Best New Cars (Updated 2020)

10 minutes Published: 26/08/2021
Rowan Harris

Should you upgrade now, or wait until next year?

Good question.

Of course, the great thing about leasing is that you could upgrade every year, if you wanted. But that’s not always the most practical option. Also, the rate of depreciation is always higher in the first year, so this can be more expensive in the long run as your leasing payments are designed to cover this cost.

The great news is, whether you’re looking for a 1 year short term lease or for something to you’ll drive for many years,there are plenty of cars that we’d recommend you take a look at - and you don’t even need to head to an expensive motor show or stressful showrooms.

We’d also advise you to keep an open mind. There are a number of cars with traditional engines on this list (you can click through to find the details for petrol engine and diesel engine variants), but as you’ll see, there are also plenty more electric and hybrid cars on offer, as we move towards a more environmentally friendly future!

If you're on a budget, check out our cheapest cars list, or have a look at one of our best small cars!

1. Kia e-Niro

  • Doors:
  • Engine:
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  • Body: SUV/Crossover
  • Drive:
  • CO2:

Pros

  • Can easily manage 250 miles in real-world driving.

  • Reliable, comes with a 7 year/100,000 mile warranty.

Cons

  • More expensive than some electric rivals.

  • Not as cheap as the regular Niro.

There’s something about the name Niro that just sticks in the mind.

Whether it’s the great persecuting emperor of the Roman Empire, or the notorious onscreen gangster and Scorcese favourite Robert De Niro, it’s a name that inspires awe and fear in equal measures.

The Kia e-Niro makes no exception. The only difference is, Kia’s new electric vehicle is set to become a household name by less nefarious means. With one of the longest ever ranges on an EV battery, the e-Niro offers plenty to excite eco-enthusiasts and strike fear into the hearts of its all-electric competitors.

If you’re the kind of person that struggles to choose between endless trims and engine variants then you should have no problem with the e-Niro. There’s only one trim available in the UK, and it’s pretty well-equipped, with climate control and all-electric windows, adaptive cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, keyless entry and start, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel - a great feature when you’re on the road in the cold.

Add to all of that Kia’s standard 7 year/ 100,000 mile warranty and it’s hard to find faults with this car!

2. Audi E-tron Sportback

  • Doors: 5
  • Engine: N/A
  • Fuel: E
  • Body: SUV/Crossover
  • Drive: A
  • CO2:

Pros

  • Nice high tech interior that doesn’t take the futuristic theme too far.

  • Comfortable back seats, the underfloor battery does not eat into the leg room.

Cons

  • The I-pace is faster and cheaper.

  • Alternatives also have longer ranges.

It may sound like a cheesy concept car from a retro futuristic 80s film, but the Audi E-tron sportback doesn’t stray far from Audi’s long-established luxury style.In fact, it’s a pretty standard SUV - just with 2 electric motors instead.

But there’s also plenty that sets this car apart. For starters, it has heaps of space inside. There’s a huge boot, as well as some space in the frunk/froot for charging cables and other bits. While the batteries on EVs are often stored under the floor, reducing the amount of leg space for rear-seat passengers and forcing them into a near-squatting position, this is not the case with the E-tron.

The E-tron targets the luxury end of the electric car market, so as you’d expect, there’s plenty to keep you comfortable, with leather trims, four-way lumbar support (which can be saved as a pre-set for each driver) and a good range of steering wheel adjustment on all models. For the techies amongst you, there’s also ambient lighting and Audi’s own virtual cockpit to boot.

3. Ford Mustang Fastback

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  • Body: Hatchback
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Pros

  • Stunning design, and the V8 engine makes a great sound.

  • Good price.

Cons

  • Fairly cheap interior.

  • Not remotely practical.

Ok, so a lot of the cars on this list have been EVs. We’re not trying to push an agenda, that’s just the way things are going. But if you’re still a dirty petrolhead deep down, and would rather die than touch an electric city car, we totally respect that. That’s why we’ve made sure the new Ford Mustang Fastback made it onto the list.

