Skip advert
Advertisement

How To Look Good For Less!

You don’t have to break the bank on a car to turn heads – as we line up a great-value fashion parade.

Getting designer looks for high street prices is the ultimate consumer achievement, but can you really pull it off with your next car? It’s time to find out!

We’ve raided the price lists to test our purchasing power to the max, and come up with four very different models that allow you to turn heads without hitting your credit limit. Representing the feisty city slickers, the Abarth 500 Esseesse is put to the test as a cut-price alternative to the mighty MINI JCW. Will the shrunken hot hatch be able to fill the tracks of the ultra-cool Brit?

Advertisement - Article continues below

Next up is the Nissan Qashqai. Its shape, concept and line-up are very similar to Ford’s Kuga, yet it’s available for less. If you’re after a coupé, style couldn’t be more important. That’s why Mercedes’ classy CLC is a big hit, despite its dated underpinnings. However, is Volkswagen’s Scirocco better value? We put it under the spotlight.

Given that this road test special is all about saving money, why have we included an Aston Martin in our line-up? It’s not a mistake – whether or not the famous British model is a bargain depends on whether you compare it to a Porsche 911 or a Bentley Continental GT. We put ourselves in the position of a lottery winner, and see whether the Aston V8 Vantage is a more sensible alternative to Bentley’s model.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,607 off RRP*Used from £16,850
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,297 off RRP*
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £7,778 off RRP*Used from £11,890
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,161 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k
Geely EX5 - front

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k

This new electric SUV is coming soon to the UK from Volvo and Lotus parent company, Geely
News
15 Sep 2025
Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain
Nissan Qashqai electric render Avarvarii - front 3/4

Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain

There will be an overlap of powertrains for the big-selling SUV
News
15 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month
Polestar 4 - cornering, low shot

Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month

Fancy something smart and sophisticated? You won’t look back with the Polestar 4. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 13
News
13 Sep 2025