Best new car discounts: September 2024

Want to save big money on your next car? Well, you can get almost 17% off the list price with our Target Price discounts, available on everything from sports cars to SUVs...

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by
George Hill
Published12 September 2024

If you're worried about negotiating a discount on your next new car, fear not – our monthly Target Price deals are here to help.

Target Price is unique to What Car? and represents the most we think you should pay for any given car. Our team spends all day haggling with car makers on your behalf, and the best prices they can achieve are printed online and in What Car? magazine.

MG ZS with Target Price logo

Most of the dealers on our free New Car Deals platform will match Target Price, and if they don't, we'll highlight it to them and to you. In some cases, you could save even more than the Target Price, so it's always worth checking.

Here, we're highlighting the 10 best Target Price savings for September by percentage – so if you're looking to save a bundle on your next car, read on.

Our pick: EV60 160kW Evolution Comfort Range 60kWh 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 7.5 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 440 litres
Insurance group: 24E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Strong performance
  • Comfortable ride – even on 20in alloys
  • Great driving position

Weaknesses

  • Relatively heavy depreciation
  • Rivals have more rear space
  • Grabby brake-pedal response

Model EV60 Evolution | List price £33,995 | Target Price £28,345 | Saving £5650 | Percentage discount 16.6%

With new electric cars becoming more affordable, cars like the Renault Megane – which was launched in 2022 – must keep up with the fresh competition. For this reason, you can now get a huge saving through our Target Price discounts - indeed it's currently the biggest new car discount on What Car?.

If you choose the Megane, you'll be getting an impressive electric car. It's particularly good on the motorway, where the interior is well insulated from road noise, making it a very easy car to do lots of miles in. Speaking of which, the Megane can travel up to 285 miles officially between charges, which is similar to an MG4 Long Range (281 miles). 

All Meganes come with plenty of kit as standard, too, which is why the entry-level Evolution trim is our favourite. It comes with keyless entry, full LED headlights, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard.

Read our in-depth Renault Megane review

Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance

Strengths

  • Competitively priced
  • Plush ride
  • Upmarket interior

Weaknesses

  • Roly-poly handling
  • Boot could be larger
  • PHEV sits in a higher tax band than some rivals

Model 1.2 PureTech 130 You | List price £29,440 | Target Price £25,279 | Saving £4161 | Percentage discount 14.1%

Considering how big and spacious it is, the Citroën C5 X is great value – especially with our Target Price included. Indeed, this estate car/SUV hybrid is very long, so you won’t be surprised there's lots of leg room in the back seats, with enough space to compete with the limo-like Volkswagen Passat. While the boot isn't as big as that car's, at 545 litres there's enough room to cater for most families' needs.

The version quoted here is powered by the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol engine. It's a small but punchy, and it pulls this big car surprisingly well, with 0-62mph taking 10.4sec. It should be cheap to run, too; officially, it can average 48.1mpg.

Read our in-depth Citroën C5 X review

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Staggering straight-line performance
  • Surefooted yet playful handling
  • Classy interior

Weaknesses

  • Loud, but could sound more evocative
  • Needs to be driven hard to come alive
  • Expensive to buy

Model xDrive 530 Competition M | List price £87,495 | Target Price £76,204 | Saving £11,291 | Percentage discount 12.9%

Performance cars without electrically-assisted engines will soon become a thing of the past. And that's a shame, because the engine in the BMW M4 is fantastic: it's an absolute brute of a 503bhp twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, with 0-62mph dispatched in just 3.8sec during our tests. However, it's also subdued and quiet for driving around town, which makes it very easy to drive everyday.

Compared with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Audi RS5, the M4 is more engaging to drive. The steering responds in a more natural way than the hyper-alert set-up in the Giulia, plus it's far more playful in the corners than the RS5. Meanwhile, the interior feels solid and premium, while the heavily bolstered sport seats, M-specific seatbelts, bright red starter button and a sports steering wheel lend it a special feel.

Read our in-depth BMW M4 review

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Impressive range
  • Comfortable ride
  • Very refined

Weaknesses

  • Poor rear visibility
  • Back seats are uncomfortable on long trips
  • Teslas have a better charging infrastructure

Model EQE 350+ Sport Edition | List price £69,105 | Target Price £60,355 | Saving £8750 | Percentage discount 12.7%

The styling of the Mercedes EQE is low and rounded, and the reason for this is so it can slip through the air with minimal resistant to maximise efficiency and range. While the look is quite unconventional, the risky design has paid off in the range department, because in 350+ form it can travel up to 429 miles officially. So-equipped, it's one of the longest-range electric cars out there.