It wouldn’t be a Ford Mustang without a rumbling V8 engine. And boy does it rumble. We imagine it would sound something like a sumo wrestler’s stomach after his first week at Weight Watchers.

And for the amount of fuel that this coupe guzzles, it could quite easily be a sumo wrestler.

Surprise, surprise, Ford are also getting an electric model very soon (but if you’re here for the V8, we’re sure that won’t interest you anyway).

4. Range Rover Evoque Hatchback

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  • Body: SUV/Crossover
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Pros

  • Doesn’t depreciate quickly, which means cheaper leasing deals for you!

  • Comfortable driving position.

Cons

  • Not so great for fuel economy or emissions.

  • Reliability is dubious, with lots of problems reported online.

Land Rovers and Range Rovers had always been fairly ‘boxy’ SUVs. That is, until the rather more pretentious sounding ‘Evoque’ came along. Since then, the Evoque has received a number of ‘car of the year’ and ‘luxury car of the year’ awards. Now, it is considered, amongst many other things, to be Land Rover’s style icon.

Everyone wants one. This means the Range Rover Evoque Hatchback has some pretty incredible residual value forecasts. That’s a great thing in the leasing world, because it means you’ll end up paying less over the course of your contract.

This small SUV may look largely the same as previous years on the outside, but step inside and you’ll find there’s vastly more space for rear passengers. You’ll also find that every new Evoque is well equipped, with 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, automatic wipers and LED headlights, keyless start and heated front seats as standard. It also scored highly on the Euro NCAP, with features such as emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and a feature which warns the driver when they are becoming tired.

Becoming a fan of the Evoque? Compare Land Rover lease deals with Lease Fetcher - don't pay more than you need to!

5. Mercedes B-Class

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  • Body: MPV/People Carrier
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Pros

  • Spacious interior.

  • Lovely materials used inside and plenty of tech.

Cons

  • There are cheaper alternatives.

  • Not terribly exciting to drive.

It’s a bit taller than most hatchbacks, but the slick exterior styling and lowered suspension would have you fooled. This Mercedes has plenty of interior space, with a huge boot and better accessibility than its A-Class relation, making it the better choice for a family car.

Step inside and there’s really nothing B-class about it. In fact, the dashboard feels like something borrowed from a luxury car. It has a dual screen infotainment system and some futuristic mood lighting with plenty of room to stretch out beneath. There’s over 64 colours of lighting to choose from, with everything from bold blues to lurid orange and garish greens.

Add a few whooshing sound effects and you might as well be sitting in the Tardis.

So, if you’re looking with all the benefits of an SUV or MPV but don’t need a 7-seater, the Mercedes B-Class is a solid bet.

6. Volvo S60

  • Doors: 4
  • Engine:
  • Fuel: P, D, H
  • Body: Saloon
  • Drive: M, A
  • CO2: 240g/km

Pros

  • High performance with great low emissions.

  • Great infotainment system.

Cons

  • Expensive.

  • Base trim is lacking tech.

Volvo promised that the S60 would be a ‘true driver’s car’. It’s certainly a lot of things. We’re big fans of the Polestar version, which is a plug-in-hybrid S60 model that has very low CO2 emissions for starters. But it also promises the kind of performance that you’d expect from a sports car.

Volvo’s performance sub-brand, the Polestar trims are ambitious and pioneering. Until now, they have mainly offered hardware upgrades and software optimisation for Volvo models labelled as ‘Polestar Engineered’, with an all electric sequel to their eponymous Polestar 1 set to launch this year.

So, the Volvo S60 is pretty good at what it does, and it’s even better if you go for the PHEV Polestar option. The S60 T8 offers an incredible 0-62 time,and has great fuel economy.Inside, it’s got the kind of luxury interior that you’d expect from a Volvo, with a central ipad-style slab for a touchscreen infotainment system

7. Tesla Model 3 Saloon

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  • Body: Saloon
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Pros

  • Tesla is the king of electric cars.

