Best Cars to Buy on PCP (Personal Contract Purchase)

The best cars to buy on PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) are the ones that hold their value over time, helping you avoid negative equity at the end of your contract.

We’ve picked out some of the best cars to buy on PCP finance, from cost-effective city cars to electric models and family-sized SUVs. Each one offers solid value, predictable costs, and suits a range of lifestyles.

The cars featured in this guide:

• Hyundai i10
• MG 4
• Cupra Born
• BMW 1 Series
• Dacia Jogger
• Skoda Octavia Estate
• Kia Sportage
• Mazda CX-5

The cars we’ve chosen here are particularly good to buy through a PCP deal because they are still current, desirable models with up-to-date tech and safety features. If you’re buying used, these cars would have depreciated enough that you effectively save money over the cost of a brand-new model. And if you choose to buy new, many of these models are available on PCP with deposit contributions from their manufacturers that make them an excellent value for money.

The best small car to buy on PCP: Hyundai i10

On sale since 2020, the latest Hyundai i10 makes a lot of sense on a PCP deal because it can offer low monthly payments, yet it’s a current model with up-to-date features. You also get the reassurance of  Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which is a big upgrade on the three-year/60,000-mile warranty that is the industry average.

For a low price, you get a compact, five-door hatchback that looks good, will fit into tiny parking spaces and will cost you very little in fuel, insurance and tax. Compared with most other city cars, the i10 is comfortable thanks to its smooth ride and has a surprisingly spacious interior. It’s also well-equipped, with high-spec models having features such as heated front seats and even a heated steering wheel!

The best electric cars to buy on PCP: MG 4, Cupra Born

With so many new electric car models going on sale over recent years, there are now lots of great EVs that you can buy on PCP. The best electric cars offer a good battery range at very competitive prices. We’ve selected the Cupra Born and MG 4 as our top picks. The Cupra offers a fun drive and good practicality, while the MG is an extremely cost-effective yet stylish option. 

Cupra Born

The Cupra Born is a sporty electric hatchback that’s a great option as a PCP buy. While it looks a little pricey as an outright purchase, it can be more affordable with reasonable monthly PCP payments. 

Cupra is Spanish car maker Seat’s premium sub-brand and, like Audi and Skoda, it's part of the wider Volkswagen Group. The Cupra Born shares many parts with the Volkswagen ID.3 (the electric equivalent of a VW Golf, essentially), but it has a sportier look and feel. Think of it as an electric hot hatch. The Cupra Born certainly looks the part, with its massive alloy wheels and motorsport-style rear diffuser (the bit at the bottom of the bumper). It’s fun to drive, too, and depending on which version you go for, it’s either very nippy or downright quick. The maximum battery range is 360 miles for the longest-range model.

MG 4

MG has become known for its great-value electric cars in recent years, and the MG 4 is one of the more cost-effective mid-size electric cars you can buy on PCP. Whether you’re buying new or used, the MG4’s lower-than-average prices translate into monthly PCP payments that are affordable for a bang-up-to-date electric hatchback with a good range and lots of standard equipment. But there’s more to it than just bargain prices. The MG 4 is also good to drive, stylish and well-equipped, while warranty cover is a generous seven years or 80,000 miles. 

You have options with the MG 4, too. The most cost-effective models have a battery range of 217 miles and plenty of mod-cons, but you can pay a bit more for long-range versions that accept a faster charging speed and have a maximum range of about 280 miles. Or, for a bit more again, there’s an extended-range model capable of almost 330 miles on a full charge. 

Best family cars to buy on PCP: BMW 1 Series, Dacia Jogger

If you’re looking for a family car to buy on PCP, the chances are you’ll be on the lookout for good practicality and standout value for money. We’ve chosen the BMW 1 Series and the Dacia Jogger as our favourites here. The BMW is compact but has decent interior space and offers a real feel-good factor, while the Dacia Jogger is a roomy seven-seater at city car prices. 

BMW 1 Series

Monthly PCP deals on the 2019-2024 BMW 1 Series can make this compact family car a smart choice, putting you behind the wheel of a premium-badge car for a similar cost to some less upmarket options. 

As with most BMWs, the 1 Series feels smooth and responsive to drive. It also has an interior with the kind of sharp-edged design and posh materials that you’ll find in the brand’s larger, more expensive models. Granted, it’s not the most practical mid-size hatchback, but it has five doors, enough space for four adults to sit in comfort and as much boot space as a Ford Focus. Some very fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines take care of the sensible stuff, but if you want something more frivolous, the 1 Series is happy to oblige – as well as the option of M-Sport trim, you can choose versions with powerful turbocharged petrol engines and four-wheel drive.

Dacia Jogger

As one of the cheaper new seven-seater cars that you can buy in the UK, it’s no surprise that the Dacia Jogger is outstanding for value if you’re paying via PCP. In fact, if you want an up-to-date model that offers maximum practicality for minimum outlay, the Dacia Jogger is pretty much unbeatable. There’s a vast space in the first-row and second-row seats. Unlike some seven-seaters, there’s decent space for adults in the pair of third-row seats. Boot space is immense with the rear-most seats folded, or you can remove them altogether for a van-style load bay. 

All of this practicality is crammed into a car that’s both comparatively compact and has low running costs. There’s a hybrid model that gives almost 60mpg, and although the interior is a bit basic, it feels solidly built and is available with a good array of tech features.  

The best estate car to buy on PCP: Skoda Octavia Estate

Skoda cars generally offer more boot space and cost less than most similar cars. These two attributes make the Skoda Octavia Estate easy to recommend if you’re looking for an estate car to buy on PCP. For reasonable monthly payments, the Octavia Estate gives you a bigger boot than most estate cars from the category above. In fact, a capacity of 640 litres is more than you get in any current Audi, BMW or Volvo estate. 

