Best new cars for under £400 per month
Got some cash to splash? These are the best new cars for under £400 per month
If you’ve got a budget of £400 per month, the following PCP finance deals are proof that your new car possibilities really are almost endless. The best new cars for under £400 per month take the shape of an Auto Express Car of the Year award winner, a stylish premium EV, and even one of Britain’s best-selling SUVs, just to name a few.
Our road testing experts have extensively driven every model you’ll find below, so keep reading to see our verdicts and the very latest deals below.
Citroen C5 Aircross - £351 per month
Why it’s a great buy: Acres of room, a cushioned ride and low running costs – the C5 Aircross nails the family SUV brief
If comfort and space are your top priorities, look no further than the Citroen C5 Aircross. Designed almost with the UK’s poor road quality in mind, the C5’s suspension has bump stomps that help take the edge off potholes and, combined with light steering, contribute to a relaxing drive. A flat rear floor makes sitting three abreast in the second row easy, and if you adjust the backrests to sit upright, this expands the 565-litre boot to 650 litres.
Just over £350 per month gets you behind the wheel of our pick of the range, the 1.2-litre petrol-hybrid, which will return a claimed 50mpg. For roughly the same price you can finance the fully electric e-C5 Aircross Comfort Range, which offers extra power and is capable of more than 300 miles on a single charge. The standard You! specification is the best-value version with its 13-inch iPad-style touchscreen, wireless phone charger and rear parking sensors.
- Model: Citroen C5 Aircross Hybrid You!
- Price: £31,030
- Deposit: £5,300
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £2,500
- Monthly: £351
- Optional final payment: £15,392
- Total cost: £35,470
- Representative APR: 7.9%
Latest Citroen C5 Aircross deals
Skoda Kodiaq - £368 per month
Why it’s a great buy: The Kodiaq offers seven-seat SUV space for the same money as a compact crossover.
You don’t have to settle for a van with windows if you want a seven-seater car on a budget; the Skoda Kodiaq is not only our Large SUV of the Year for 2026, but it’s also available for less than £400 a month. Admittedly, this is with a 20 per cent down payment, but it’s a fantastic deal considering the level of space and kit on offer. The Kodiaq should also be inexpensive to run given that it sneaks under the £40,000 luxury-car road-tax threshold and is powered by a fuel-sipping mild-hybrid petrol engine.
- Model: Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI SE 7 seats
- Price: £39,925
- Deposit: £7,985
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £3,250
- Monthly: £368
- Optional final payment: £20,385
- Total cost: £44,510
- Representative APR: 6.4%
Volkswagen T-Roc £368 per month
Why it’s a great buy: Small SUV oozes premium quality and appeal while offering low running costs.
Volkswagen really upped its game with the new T-Roc; while the old model felt like a compromise compared with the cheaper and similarly sized Golf, the latest T-Roc extends its premium appeal with better dynamics and cabin quality. Inside, the T-Roc feels like a shrunken Tiguan, with plenty of soft-touch trim and a slick infotainment set-up.
VW offers the T-Roc with a variety of powertrain options and while none will offer low tax rates for company-car drivers, their efficiency makes them prime options for private buyers. The model we have here is the entry-level Life, equipped with a 1.5-litre 114bhp mild-hybrid petrol engine and an automatic gearbox. Despite being the base version, it still gets a touchscreen and digital dials, adaptive cruise control, diamond-cut alloys and a reversing camera. A Winter Pack with heated front seats and steering wheel can also be added for a nominal extra amount per month.
- Model: Volkswagen T-Roc eTSI 116PS Life
- Price: £31,635
- Deposit: £4,746
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £3,000
- Monthly: £368
- Optional final payment: £15,907
- Total cost: £36,553
- Representative APR: 8.5%
MINI Countryman - £375 per month
Why it’s a great buy: BMW engineering meets classic MINI styling at a tempting price
In effect a BMW X1 in funkier, retro packaging, the MINI Countryman is a steal for less than £400 per month. It maintains the same go-kart handling as smaller MINIs, but is much easier to live with, thanks to its boxy shape. There's a surprising amount of space in the second row, with standard-fit split-folding rear seats adding to the flexibility of the Countryman’s big boot. The circular OLED touchscreen is futuristic yet nostalgic, while the combination of fabrics and materials up the desirability factor further.
Strong residual values mean the Countryman can be yours following a 15 per cent deposit for £375 per month – even without any contribution from its manufacturer. The standard Countryman C is capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in just over eight seconds and will return fuel economy of almost 50mpg.
- Model: Mini Countryman 1.5 C Classic
- Price: £30,545
- Deposit: £4,402
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Monthly: £375
- Optional final payment: £16,738
- Total cost: £34,256
- Representative APR: 5.9%
Skoda Elroq - £380 per month
Why it’s a great buy: Small family SUV is still a do-it-all EV more than a year on from its launch.
Former Auto Express Car of the Year, the Skoda Elroq remains a smart electric family car choice. It has a lot in common with the larger Skoda Enyaq, but trades a small amount of practicality for a much lower price.
It’s easy to get carried away listing the handy Simply Clever features, such as an umbrella in the driver’s door, but there’s much more to like than that. The Elroq is comfortable and enjoyable to drive, plus it sports a well built and generously equipped cabin – especially for less than £400 per month.
