Best child-friendly used cars to lease for under £300

Gone are the days when searching for a family car meant looking for the most practical Estate or people carrier (MPV). Today, your options for the best cheap child-friendly used cars to lease doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on design or performance.

Many reliable used car models come with a lower leasing price tag – which is always important if you’re looking for a frugal deal ahead of welcoming a new addition to the family.

There are several options for a roadworthy set of wheels with your loved ones’ safety and comfort in mind. Our zero-deposit used car deals offer plenty of choice for drivers on a budget; from the spacious Vauxhall Insignia to the equipment and feature-savvy Kia Sportage, and for those who want a family car that does it all, there’s the Suzuki Vitara

With great value for money – and zero deposit – here are the best cheap child-friendly used cars to lease under £300 per month, all available now at Zero Deposit Car Leasing:

Seat Leon

1.6 TDI 110 SE 5dr [Technology Pack]

  • What You’ll Love: Child-friendly safety features and upmarket feel
  • Engine: 1.6, 4cyl, 110bhp 
  • Economy: 70.6mpg
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Gearbox: Manual
  • CO2: 102g/km
  • NCAP Child Occupant Protection: 92%
  • Price: From £283 (5000 annual mileage / 48 months)

When it comes to hatchback class family cars, the Seat Leon has all the quality and highest safety standards that you would expect from an upmarket vehicle. With a layout that easily rivals the Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot 308, the Leon is modern, and spacious, designed with good legroom and a 380-litre boot (more than than its other competitors – the Volvo V40 and Ford Focus) to ensure that your family holidays and shopping sprees are well catered to. 

In the child-safety feature stakes, the hatchback comes out on top with a 92 percent NCAP Child Occupant Protection rating. The rear ISOFIX attachment provides easy access for child car seat preparation, a feature that also helps to stop the child seat tipping forward in an emergency or accident. The child-proof door locks all work to ensure seamless security too. 

The Seat Leon is a combination of great style, practicality and drivability. It offers a more appealing and engaging drive for small and growing families.

Renault Captur

0.9 TCE 90 Expression+ 5dr

  • What You’ll Love: Economical and spacious
  • Engine: 2.0, 4cyl, 110bhp 
  • Economy: 55.4mpg
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Gearbox: Manual
  • CO2: 114g/km
  • NCAP Child Occupant Safety Rating: 83%
  • Price: From £249 (5000 annual mileage / 48 months)

A contender for small families looking for a child-friendly mini SUV crossover; the Renault Captur brings style, comfort and economical advantage together in one smooth-driving vehicle. Packing a thrifty engine, the Captur is ideal for getting around town and short family trips that don’t require frequent motorway travel. 

The Captur offers a loftier view with impressive boot space for its size – 377 litres and a bump up to 455 litres when rear seats slide forwards. It’s great for big grocery shops with room to spare. A good alternative to the Nissan Juke or Peugeot 2008, the Captur provides a mix of performance and economy with fun personalisation features.

With ISOFIX on front passenger and rear outer seats as well as rear-door child-safety locks, the Captur scores a respectable 83 percent for its NCAP Child Occupant Safety rating. A frugal choice in the family car market for those who need a dependable vehicle.

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Vauxhall Insignia 

1.6 CDTi EcoFLEX Design 5dr

  • What You’ll Love: Good for long-distance driving
  • Engine: 1.6, 4cyl, 134bhp 
  • Economy: 68.9mpg
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Gearbox: Manual
  • CO2: 109g/km
  • NCAP Child Occupant Protection: 85%
  • Price: From £240 (5000 annual mileage / 48 months)

Dependable and really good value for money, this five-door family hatchback is a smart option for small families who are looking for comfort and reliability packed into a pleasing design. The Vauxhall Insignia is not only nice to look at though – it’s rated as one of the most comfortable cars to sit in. In fact, we would highly recommend going for the optional fitted ergonomic sports seats to make your driving position as relaxed as possible. 

With an 83 percent NCAP Child Occupant Protection rating, you’ll find ISOFIX on front passenger and rear outer seats for optimum child car safety. For those who find themselves constantly running errands, let’s go back to comfort. Features as simple as the heating and climate control are applauded for always being spot-on; hit ‘Auto’ mode and set your preferred temperature and you likely won’t need to change it again. 

The diesel engine provides well-weighted steering and agile handling. Road noise is completely minimised, making this a viable option for when you take the family on long-distance drives. On our list of best cheap child-friendly used cars to lease, the Insignia is a great choice.

Browse all Vauxhall Insignia leasing deals on Zero Deposit Car Leasing

Kia Sportage 

1.7 CRDi ISG 1 5dr

  • What You’ll Love: Practical, and reliable with few repairs needed
  • Engine: 1.7, 4cyl, 114bhp 
  • Economy: 61.4mpg
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Gearbox: Manual
  • CO2: 119g/km
  • NCAP Child Occupant Protection: 83%
  • Price: From £292 (5000 annual mileage / 48 months)

The long list of standard equipment that comes with the Kia Sportage will be reason enough for many people to choose this great all-round family SUV. It’s the Sportage’s strong build and attractive design that you’ll come for, and it’s the interior space and decent engine that you’ll stay for. 