The Octavia has more than just a huge load space in its favour, too. It’s also good to drive, feels well made and is available with some very fuel-efficient engines. If you’re looking for a practical all-rounder, there’s not much else to touch it at this price. 

The best SUVs to buy on PCP: Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5

Our pick of the best SUVs to buy on PCP is the Kia Sportage and the Mazda CX-5 because both offer a lot for what you’re likely to spend on monthly payments. The Kia gives you excellent practicality, futuristic looks and an unusually long warranty. The Mazda is stylish, enjoyable to drive, and, because it’s been around longer, it’s available for a surprisingly low cost overall.

Kia Sportage

Whether you get a new or used Sportage through a PCP, Kia’s long-than-average warranty provides real assurance, covering the car for seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes soonest. Many rival brands only provide three years or 60,000 miles of cover. 

There are many more reasons why the Sportage has become one of the UK’s best-selling cars. However, let’s not overlook the obvious because it’s a very stylish car inside and out. It also offers lots of interior space and a larger boot than many similar cars. It’s packed full of high-tech kit, too, and is available with handy features such as a heated steering wheel and a head-up display. There are front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options, and you get the choice of a mild-hybrid petrol engine as well as full-hybrid or plug-in hybrid models. 

Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the most appealing mid-size SUVs, offering sleeker looks, a more fun drive than many of the alternatives. Although it was introduced back in 2017, the second-generation CX-5 still stands out for its stunning exterior design and high-quality interior. 

There’s also lots of passenger space inside, while the boot is large and has handles at the side of it that allow you to flip the rear seats forward quickly if you need to carry larger loads. In all, it feels like you’re getting a lot for your money with the CX-5. Find the right PCP deal, and it’s an SUV that feels much more expensive than the price you’re paying.

PCP car finance examples: how much will it cost?

The cost of buying a car on a PCP depends on many factors, but here are two representative examples (taken from AutoTrader in July 2025) to give you an idea of what you might expect to pay. 

1. Small car – Hyundai i10

Car price: £14,999
Contract term: 48 months
Annual mileage limit: 10,000 miles
Deposit: £1,500
48 monthly payments: £222.53
Optional final payment: £6,116.40
Total amount of credit: £13,499
Total amount payable:£18,297.84
Representative APR: 8.4%
Total charges payable: £3,298.84
Fixed interest rate pa: 4.35%
Excess mileage fee: 14.9p/mile

2. SUV – Kia Sportage 

Car price: £25,000
Contract term: 48 months
Annual mileage limit: 10,000 miles
Deposit: £2,500
48 monthly payments: £371.33
Optional final payment: £10,553.81
Total amount of credit: £22,500
Total amount payable: £30,877.75
Representative APR: 8.9%
Total charges payable: £5,948.65
Fixed interest rate pa: 4.61%
Excess mileage fee: 14.9p/mile

Buying a car on PCP vs other car finance options

PCP is a popular way to pay for a car because you pay a fixed monthly cost that’s generally lower than with other forms of car finance. The way PCP works is that you’re essentially paying off only the amount of value that the car is expected to lose over the term of your contract. A PCP also gives you flexibility at the end of your agreement. You can either make a final balloon payment (and usually a small option-to-purchase fee) to keep the car, or put any equity in it towards a new PCP agreement for a newer car. Or you can, of course, hand the car back.

PCP finance can be a good fit if you’re not sure whether or not you want to own the car at the end of your contract, and if you want to keep your monthly payments as low as possible. However, it may not be suitable if you cover a lot of miles (most PCP agreements have a mileage limit), and you may end up paying more overall than with other forms of car finance if you choose to buy the car at the end of your agreement. 

Common questions about buying a car on PCP

Is buying a car on PCP a good idea?

Buying a car on PCP can be a good idea if it suits your needs, budget and circumstances. A PCP allows you to spread the cost of your car over several years, and because your monthly payments essentially cover only the cost of depreciation rather than the car’s total value, these are generally lower than with other forms of car finance. A PCP also gives you various options at the end of your agreement, allowing you to choose whether you make a ‘balloon’ payment to own the car, use any equity in it to start a new PCP agreement for a new car, or simply hand the car back. 

However, there’s an initial deposit to pay, usually of at least 10% of the car’s total value, and there will be a mileage limit during the term of your agreement. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the APR you pay will depend on your financial situation and history. 

If a PCP isn’t the right fit, you can also consider buying a car using hire purchase (HP). This form of car finance means you own the car at the end of your agreement and, unlike PCP, there’s no mileage limit. The Carmoola car finance calculator is a good way to find out how much you could expect to pay for a car using HP. 

How long should you keep a car on PCP?

Most PCP agreements are for between two and four years (although some can be longer), and it generally pays to keep your car for the length of the contract. While it is possible to end a PCP agreement early, it may not make financial sense to do so, especially if you’ve made less than 50% of your monthly payments.

What’s the best time to trade in a PCP car?

It is possible to trade in a car that you’re paying for with a PCP, and the best time to do it is usually towards the end of the contract. That’s because cars generally depreciate more slowly as they get older, so it’s possible that the car you’re paying for could be in positive equity in the final months (or years) of your agreement. Even if the car is in negative equity, you can still choose to trade it in for a different car or apply for a new PCP finance agreement if it no longer suits your needs or circumstances. 

Either way, you’ll need to ask your lender for a settlement figure and get your car valued. The difference between these figures, plus any additional fees you need to pay, will tell you how much (if anything) the trade-in will cost you.