Download - Cheapest cars to insure: 2014 UK

Dacia Sandero 1.2

It’s no surprise to find the Sandero is cheap to run, given Dacia’s budget philosophy. Over the course of our test, we returned a reasonable 36.6mpg fuel economy. And while the Sandero doesn’t benefit from efficiency-boosting stop-start technology, it emits just 116g/km of CO2, which means an annual tax disc costs £20. Further financial incentives include a £489 servicing pack that takes care of mechanical maintenance for three years (up to 36,000 miles), plus decent residual values. Lower-spec Dacias perform best at resale, with some holding on to 50 per cent of their new price after three years. The Laureate version is predicted to retain 44.3 per cent.

FOR:

Cheap to buy, no haggle pricing, big boot

AGAINST:

Old fashioned handling, breathless 1.2-litre petrol, low rent interior

Cheapest cars to insure: 2014

Hyundai i10 1.0

No i10 should be particularly expensive to buy or run, with its price and equipment levels competitive in the segment. In standard form, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine returns 60.1mpg and emits 108g/km of CO2. This improves to 61.4mpg and 106g/km if you opt for the stop-start equipped model, or goes up to 47.1mpg and 137g/km if you take the four-speed automatic gearbox. If economy is a priority, there’s a 1.0-litre BlueDrive model, which is available as a manual and in SE trim only. It returns a claimed 65.7mpg and 98g/km. The 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine isn’t essential, but offers extra power. However, mpg falls to 57.6mpg with a manual gearbox (45.6mpg with an auto) and CO2 rises to 114g/km and 142g/km respectively. The i10 insurance group figures have yet to be revealed.

FOR:

Comfortable ride, impressive space, sharp handling

AGAINST:

Bland exterior styling, some hard interior plastics, ideal driving position tricky to find


Nissan Pixo 1.0

This is the one area where the Pixo puts in a respectable showing. Aside from its low purchase price, it should also be cheap to tax, fuel, service and insure. The 1.0-litre petrol engine will return 60mpg as long as you don't push it hard, and although the Pixo's 103g/km CO2 output places it just above the threshold for free road tax, your annual VED bill won't break the bank. Tax will be slightly higher if you choose the automatic gearbox, which increases the CO2 emissions figure to 122g/km.

FOR:

Extremely cheap, easy to drive, low running costs

AGAINST:

Bland styling, not very practical, noisy


Peugeot Bipper Tepee

The Bipper Tepee emits just 119g/km of CO2 and has an average fuel consumption figure of 65.6mpg. This means low running costs and road tax will be cheap, too. A stop-start system is fitted as standard, as is a diesel particulate filter. Servicing costs should be pretty low, too, thanks to Peugeot's range of fixed-cost deals.

FOR:

Sliding doors, lots of space, low running costs

AGAINST:

Van-like looks, cheap interior, very little safety kit


Peugeot Partner Tepee 1.6 VTi

The mid-range diesel is available with a stop-start system, for maximum fuel efficiency. Peugeot claims an average fuel economy figure of 59mpg and CO2 emissions of 125g/km. This means it's cheap to tax, too. Even the range-topping diesel can manage 53mpg and 144g/km of Co2. The more powerful petrol is less impressive, though, with fuel economy of just 39mpg and Co2 emissions of 169g/km. Servicing costs should be reasonable, thanks to Peugeot's range of fixed-price offers.

FOR:

Very spacious, sliding doors, low price tag

AGAINST:

Cheap interior, very little kit, low-powered petrol


SEAT Mii

The Mii is remarkably efficient for a petrol car. The standard 59bhp model offers claimed economy of 62.8mpg and emits 105g/km of CO2, while the higher-powered model manages 60.1mpg and 108g/km. The Mii Ecomotive is the only model to squeeze under the 100g/km tax-free threshold, though. That gets a fuel-saving stop-start system and is only available with tiny steel wheels, which helps it to return a claimed fuel economy figure of 68.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 96g/km. Other running costs like insurance, parts and servicing should be minimal, which the Mii a perfect car for first time buyers. SEAT also offers a range of deals, such as free servicing and competitive finance rates, but it’s a shame that entry-level cars are so poorly equipped

FOR:

Spacious interior, excellent build quality, supple ride

AGAINST:

