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the-10-best-cars-for-less-than-pound250-per-month

These deals are easy to find, and because you're only financing part of the car's value, you can drive away something that would otherwise be out of your budget.

Indeed, for £250 per month, you can choose from small cars, family hatchbacks and even SUVs.

Here, we count down the top 10 deals from our Target Price research, which reveals the most you should pay for a new car. Each deal is based on 15% of the value of the car, combined with the manufacturer's finance discount allowance. All are for four years, with a limit of 8000 miles per year unless otherwise stated.

Editor's note: Images are purely illustrative and may not reflect specified trim levels

Slideshow story - please click right-hand arrow above to continue

These days, most new car purchases are made using a finance deal, and the most popular way of financing a car is through a personal contract purchase, or PCP.

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

HATCHBACK

Target Price cost per month: £203

Target Price (on the road): £17,601

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 3.9% APR

The Mini hatchback is consistently one of the best-selling new cars in the UK, and we like its low running costs and strong resale values. It's great to drive, although it's not as practical as some rival small cars.

10: Mini Cooper Classic II 3dr [Comfort Pack]

This version comes with Mini's Comfort Pack already added, which brings extra kit including climate controls, rear parking sensors and heated front seats.

10: Mini Cooper - interior

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF

Target Price cost per month: £217

Target Price (on the road): £19,710

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £2000 finance deposit allowance

For many, the Golf is the de facto family hatchback, and it remains one of our favourites. You get plenty of kit as standard, and, with so many models to choose from, you're bound to find one that suits you.

9: Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI EVO Match

This deal gets you our recommended 1.5-litre petrol engine and Match trim, which adds sat-nav on top of everything else that SE models come with. There's an all-new Golf coming soon, too.

9: Volkswagen Golf - interior

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

Target Price cost per month: £246

Target Price (on the road): £22,589

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 0% APR and £4000 finance deposit allowance

If you're looking for an executive saloon that's a bit left field from the usual German offerings, the stylish Mazda 6 is well worth considering. Its 2.0-litre petrol engine is punchy and economical, while Sport Nav+ trim comes with everything you could reasonably want.

8: Mazda 6 2.0 Sport Nav+ [Safety Pack]

As a bonus, you also get Mazda's Safety Pack thrown in, which gets you lane-keeping assistance, a driver attention monitor and adaptive LED headlights.

8: Mazda 6 - interior

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

BERLINGO

Target Price cost per month: £250

Target Price (on the road): £19,197

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £750 finance deposit allowance

The Berlingo is massive inside, so whether you need to transport five people or a boot full of luggage – or indeed both – it will safely swallow it all and still ask for more.

7: Citroën Berlingo 1.5 BlueHDi 100 Feel M

The 1.5-litre diesel engine you get here is a good bet if you'll be covering lots of motorway miles, while our recommended Feel specification comes with air conditioning, cruise control and an 8.0 touchscreen infotainment system.

7: Citroën Berlingo - interior

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

FIESTA ST

Target Price cost per month: £220

Target Price (on the road): £20,124

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 2.9% APR and £1000 finance deposit allowance

You might think that a hot hatchback like the Fiesta ST would have only niche appeal, but as well as being outrageously good fun to drive, the Fiesta is also fairly practical.

6: Ford Fiesta ST 1.5 Ecoboost ST-2 [Performance Pack] Nav 3dr

The 1.5-litre petrol engine under the bonnet sounds fantastic and revs freely, and when combined with the Fiesta ST's excellent front-end grip and engaging handling, makes this a very fun car to drive quickly. Come rain or shine, you'll have a smile on your face.

6: Ford Fiesta ST - interior

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

KAROQ

Target Price cost per month: £206

Target Price (on the road): £21,817

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £1750 finance deposit allowance

Given the success of the larger Kodiaq, it seemed inevitable that Skoda's second SUV effort, the Karoq, would be similarly good.

5: Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI SE DSG

This replacement for the Yeti (and rival to the Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008) is comfortable and practical, and even entry-level SE models come with lots of toys, including dual-zone climate control and an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen. The&nbsp;DSG version also comes with an automatic gearbox.

5: Skoda Karoq - interior

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Target Price cost per month: £207

Target Price (on the road): £21,984

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 6.3% APR and £2150 finance deposit allowance

Despite being one of the oldest cars in the family car class, the Audi A3 is still one of the best – after all, it's a former Car of the Year.

4: Audi A3 30 TFSI 116 Sport [Tech Pack]

It's comfortable, spacious, good to drive and well equipped, and this petrol-engined version is nicely peppy too.

4: Audi A3 - interior

OCTAVIA

Target Price cost per month: £207

Target Price (on the road): £18,291

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £2500 finance deposit allowance

The Octavia is a fantastic family car; that's why it gets our maximum five-star rating.

3: Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI SE Drive

There are more stylish options, but if your priorities are a comfortable ride, loads of space and generous standard equipment at a very affordable price, little else gets close.

3: Skoda Octavia - interior

T-CROSS

Target Price cost per month: £220

Target Price (on the road): £18,671

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 4.9% APR and £750 finance deposit allowance

The T-Cross is the best small SUV you can buy right now. Why? Well, it's spacious inside, comes with an impressive array of safety equipment and has a smooth ride, so no matter whether you're sticking to the city or venturing further afield, you'll arrive unflustered.

2: Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 SEL

Add in the fact that the T-Cross is easy to drive and offers competitive running costs, and it's very easy to recommend.

2: Volkswagen T-Cross - interior

SCALA

Target Price cost per month: £207

Target Price (on the road): £17,485

The deal: 4 years PCP finance with 5.9% APR and £2250 finance deposit allowance

Think of the Scala is being a cheaper version of the Volkswagen Golf, and you won't be far wrong. Don't think that cheap can't make you cheerful, though, because the Scala is spacious inside, has a good infotainment system and a comfortable ride.

1: Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI SE L

Even better, our recommended SE L cars come with 17in alloy wheels, LED rear lights and climate controls.

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1: Skoda Scala - interior

The 10 best cars for less than £250 per month

By buying your next car using a PCP finance deal, you could end up driving something that you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. These are our top 10 cars for less than £250 per month...

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