- Model: Skoda Elroq SE L 60
- Price: £33,970
- Deposit: £5,095
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £1,500
- Monthly: £380
- Optional final payment: £14,782
- Total cost: £35,714
- Representative APR: 2.9%
Nissan Leaf - £381 per month
Why it’s a great buy: Our Car of the Year is all the family EV you need for just over £380 a month.
A near-400-mile electric SUV that’s loaded with equipment and available for just £381 per month – it’s no wonder the Nissan Leaf is the Auto Express Car of the Year for 2026. An EV pioneer, the Leaf has been reborn for a modern audience with stylish crossover looks and a price tag that undercuts the top-selling Qashqai.
The Leaf remains a family car first and foremost, with spacious rear seating (despite the sloping roofline) and a 437-litre boot that boasts a handy storage area for your charging cables. The Leaf’s light steering, supple ride and one-pedal driving also make it ideal for the school run, as does the Nissan’s zippy 215bhp electric motor.
The entry-level Engage model is being offered with a £3,050 deposit contribution and comes with all the basics you’d hope for in a family EV, including twin 12.3-inch screens, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera. If you can afford an extra £20 per month and a slightly bigger deposit, the Engage+ adds a heated steering wheel and seats, 14.3-inch screens with Google tech, two-tone wheels and power-folding mirrors.
- Model: Nissan Leaf 75kWh Engage
- Price: £32,249
- Deposit: £4,846
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £3,050
- Monthly: £381
- Optional final payment: £13,815
- Total cost: £35,418
- Representative APR: 5.49%
Toyota C-HR - £382 per month
Why it’s a great buy: Renowned reliability meets rock-bottom running costs thanks to hybrid technology.
More fashionable than a Prius but still packing Toyota’s famed hybrid tech, the C-HR is a small SUV that’s good to drive and cheap to run. It may look pricey at face value, but a £5,500 Toyota deposit contribution sweetens the deal. For less than £400, the C-HR Design will return up to 60mpg and is loaded with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with built-in sat nav, heated seats and a parking camera. A 10-year warranty provided you service the car annually at a main Toyota dealer provides peace of mind if you opt to keep the C-HR.
- Model: Toyota C-HR 1.8 Hybrid Design
- Price: £35,170
- Deposit: £5,265
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £5,500
- Monthly: £382
- Optional final payment: £14,940
- Total cost: £39,058
- Representative APR: 6.9%
Kia EV3 - £393 per month
Why it’s a great buy: Bold styling and a seven-year warranty make the Kia EV3 a tempting finance option.
Those looking to hang onto their car at the end of their next PCP deal should consider the Kia EV3 with its compelling seven-year warranty. The electric SUV’s futuristic design wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi film and stands out from the crowd. The angular theme continues inside, where there’s welcome usage of recycled materials and more than enough room for most small families. Rated at up to 270 miles on a charge, the Air model featured here includes a tri-screen infotainment set-up, heated seats and adaptive cruise control for just over £390 per month.
- Model: Kia EV3 58.3kWh Air
- Price: £33,055
- Deposit: £4,960
- Months: 37
- Deposit contribution: £2,000
- Monthly: £393
- Optional final payment: £16,070
- Total cost: £35,455
- Representative APR: 2.01%
Cupra Raval - £395 per month
Why it’s a great buy: Electric SUV oozes premium quality and appeal while offering low running costs.
The flagbearer for the future of the Cupra brand, the Raval is a sporty small EV and our 2026 Supermini of the Year. Base versions are aimed squarely at the Renault 5, but V2 models and above are more suitable alternatives for the hotter Alpine A290.
With 209bhp on tap, 0-62mph is dispatched in around seven seconds; dial things back and Cupra says more than 270 miles is possible on a single charge. Darty handling and potent performance aren’t the only selling points; the rear seats are roomier than the R5’s, while we appreciate the exciting-yet-ergonomic design of the cockpit.
The V2 car here only gets a £250 contribution from Cupra, but benefits from a £1,500 Electric Car Grant discount. Kit includes heated suede sports seats and twin screens with Android-powered infotainment.
- Model: Cupra Raval 210PS V2
- Price: £31,080
- Deposit: £4,662
- Months: 35
- Deposit contribution: £250
- Monthly: £395
- Optional final payment: £14,034
- Total cost: £32,786
- Representative APR: 2.9%
Jaecoo 7 - £398 per month
Why it’s a great buy: This ‘Temu Range Rover’ boasts one of the best hybrid powertrains on sale, and all the equipment you need.
Say what you want about the Jaecoo 7 and its ‘Temu Range Rover’ image, but our recent PHEV megatest revealed that parent brand Chery’s so-called ‘Super Hybrid’ lives up to its name. Capable of returning more than 60mpg in the real world even after the battery has depleted, the Jaecoo should be incredibly inexpensive to run, helped by the fact it’s offered with 0.9 per cent finance. For less than £400 per month, the 7 Luxury features heated and cooled leather seats, a 360-degree camera and a panoramic sunroof.
- Model: Jaecoo 7 SHS-P Luxury
- Price: £35,095
- Deposit: £5,264
- Months: 36
- Deposit contribution: £0
- Monthly: £398
- Optional final payment: £16,615
- Total cost: £35,796
- Representative APR: 0.9%
More car deals on Auto Express
- Best new cars for under £350 per month
- Best new cars for under £400 per month
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