Another benefit of the EQE's slippery shape is refinement, because the interior is very quiet when driving on the motorway, with minimal wind or road noise interrupting the interior. Unfortunately, though, it's not the most practical of electric cars and the interior doesn't feel as well made as a BMW i4's.

Read our in-depth Mercedes EQE review

Our pick: 178kW Advance 87kWh 22kWCh 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 7.6 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 408 litres
Insurance group: 34A
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Stylish and high-quality interior
  • Even entry-level models are well equipped
  • 87kWh version has a competitive range

Weaknesses

  • Not great to drive
  • Rivals can charge quicker
  • So-so performance for an electric car

Model 87kWh Advance | List price £48,145 | Target Price £42,817 | Saving £5328 | Percentage discount 11.1%

The Ariya is Nissan's second electric car after the Nissan Leaf, and its first electric SUV. While it's not the most comfortable offering, it does have a high-quality interior and a good official range. Indeed, with the larger 87kWh battery fitted, the Ariya can travel up 329 miles between charges, which is more than a BMW iX3 and similar to the Genesis GV60 RWD.

When it comes to standard equipment, this mid-range Advance version is very well equipped. It comes with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a heated front windscreen as standard. You also get a powered tailgate, wireless phone-charging and rear privacy glass.

Read our in-depth Nissan Ariya review

Our pick: 1.5 VTi-TECH Excite 5dr

0-62mph: 10.9 sec
MPG/range: 42.7mpg
CO2 emissions: 149g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 448 litres
Insurance group: 15E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Low price
  • Roomy rear seats
  • Standard seven-year warranty

Weaknesses

  • Unsettled ride
  • Road noise
  • MG's reliability record

Model 1.5 VTi-Tech Excite | List price £18,335 | Target Price £16,584 | Saving £1751 | Percentage discount 9.6%

The trouble with SUVs is that they can be expensive, but not the MG ZS. It's one of the cheapest SUVs money can buy, but where it steps ahead of the likes of the Dacia Duster is with its interior, because it feels surprisingly upmarket with plenty of soft-touch materials used throughout.

Mind you, it's not all perfect, because the ride is unsettled at low and high speeds, plus it doesn't come equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) – not even as an option. That said, the entry-level Excite trim is well equipped otherwise, and includes a 10in infotainment touchscreen, LED headlights, air-conditioning and cruise control as standard.

Read our in-depth MG ZS review

Our pick: 2.0 GME Rubicon 4dr Auto8

MPG/range: 23.7mpg
CO2 emissions: 269g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 548 litres
Insurance group: 40D
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Fantastic off-road ability
  • Good standard equipment
  • Undercuts key rivals on price

Weaknesses

  • Noisy, regardless of speed and road surface
  • Expensive to run
  • Unsettled ride

Model 2.0 GME Rubicon | List price £63,125 | Target Price £57,451 | Saving £5674 | Percentage discount 9%

If you regularly drive off-road, the Wrangler is a compelling proposition. In our preferred Rubicon trim, it comes with chunky tyres, a locking front and rear differential (to further improve traction on slippery surfaces) and a detachable anti-roll bar (which allows for greater suspension travel when the going gets tough). There are much better family SUVs for driving on the road, though, because the Wrangler is rather compromised.

Indeed, the Wrangler's big, heavy axles amplify the effect of potholes and cracks in the road, plus they cause the body to shimmy in a way that you simply don’t experience in a Land Rover Defender. On the plus side, you do get plenty of creature comforts as standard; this Rubicon version comes with heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control.

Read our in-depth Jeep Wrangler review

Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance

Strengths

  • Great handling
  • Well equipped
  • Roomy rear seats

Weaknesses

  • Not that cheap to buy
  • Low-rent interior
  • Octavia has a much bigger boot

Model 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV 125 Titanium | List price £28,500 | Target Price £26,314 | Saving £2186 | Percentage discount 7.7%

The Ford Focus is – and always has been – one of the best driver’s cars in the family car class, with truly entertaining handling and a range of pokey engines. As well as sharp dynamics, the Focus rides comfortably, particularly in Titanium trim where it gets the standard suspension set-up (ST-Line trims get firmer suspension). Standard kit is generous with Titanium, too, because it gives you a large 12.3in touchscreen infotainment system, a heated windscreen, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry. 

