The five best value new cars on sale: Which? reveals how its formula makes these the standout choices

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

If you're looking to buy a new car and value for money is top of your priorities, then sit tight as we can tell you which showrooms you really need to visit.
New model prices have been rocketing in recent years. So much so, in fact, that the cheapest Mini on sale in 2025 will set you back a scarcely believable £25,265. That's no mini price for what is a mini vehicle.
Luckily, there are deals to be had - if you're looking in the right dealerships.
And these five motors have been named the best value new options around based on a number of variables, most importantly the size of the discount you can typically haggle with a salesman or woman.
The list has been created by Which? - the consumer group that tests over 100 cars a year using a repeated process but also collects data on the safety level of each model and how reliable existing owners have found them to be.
All of this is data has been churned through its in-house algorithm to identify which motors present the best combination of performance, dependence and affordability.
It does this every six months to track where the best value can be found across the market. These are the five cars it has highlighted as the standout options right now...
The cars earning 'Great Value' status from the consumer watchdog have to meet a set of specific criteria.
Firstly, they have to be cheaper on average than rivals.
How does it work out this important factor? It claims to use a combination of 'list price analysis' and a team of secret shoppers, who doorstep showrooms to find out how much can be haggled off the price of new models.
It then calculates an average lowest price over the past six months for each car tested - a price based on the lowest trim level available, taking into account dealer discounts and manufacturer contributions that buyers are likely to encounter while purchasing.
If a car's lowest price is significantly lower than the average for its class, it can only then be considered for the Great Value moniker.
However, to earn the moniker, a car also needs to score at least 65 per cent in Which?'s robust laboratory-based test - which incorporates real-world measurements for emissions, boot capacity, all-round visibility and much more.
If tested by Euro NCAP, it must have at least a three-star rating, and it can only gain the Great Value stamp if it has a minimum of a three-star score for reliability in the latest Which? car survey.
It reserves the Great Value rosette for just five models on a six-month rotation - and these are the cars that have it currently.
Seat Ibiza (2017-present)
Average lowest price: £17,758
In an ever-increasingly shrinking supermini market, Seat's Ibiza continues to standout as one of the top performers in the class.
While mechanically very similar to sister models underpinned by the same platform, it's quite a lot cheaper than a VW Polo but sportier than a Skoda Fabia. The interior isn't as plush as others, but it's a car that drives well and has plenty of cabin and boot space for this segment.
Currently, you can negotiate the price of a new 1.0-litre TSI petrol in SE trim - which comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, an 8.25-inch touchscreen display and 8-inch digital instrument cluster, along with metallic paint - for £17,758.
That's not just £2,250 off retail price but significantly less than rivals.
It also comes with full marks in crash tests, rated five stars by Euro NCAP.
Mazda3 (2019-present)
Average lowest price: £23,405
Despite being on the market for more than five years, we think the Mazda3 is one of the most handsome family hatchbacks on sale today. And Which? reckons it offers very strong value, too.
Instead of hiding essential tech inside high-end upgrade packages, the most useful ones are available as standard on the entry trim level.
This includes features such as parking sensors, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic collision alerts. That's a lot of tech for £23,405 - which isn't a huge discount on the £24,730 RRP, it has to be said.
The 3 is extremely safe, though. Not only did it get a full quota of five starts from Euro NCAP, it's 98 per cent occupant protection score is one of the highest on record.
Kia Ceed Sportswagon (2018-present)
Average lowest price: £22,497
When you consider a VW Golf Estate start from a smidge under £30,000, Kia's Ceed Sportswagon for £22,500 is a cracking deal.
It might not be the most exciting car on the planet, but this versatile and roomy estate has a massive boot that's capable of coping with anything family life throws at it.
While some of the engines aren't the first word in fuel economy, they are at least robust, with Kia's reliability track record providing strong in recent years.
The entry '2' trim is well equipped, and dealers are - on average - knocking around £2,100 off the RRP, according to Which?.
When Euro NCAP tested the Ceed in 2019, it awarded it a four-star rating without the safety pack - and a five-star score when the safety pack's included. The '2' does without the full suite of safety pack features, so you would need to upgrade to a '3' trim if you wanted a family car with the highest possible safety score.
Skoda Kamiq (2019-present)
Average lowest price: £22,892
With so many small crossovers to choose from, it's tough to pick one model out of the crowd. But Which? says - based on price, performance, reliability and safety - the Skoda Kamiq is best value
With compact crossovers all the range right now, the market is extremely competitive. In fact, it's so saturated with different models from varying manufacturers that it's almost impossible to pick one out of the crowd.
Well, Which? has done that for you, nominating the Skoda Kamiq as a Great Value choice.
An entry-spec version in 'SE' trim starts from £24,975. While this gives you allow wheels and a fully digital cockpit, customers will need to upgrade to a higher grade if they want luxuries like a rear-view camera, metallic paint and voice control.
Which? says its mystery shoppers were able to talk sales staff into knocking just over £2,000 off the asking price.
That's a good deal on a small family car with a big boot for the segment, plenty of comfort, an easy driving experience and a safety record bolstered by a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
Nissan Qashqai (2022-present)
Average lowest price: £26,693
Which?'s secret shoppers negotiated £4,000 off the price of a new Nissan Qashqai. As such, it's the Great Value choice in the large family SUV segment
The Qashqai is the latest model in this list, and the biggest too. This explains why its average lowest price is also steeper than the other 'Great Value' motors to make the order. That said, it's £4,000 less than the retail price (£30,615), so there's a good saving to be had on this Sunderland-built SUV.
At this price, it significantly undercuts rivals, while at the same time offering all the latest tech you can want for.
The latest model recently received a full facelift, making it more stylish and practical, with a great passenger space and appealing cabin.
While some of the best extras are found in only the most expensive trim levels, the lower-end models are decently kitted out.
A five-star Euro NCAP rating should also fill you with confidence for its credentials as a family car.