There's a lot to think about when you're in the market for a new car. Many of us have preferences for certain brands or styles of vehicles, and obviously one of the major factors is the budget you have to spend. For many motorists, one of the main considerations is the ongoing costs of motoring after the initial purchase price. There's lots of information about the cheapest cars to keep on the road in terms of fuel efficient, insurance costs and other issues such as road tax and repairs. Here's our low-down on the most economical cars currently on the UK roads.
Toyota Prius - Hybrid Electric Sedan
The increasing awareness of climate change issues has led to a leap in the numbers of people buying electric or hybrid vehicles. A hybrid, like the Toyota Prius, does have a petrol engine but this only kicks in when the battery runs flat. Charging up your electric or hybrid car is a lot cheaper than filling the tank with fuel, and there's no road tax to pay on electric or hybrid vehicles either. Repair costs are lower as there are fewer moving parts to go wrong, but the downside to hybrid and electric is that the initial purchase price is often a little higher than petrol or diesel cars. If you're thinking about making the switch to a more sustainable way of motoring, then it's very important to work out the total costs to make sure the numbers work for you.
Ford Fiesta
It's one of the UK's most well-known brands and the classic Ford Fiesta consistently tops the list of the best-value cars to run. This is especially the case if you opt for one of the varieties with a smaller engine size which uses less fuel. Fiestas are widely available to buy either new or second hand, and parts are cheaply available too should you need to have your car repaired. When it comes to insurance, costs are often lower than for similar sizes of vehicle.
Dacia Sandero
Dacia is the Romanian subsidiary of French car company Renault, and its cars regularly top the lists of the cheapest new cars on the UK marker. The purchase price is the most attractive factor for many, and buying new means that you should have trouble-free motoring for the length of the manufacturer's warranty. It's perhaps not the most exciting car on the UK roads, but if you're looking for an economic option to get you from A to B, then you won't go far wrong.
Kia - Extended Warranty
Korean company Kia is the other brand to look at if you're after a hassle-free driving experience. Kia is best known for its extended warranty, which covers all new cars for either 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever is soonest. Regular wear and tear is excluded so you'll still have to change the tyres and have the car serviced, but if you book your three or four year old Kia in for its annual rest and it fails on a major mechanical issue, then the manufacturer will usually cover the cost of the repairs, the MOT retest and getting the car back on the road.
General Money Saving Tips
Buying the right car is just the starting point in saving money on your motoring. Shopping around for a new insurance quote each year is always better value than just going with the renewal quote. Try to cut your speed and drive smoothly rather than sharply accelerating and braking. And finally, ditching the car for short journeys and either walking or using public transport will help your bank balance and the planet at the same time.