  • 15-inch touchscreen does pretty much everything you can think of.

Cons

  • Why do I need to use the tablet to open the glovebox?

  • Tesla charging ports are still sparse in the UK.

The Tesla Model 3 is the U.S. manufacturer’s much vaunted entry-level model. While it has been on sale in the U.S. for a while now, it has taken until now to finally launch in the UK. For any cult Tesla fans here, this all-electric car will probably need no introduction.

If this is your first time buying an EV, it might take the more traditional motorists amongst you some time to adjust. If you love a good sparkling front grill, you’ll be sorely disappointed with the Tesla. As there’s no engine to cool, Tesla has simply done away with this feature. Instead, there’s a small air vent at the bottom. You’d be forgiven for thinking it all feels rather alien at first. But once you’re over that, you’d better brace yourself for the interior, which does away with most of the traditional buttons and knobs for a 15-inch touchscreen.

But don’t be mistaken, the minimalist aesthetic does not betray a lack of features. In fact, this car pretty much oozes tech features. The large infotainment system also makes everything incredibly intuitive, allowing you to plan your journey via charging stations, adjust the air-con and turn on heated seats for each of the 5 seats through easy to navigate menus. There’s also a tonne of ‘easter eggs’ hidden in the menu which make the car that little bit more entertaining for kids and big kids alike.

8. Jaguar I-Pace

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  • Body: SUV/Crossover
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Pros

  • Great range.

  • Lovely interior.

Cons

  • Expensive.

  • Infotainment system isn’t good enough for the price.

Another all-electric contender, the Jaguar i-pace is an altogether sportier alternative to the Tesla Model X, with a much more traditional approach to interior and exterior design. This will certainly make for an easier transition, if you’re new to electric cars.

Instead of the signature 15-inch touch screen on the Tesla, there’s a healthy balance between physical buttons and capacitive touchscreens. You won’t have to find a touch screen button to open the glovebox, for example.

This Jaguar is also much more luxurious inside, with soft and sturdy materials and leather used all around. It’s also got plenty of space for 3 taller people in the rear and lots of boot space, making it a hugely practical car. Steering is well weighted, and the car is a lot of fun to drive, with the large batteries stored neatly under the floor preventing any excessive body-lean when turning.

It’s also got a pretty impressive WLTP driving range which should be perfectly sufficient for any long-distance driving. As if you still needed convincing, there’s also four-wheel drive provided by two electric motors.

9. Peugeot 3008 Estate

  • Doors:
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  • Body: Estate
  • Drive:
  • CO2:

Pros

  • Interesting, eye-catching design.

  • Low running costs.

Cons

  • Infotainment system can be a bit slow.

  • Performance is average.

There have been some big changes to the Peugeot 3008. Unlike its MPV predecessor, it now sits firmly in the SUV class. It’s more in line with current trends, but this also means it's up against much stiffer competition.

The 3008 scores highly for practicality, with plenty of space in the front, and enough room in the rear seats for two adults, though you might struggle to squeeze a third in for long journeys. There’s also a massive boot, making this a much better load-lugger than the Qashqai. It’s also got a 5* Euro NCAP rating, making this a pretty safe bet for a family car.

The interior is pleasant, with plenty of soft touch materials and attractively textured cloth within. The dashboard is modern, and as well as the 8-inch infotainment system, every 3008 is fitted with Peugeot’s 12.3-inch ‘i-cockpit’ digital instrument display. This can be configured to show everything from dashboard dials to sat-nav guidance, much like the Audi Virtual Cockpit, and can make following directions significantly easier.

Summary

Choosing the best car for you isn’t easy - there’s a huge range of different body-styles and options to think about. Hopefully our line-up of the best new cars about has helped make your decision a little easier, and save you countless hours trawling car reviews!

To make your life easier, you can filter on Lease Fetcher by body-style, fuel type, and much more, so you can find the best new car for your needs!

For a luxurious new whip, you need to check out our Best Luxury Cars. For budget options, check out our best small cars, or our cheapest cars list!