The Sportage boasts Kia’s user-friendly infotainment interface and navigation as well as LED running lights, and redesigned wheels. All making it a worthy alternative to its main rivals – the Nissan Qashqai and the Volkswagen Tiguan. Packing for a family road trip, stocking up on extra weekly groceries, or lugging around the kids’ favourite toys won’t be a problem in the Sportage. With an enormous 564-litre seats-up boot capacity, it conquers as king of mainstream family-friendly SUVs when it comes to space.

Popular for its reliability thanks to Kia’s seven year warranty, the Sportage is also known for its infrequent repairs. It’s a practical and smart choice that will see you through to the end of your lease with few worries.

Browse all Kia Sportage leasing deals on Zero Deposit Car Leasing

Suzuki Vitara

1.6 SZ-T 5dr 

  • What You’ll Love: Smooth control and plenty of space 
  • Engine: 1.6, 4cyl, 120bhp 
  • Economy: 53.3mpg
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Gearbox: Manual
  • CO2: 123g/km
  • NCAP Child Occupant Safety Rating: 85%
  • Price: From £286 (5000 annual mileage / 48 months)

If you’re a family who loves the outdoors and staying active, the rugged and stylish Suzuki Vitara ticks all the boxes of what a smaller and slicker SUV should deliver. With excellent off-road ability, the car also offers pocket-friendly fuel consumption as one of the few turbocharged petrol vehicles in a category still dominated by diesel.

Don’t let the Vitara’s light presence deceive you; there is ample space for child car seats and all the travelling toys your little ones need. With a 375-litre boot capacity and split-folding rear seats that expand the space to 1,160 litres – you have room for luggage, hiking gear, large supermarket shops and everything in between. 

Engineered to endure the demands of family life – and breeze over speed bumps – the Vitara is a great choice for small and growing families who care more about a comfortable, fun, and safe drive, rather than the premium classification.

Browse all Suzuki Vitara leasing deals on Zero Deposit Car Leasing

Nissan Qashqai

1.5 DCi Acenta Premium 5dr

  • What You’ll Love: Reduced running costs and safety features
  • Engine: 1.5, 4cyl, 115bhp 
  • Economy: 74.3mpg
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Gearbox: Manual
  • CO2: 99g/km
  • NCAP Child Occupant Safety Rating: 83%
  • Price: From £263 (5000 annual mileage / 48 months)

Looking for a great all-rounder that’s well built with low running costs? Meet one of our best selling SUVs, the Nissan Qashqai. This highly reliable and efficient car makes motorway trips really enjoyable. You can pack up with the family and venture out in comfort. Its countless safety features include spacious child-friendly interiors with ISOFIX slots as standard. 

The Qashqai comes with low motoring costs, thanks to its 99g/km and 74mpg economy. Noise levels are also cut by improved aerodynamics and better manufacturing quality. A standard 430-litre capacity in the boot is every buggy-owner’s dream, especially if you’re a parent-on-the-go doing nursery pick-ups and supermarket stops in the same afternoon! 

Raising the bar for reduced running costs, top-notch safety features, and upmarket design, the Qashqai is a refined choice for on our best cheap child-friendly used cars to lease.

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST FAMILY CAR FOR YOU

  1. Safety

Check whether the car has been awarded a maximum five star Euro NCAP rating. This is the standardised crash safety scoring system across all new cars on sale in Europe. But, also look into the car’s individual child-safety features, especially for your own requirements. For example, car seat preparation fixtures. 

  1. Shape

Family cars were traditionally tall and boxy, but now you have the option to lease more appealing child-friendly vehicles that allow you to maximise every last litre of space. Just ensure that you have a commanding driving position which allows you to safely view the road ahead. Also, a car that allows easy loading and installing of child car seats and buggies.

  1. Seats

It’s critical you check the flexibility of those rear seats. Are they all the same size, so you can avoid any arguments about who sits in the middle? Can you slide them forward, making it easier for mum and dad up front to pass things back? Are they easy to tumble and fold? How many ISOFIX points are there for you to fit child car seats? These are important seat features to look for in a family vehicle. 

  1. Storage

Most cars come with plenty of storage options. Depending on your family size and the types of trips you take, be sure to check boot capacity. Also check for other cubbies where you can store toys and games when the car is parked up.  Also, are these areas easy to reach if you have any spillages when driving? 

  1. Specification

Specifying your vehicle correctly will help make your life easier, especially if you are a busy parent. Some nifty things to remember include; dark cabin materials are better at hiding stains and spillages. Also consider options such as a reversing camera in addition to reversing sensors. Hill-hold assist will help to prevent the car from rolling back. Plus a panoramic sunroof increases your sense of space and light.

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