Nine best cars to lease for under £300 a month

Leasing is a great way to spread the cost of the car you want to drive. And if you’re new to leasing, you may be surprised at what you can get for under £300 a month. With a wealth of choice, whether you’re looking for a premium brand, your first electric car, a saloon or a sports car – you’ll find something available for you at an affordable price. So without further ado, here is our lineup of the best cars to lease for under £300 a month.

Volkswagen T-Roc

With its striking poise and impressive pace, Volkswagen’s smallest SUV is one of the most comfortable in its class. 

It makes for a great family car –  reliable and safe – but also pleasingly has the swagger of a Golf.

This SEL model available to lease has a bold design along with lots of tech, featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, in-built navigation along with ‘Active Info Display’, a 10.3-inch TFT instrument binnacle display and LED headlights. 

It’s no slouch either, tackling 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds. The petrol-powered engine gives 42.2mpg, which is good for a car of this size. 

It also isn’t too expensive to insure, falling into insurance group 18, so can yield pretty decent premiums, even for young drivers.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

A flagship model for Mercedes-Benz, the A-Class screams luxury. Elegant on the inside and smooth on the outside. 

Pitched directly against sporty premium rivals such as Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1 Series, its driving features combined with all-round efficiency and a plethora of interior tech makes it quite a challenger in this class.

The only issue? It’s a bit on the expensive side. This is why leasing is a great affordable way to get your hands on it.

This particular model – the A180 SE – offers strong fuel efficiency, giving 47.9 mpg. It’s also kinder to the environment, emitting as little as 120g/km.

Overall then, it’s an exceptional car that never leaves you disappointed. 

Nissan Leaf

If you’re looking to go electric, then a Nissan Leaf could be a good bet. 

After selling over a quarter of a million around the world, it’s fair to say their popularity is due to being exceptionally user-friendly and an all-round great car to drive.

This Leaf in question sports a 40kWh lithium-ion battery, producing 110kw – around 148bhp. 

So while it’s not the fastest hatchback out there, it’s still pretty nippy, managing an entirely respectable 0-62mph time of 8.0 seconds. 

And if you want your electric car to look the part, the Leaf has that down as well, with a futuristic exterior design that gives way to a premium-feel interior. 

It also has a range of 239 miles, so not so shabby in that department either.

Seat Leon

It looks good, it’s fuel-efficient, and it’s packed full of equipment. So it doesn’t take a wild stretch of the imagination to understand why the Seat Leon continues to be so popular. 

With sports suspension, this Leon handles incredibly well and is a smooth and quiet drive. It’s also very roomy inside, making it an incredibly comfortable car – particularly if you’re faced with longer journeys. 

Relatively cheap to run thanks to its frugal petrol engine, it’s not lacking in power either, with a top speed of 135 mph and tackling 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds. 

Falling into insurance group 14, it can be relatively cheap to insure. However, other factors such as driver’s age and history will also factor into this cost. 

Ford Kuga

With its athletic handling, smart looks and highly sophisticated safety provisions, the Ford Kuga is one of the best SUVs in its class. 

Ford has worked hard to make the Kuga economical to run. This 1.5 EcoBlue 120PS diesel engine manages up to 55.2mpg. 

There’s also the Ford Service App you can download for free to your phone, helping you to make maintenance bookings, find petrol stations and even use the ‘Park Me’ feature, which helps you remember where you left the car. 

The ST-Line model also adds some little luxuries to the mix, such as 19-inch alloys, a panoramic roof, heated front seats and steering wheel.

All in all, if you’re looking for a spacious, robust SUV that’s excellent value for money, the Kuga should definitely be on your want list.

Audi A3 Sportback

If you’re looking for an upmarket car that won’t cost a lot to run, the Audi A3 represents excellent value for money, all tied up in a glossy little package. 

The A3 has been a huge success for Audi and it’s easy to see why. Yes, there’s the image and the tech that Audi is known and loved for, but it’s simply a fuss-free, well-engineered car. It handles engagingly well and has plenty of space for the family.

This 30 TFSI model is very economical and efficient, too, boasting 50.4mpg and 126g/km of CO2s. 

Desirably drivable, the Audi A3 is undoubtedly one of the best premium hatchbacks out there today.

BMW 1 Series

Whether you’re a BMW fan or not, there’s no denying this is a brand that makes great cars. And the 1 Series is no exception. 

It’s the friendly all-rounder. The car that’s just as much fun to weave down long, windy country roads as it is to nip to the shops. 

It feels sporty, it looks sporty and yet it’s a great family car. 

Even when you’re sitting in traffic, it’s comfortable, strewn with soft-touch surfaces and solid, chunky fixtures and fittings. You won’t find any flimsy materials in this cabin. 

This 138bhp 118i model has a top speed of 132mph and decent quoted fuel consumption figures of between 42.2 and 47.1mpg. 

It’s also one of the most reliable cars in its class, making it even more of a cost-effective choice.

Peugeot 2008 Estate

In many ways, the Peugeot 2008 is a leader in its class. Where it falls down is that it’s expensive to buy. This is one of several reasons why this is a great car to lease with lower monthly payments, but without having to shell out a huge up-front cost.

So why is it class-leading? Well, starting from the outside, there’s its fresh, modern design, which leads to a feature-rich cabin with enough space to sit comfortable and relaxed while driving. 

Sporting a lively 129bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, it’s impressively smooth, punchy and quick. It’s decent to insure too, falling into group 17.

Kia Niro

Sitting on the fence as to whether you should drive an electric car or not? The Kia Niro might be your answer. 

This is the affordable hybrid that combines fashion and tech with frugality and eco-friendliness. 

Switching between electric and petrol power, it’s great for saving fuel. It’s pretty efficient too, especially around town – so ideal for everyday use. 

Inside you’re greeted by a large 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a digital instrument cluster. 

It’s comfortable and spacious, put together with soft-touch materials and well-built robust plastics.

It’s not wildly exciting to drive, but if you’re looking for a cost-efficient, roomy car to take you on frequent trips, the Kia Niro ticks all the boxes. 

Find the right car for you 

If nothing above takes your fancy, we have thousands of other great-value lease deals available to help you save. Check out our special offers today.