Ahead of Arnold Clark’s Motability Roadshow, happening in Glasgow on 13th May, we’ve compiled a list of the top Motability buys in 2015.
Peugeot 2008 ACTIVE 1.4 HD170 5dr– Nil advance payment
The Peugeot 2008 is a stylish supermini SUV that can easily rival the likes of the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur. Running costs are low, with the 1.4-litre engine having CO2 emissions of 104g/km and fuel economy of 71mpg.
Practicality is good, as the seats fold in a 60:40 split, leaving a completely flat load area. Extra hidden storage is also available under the boot floor. With seats up, boot space is 360 litres, and with seats folded flat, this increases to 1,194 litres, which should be plenty of space to store your scooter or wheelchair.
The 2008 also scored a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, so safety is top class.
This year, the 2008 diesel had been reduced by £100, and with nil advance payment, it’s a great bargain.
List price: £16,090
Hyundai ix35 1.7 CRDI S– Nil advance payment
The Hyundai ix35 is another smart-looking SUV that offers excellent value for money. The ix35 has generous boot space of 591 litres, and the 60:40 split means this can be increased if you need more space.
Passenger space is plentiful, and the driving position is good. The driver’s seat is set quite low, making getting in and out easier than you might think for an SUV.
The 1.7-litre diesel gives a combined mpg of 53.3, and CO2 emissions are 139g/km, making road tax £130 per year.
Equipment is good, too, with 16-inch alloys, air conditioning, hill start assist, LED running lights and iPod connection all coming as standard.
You also have peace of mind with the 5-year Triple Care Package.
List price: £18,650
Renault Captur Dynamique S Nav Dci 90– Nil advance payment
Renault has further reduced its Motability prices, and the Captur Dynamique S Nav dCi 90 auto is now available with nil advance payment.
More versatile than a small hatchback, the Captur offers a similarly compact style with advanced features.
The heated front seats ensure a comfortable drive, and the rear parking sensors are a great help when reversing.
Interior space is great, and very versatile. The boot is large already at 455 litres, but moving the rear seats, which are mounted on runners, can increase it. The adjustable boot floor means you can change the load level so that getting heavy items in and out is a breeze.
Steering is light and responsive, and the 1.5-litre engine offers 78.5 combined mpg, and emits 95g/km of CO2.
List price: £18,495
Citroën DS3 1.6 e-HDi Airdream Dstyle+ 3dr– Nil advance payment
The Citroën DS3 offers a decent 285-litre boot, and you can fold the 60:40 rear seats to increase to 980 litres. There’s plenty of space up front, with a height adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel as standard.
The car is low to the ground, and drives well with good body control and grip.
Rear parking sensors come as standard, as do LED daytime running lights, cruise control, air conditioning and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The 1.6-litre engine manages 78.5mpg combined, and emits 95g/km of CO2.
List price: £16,640
Citroën C4 Cactus 1.2 PureTech Feel 5dr– £95 advance payment
Image by Kickaffe (Mario von Berg) (Own work, autoaid-Blog) CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A quirky choice, the C4 Cactus definitely stands out on the road. The three-cylinder entry-level version is a good choice for low running costs and economy figures.
It would be worth considering the optional driving aids, which range from park assist, reversing camera, hill assist, static cornering lights, panoramic glass roof and cruise control with speed limiter, to make driving as stress-free as possible.
Road handling is good, as the steering feels light and the soft seats are extremely comfortable.
With rear seats up, boot space is 358 litres, and with rear seats folded, this increases to 1170 litres.
The 1.2-litre petrol engine has 61.4mpg combined, and 105g/km CO2 emissions.
List price: £14,690
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SRi 3 dr– Nil advance payment
The new model Corsa is a great buy. The four-cylinder entry level 1.2 litre engine is smooth and flexible.
The Corsa isn’t as spacious as other cars on this list, but it’s the smallest, so that’s understandable.
Spec includes some handy features, such as hill start assist, brake assist, cruise control and a speed limiter, fingertip controls for audio system, heated windscreen and speed sensitive power steering among others.
The 1.2-litre petrol engine manages 53.3mpg and has CO2 emissions of 124g/km.
List price: £11,595
Volvo V40 D2 Cross Country Lux 5dr– Nil advance payment
The Volvo V40 D2 Cross Country Lux is the most expensive car on this list, but as the name suggests, it is luxurious.
The tough exterior styling is stunning, and the interior is very well built. Ride comfort and performance is really top-notch, and the high ride height gives it off-road capability.
The additional parking sensors would be worth specifying, as visibility out of the rear window is limited.
Boot space is 335 litres, increasing to 1,032 with rear seats folded.
The 1.6-litre D2 diesel is the most economical engine option, as it reaches 74.3mpg and emits 99g/km.
List price: £25,820
Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi 1 5dr– £99 advance payment
The Kia Sportage offers 4x4 looks without the fuel trade-off. The 1.7-litre diesel offers excellent fuel economy and CO2 emissions, with 54.3 combined mpg and 135g/km.
You can rest assured in the Sportage’s reliability, too, with Kia’s famous 7-year warranty.
Whilst the rear hasn’t got the most room, the driver and passenger seats have plenty, so getting in and out is easy up front. However, whilst the passengers in the back might not be able to stretch their legs too far, the boot space more than makes up for it. The boot holds 564 litres with rear seats in place, increasing to 1,353 with seats folded. There’s no load lip, either, so heavy and bulky items are easily moved in and out.
16-inch alloys, Bluetooth connectivity with voice activation and steering wheel audio controls are all notable items of standard equipment.
List price: £19,100
smart forfour prime 1.0 718bhp– Nil advance payment
For the environmentally conscious among you, look no further than the smart forfour hatchback.
Of course, running costs are low with smart, as road tax is free with CO2 emissions under 100g/km and combined mpg is 67.3 with the 1.0-litre petrol.
The kit list is impressive, with climate control, cruise control with speedtronic variable speed limiter, on-board computer, Bluetooth audio streaming, panoramic glass roof with sunblind, hill start assist, climate control and more all coming as standard.
The forfour isn’t as small as you might expect, and the rear seats fold easily to increase boot space from 315 to 975 litres.
Added charms such as the wide opening doors, tight turning circle and spacious four-seat interior all add up to make the smart forfour an excellent choice for a Motability customer.
List price: £12,315