinely useful add-ons. There are a range of engines available with the choice of a manual or DSG automatic gearbox, but we recommend the turbocharged TSI units. These engines help the Fabia to feel reasonably spritely to drive, as well as being better suited to motorway runs.
Opting for the lower-spec SE Comfort trim results in zero advance payment on Motability. However, investing a little more in a higher-spec SE L brings the Fabia into lower insurance groups, which could prove to be a valuable trade-off for young and inexperienced drivers. Age and experience aside, though, the amount of kit on offer in the SE L should make this a tempting choice for most people as it’s generously equipped. You even get a built-in umbrella holder in the driver’s door, just like a Rolls-Royce.
They're small but mighty, these are the best superminis on the market...