Despite not being a lofty SUV, the Focus is very practical. In the back seats, there's more leg room than a Skoda Octavia, and even a six-footer should fit easily behind a similar-sized driver. The boot is also a good size, but at 358 litres it falls short of the vast load bay offered by the Octavia.

Read our in-depth Ford Focus review

Our pick: 1.5i Hybrid Centre Line 5dr CVT

0-62mph: 9.7 sec
MPG/range: 74.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 87g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 286 litres
Insurance group: 14E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Efficient engine
  • Slow depreciation
  • Comfortable ride

Weaknesses

  • Expensive to buy outright
  • Not as practical as some rivals
  • Yaris has longer warranty

Model 1.5i Hybrid Centre Line | List price £24,135 | Target Price £22,698 | Saving £1437 | Percentage discount 6%

If you played a game of 'spot the difference', you would struggle to differentiate between the Mazda 2 Hybrid and Toyota Yaris, because the former is based on the latter. Indeed, this means you get the same efficient hybrid system, which can average over 74mpg, according to official tests. Performance is decent, too; the hybrid system provides instant power from the electric motor when you put your foot down, so it doesn't leave you wanting for more when you need a sudden burst of pace.

To maximise the car's value, we recommend going for the entry-level Centre-Line trim. It gets plenty of standard equipment, including automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing wipers, air-con, a reversing camera and a 9.0in touchscreen infotainment system.

Read our in-depth Mazda 2 Hybrid review

Our pick: 1.0 TSI 115 Match 5dr

0-62mph: 9.9 sec
MPG/range: 51.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 125g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 440 litres
Insurance group: 18E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance

Strengths

  • Comfortable ride
  • Surprisingly spacious interior
  • Cheap running costs

Weaknesses

  • Rivals are more fun to drive
  • So-so interior quality
  • Reliability could be better

Model 1.0 TSI 115 Match | List price £26,880 | Target Price £25,398 | Saving £1482 | Percentage discount 5.5%

If you're wondering where the Taigo fits into Volkswagen's range, it's essentially a sleeker and more affordable version of the VW T-Roc. This means you get a similar line-up of engines, including our favourite: the 1.0 TSI 115. With 113bhp, it’s more flexible than the entry-level 94bhp version, plus it cuts the 0-62mph time down by a second to 9.9 seconds.

Like the T-Roc, the Taigo's ride is well sorted and it smooths out potholes and bumps without making occupants uncomfortable. It's also surprisingly spacious in the back, with enough head room for six-footers – despite the sloping coupé SUV-like roofline. 

Read our in-depth Volkswagen Taigo review

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FAQs

What is the cheapest month to buy a new car?

Generally speaking, discounts are at their highest in January and February, since these are typically slow months for new car sales, meaning car makers will offer larger discounts to tempt buyers through the door.

Depending on what sort of car you're looking for, though, the answer could change. If you're in the market for a convertible, for example, you could save more by buying one out of season, in the winter.

It's also worth keeping an eye on March and September, since these months are when the number plates given to new cars update – and some car makers will offer discounts related to getting the 'new registration'.

What is the cheapest way to buy a new car in the UK?

You can buy a new car with cash, by leasing, by using hire-purchase or on a PCP finance deal. Which version is best for you will ultimately depend on your individual circumstances, but there's a good reason why more than 80% of new car sales in the UK are made using PCP – doing so gets you into a new car for a low monthly price.

PCP works by only making the buyer finance a proportion of the car's total value – in this case, the value it's likely to lose during the duration of your contract. At the end of your PCP agreement, you can opt to buy the rest of your car outright, or you can hand it back to the dealer and take out a new contract.

What cars are offering zero percent financing?

Car manufacturers regularly rotate their best offers, making it hard to pinpoint those car makers who regularly offer such deals. They're tempting, though – a 0% finance deal can save you thousands over the cost of a typical four-year contract.

What is the best day to buy a new car?

This is tricky to narrow down, but Fridays are generally good bets for high discounts – especially if you're also timing your purchase to coincide with the end of the month, or the end of a sales quarter. Typically speaking, dealers will be happy to offer larger discounts if it helps them to meet their sales target.

Conversely, since Saturday and Sundays typically yield the highest footfall for dealers thanks to weekend buyers, these typically aren't the best days to go searching for a higher-than-average new car discount.