THE cheapest motors Brits can run in 2026 have been revealed – including Europe’s top seller and an EV that’ll set you back a mere 22p per a mile.
In general, when buying a new car on a tight budget, it is a mistake to focus only on the sticker price or a tempting finance deal – as the real expense is what the car costs you to own over time.
That includes insurance, fuel or electricity, servicing and maintenance, as well as Vehicle Excise Duty and even depreciation.
Rolled together, these costs create a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) figure, which is easy to calculate in hindsight – but difficult to forecast accurately.
To help, Auto Express has worked with CAP HPI, an industry valuation specialist whose depreciation predictions are widely used across the motor trade and by manufacturers when setting finance pricing.
And by using this model, they have ranked the cheapest new motors to run over 36 months and 30,000 miles with an estimated pence-per-mile figure, a monthly cost and a three-year total.
Coming in at the very cheapest is the Citroen Ami which costs a mere 22.17p per mile – about £6,650 over three years.
Really just an ultra-compact electric urban solution rather than a normal car, the Ami is legally classed as a quadricycle.
That means its extremely low running cost comes with major compromises, including very limited comfort, a short range of just over 46 miles and a snail-like 28mph top speed, which effectively confines it to low-speed town use and modest mileage.
In second place, the Dacia Spring is perhaps a much more conventional everyday electric car – while still being one of the cheapest EVs you can buy.
Basic but useful, it does include air conditioning and rear seats, as well as an official range of about 140 miles.
The Leapmotor T03 comes in just behind the Spring, offering a newer, frugal small Chinese EV with an achievable range around 165 miles.
Although insurance is relatively expensive for its class, it gives back with strong warranty cover and low depreciation to help keep overall costs down.
In fourth, the Renault 5 has wowed experts and fans with its retro style and genuine practicality – including good standard equipment such as a heat pump.
For those not looking for an EV, the Dacia Sandero – Europe’s top selling car in 2025 -ranks as the cheapest non-electric car, pairing low purchase price with decent refinement and equipment compared with earlier Sanderos.
The Kia Picanto follows as another good choice for those after a small petrol city car that feels solid and surprisingly premium inside.
It’s also backed by Kia’s brilliant seven-year warranty, although the specific low-cost version relies on a modest 66bhp 1.0-litre engine that prioritises low emissions and good economy over performance.
Perhaps the most surprising motor on the list is the Dacia Jogger – a larger, family-sized set of wheels with a big cabin and seven-seat practicality, showing that low running costs are not limited to tiny cars.
The cheapest-to-run version is the hybrid, which can operate on electric power briefly around town before relying on its petrol engine.
And rounding off the list is the Citroen e-C3, another small EV with an alluring list price and generous standard kit for the segment.
A longer-range battery option is available, the car is best suited to urban driving and shorter trips.