Mean standard kit, pop-out rear windows on five-door


Skoda Citigo

The Skoda Citigo costs less to buy than its VW up! and SEAT Mii sister cars, and it also comes with a little more kit. All versions of the Citigo shouldn’t cost too much to run; expect real-world fuel economy of over 50mpg. CO2 emissions are low, too, especially with the start/stop equipped Greentech models. These dip below the magic 100g/km figure, so they’re exempt from road tax and the London congestion charge. Skoda is also pushing hard to keep insurance costs down – especially important as they’re targeting younger drivers – plus there’s the option of a pre-paid servicing pack that takes care of mechanical maintenance for three years.

FOR:

Grown up driving experience, low running costs, practicality

AGAINST:

Lack of kit on entry-level model, firm ride, pop out rear windows


Smart ForTwo

Whichever engine you go for, the ForTwo is fairly efficient. The diesel engine and the lowest powered petrol unit are both exempt from the Congestion Charge and road tax. The 800cc diesel engine offers the best economy – it’s capable of 86mpg and emits just 86g/km CO2. The 71bhp micro hybrid drive petrol model isn’t quite as frugal but still offers reasonable figures. It can return 65.7mpg and emits 98g/km CO2. The 84bhp petrol model is capable of 57.6mpg and 115g/km and the 102bhp Brabus edition will do 54.3mpg and 119g/km CO2. There is also the Electric Drive model, for which Smart offers a sale&care battery lease scheme that reduces the car’s list price in return for monthly payments.

FOR:

Ideal city car, excellent electric version, efficient diesel

AGAINST:

Lacks cabin space, jerky auto, four-star Euro NCAP rating


Vauxhall Corsa

Superminis should be cheap to run – and, on the whole, the Corsa doesn’t disappoint. The most efficient version is the three-door 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX, which was updated at the end of 2012 and now achieves 85.6mpg while emitting 88g/km, making it 2.4mpg more efficient and 6g/km cleaner than the previous model. The five-door version is said to return 83.1mpg and 89g/km. These are impressive figures, but are still beaten by the Ford Fiesta Econetic and Hyundai i20 Blue, which manage to emit just 87g/km and 84g/km respectively. Elsewhere in the range, even the least efficient model - the 1.4-litre petrol - is good for 50mpg and emissions of less than 130g/km. However, the one exception is the VXR model, which returns 38.7mpg and emits172g/km of CO2. Long 20,000-mile service intervals keep dealer visits to a minimum, and Vauxhall service costs are reasonable. Sadly, Vauxhall charges a high price for the Corsa. The entry-level Expression is sparsely equipped, and while the range-toppers are groaning with equipment, they are pricey. Depreciation is also a killer. The desirable Polo offers far better resale values, but it can’t even match mainstream rivals like the Ford Fiesta.

FOR:

Stylish looks, solid interior, decent practicality

AGAINST:

Wooden driving experience, rough engines, high price tag


Volkswagen Up!

As all versions come with a tiny 999cc, three-cylinder petrol engine, the up! will be relatively cheap to run. The lower-powered BlueMotion model is the most efficient, with a claimed average fuel consumption figure of 68.9mpg and CO2 emissions of just 95g/km. The higher-powered BlueMotion model returns 67.3mpg and emits 98g/km, but even the higher-powered non-BlueMotion model manages 60.mpg, although it does emit 108g/km of CO2. This means that it won’t cost anything to tax in the first year and very little afterwards, but crucially for some, that it isn’t exempt from the London Congestion Charge. The ASG automatic gearbox actually improves emissions by 2g/km in the non-BlueMotion models, but it is jerky so we’d recommend sticking with the manual. The up! has better predicted residual values than either of its cousins, retaining more than 50 per cent of its value over three years. Thanks to a 18.7kWh lithium-ion battery in the e-up! it can cover over 90 miles on a single charge, and can be charged up to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. Prices for the e-up! start at £19,250 and that includes the £5,000 government grant for buying a plug-in car. The inital cost of buying the e-up! is steep but once paid for you don't have the expense of fuel or road tax and the car is even expempt from the London congestion charge.

FOR:

Great to drive, stylish design, low running costs

AGAINST:

Entry-level versions are very basic, small boot, lack of torque

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk
