Car prices have risen 5.2% on average since the UK voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, costing the consumer nearly £2 billion. That's according to data released by What Car? Magazine, which is urging consumers to "fight back" against sur ging new prices.
Vehicles costing less than £200 per month now make up 9.9% of the market, compared with 13% seven months ago. But What Car? says deals are still available and it has launched a new online car buying marketplace to make it easier to find them. These are the best discounts and finance deals available by segment.
City cars, discount: Fiat Panda 1.2 Pop
Discount: 26.8%
The 1.2-litre Pop is the Fiat Panda at its most basic, with prices starting from £9,245. Not that you should be paying that, with What Car? suggesting that a 26.8% discount is available.
City cars, finance: Smart Fortwo Coupe
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a £140 deposit
The Smart Fortwo Coupe isn't the cheapest city car on the block, with prices starting from £11,370. A three-year 0% PCP deal with a tiny £140 deposit makes it more appealing.
Small cars, discount: SEAT Ibiza
Discount: 24.7%
There's a new SEAT Ibiza on the way, so discounts will be available on the outgoing model. What Car? says you should be looking to save just under 25% across the entire range.
Small cars, finance: Mazda2
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a £750 deposit
The Mazda2 is a seriously underrated small car and a more exciting alternative to the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. Prices start from £12,595, although a three-year PCP deal is available with a £750 deposit.
Family cars, discount: Citroen C4
Discount: 24%
The Citroen C4 isn't the sharpest family car in the sector, but a 24% discount across the range makes it more attractive. Prices start from £15,595.
Family cars, finance: Skoda Rapid Spaceback
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with an £1,800 deposit
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback majors on practicality, with plenty of rear legroom and up to 1,380 litres of boot space. A three-year 0% PCP deal is tempting, but you'll need to find £1,800 for the deposit.
Executive cars, discount Volvo S90 T4 SE Nav (Leather)
Discount: 21.4%
The Volvo S90 has only been on sale five minutes, but some seriously tempting discounts are available. If you were struggling to shift your attention away from the Germans, a 21.4% discount might sway you in the direction of the stylish Swede.
Executive cars, finance: Lexus IS
Finance: 3yr 2.9% APR PCP with a £3,000 deposit
Meanwhile, What Car? believes the best finance deal in the segment is the three-year 2.9% PCP offer available on the Lexus IS. You'll need to find £3,000 for the deposit and prices start from £29,995.
Luxury cars, discount: Mercedes-Benz S350d SE L 9G-Tronic
Discount: 19.2%
You could wander into a Mercedes-Benz showroom and drop £70,425 on an S350d in SE L trim. Alternatively, you could negotiate a 19.2% discount. You can spend the savings on a few tanks of diesel.
Luxury cars, finance: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with an £8,443 deposit
Sticking with the S-Class, What Car? believes the three-year 0% PCP deal on the big Merc' is the best finance deal in the luxury car segment. Just be sure you have £8,443 for the deposit.
Estate cars, discount: BMW 535d Luxury Touring Step Auto
Discount: 22.6%
The BMW 5-Series Touring is a big estate car, with 560 litres of space with the seats in place, or 1,670 litres with the seats folded down. The discount is generous, too, with 22.6% available on the 535d Luxury model.
Estate cars, finance: Skoda Octavia Estate
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a £2,000 deposit
The Skoda Octavia Estate is one of our favourite cars at any price, and with a facelifted version imminent, now's the time to bag a great deal on the outgoing model. A three-year PCP deal is available with a £2,000 deposit.
MPVs, discount: Citroen C3 Picasso
Discount: 30.0%
MPVs might be as popular as Donald Trump at a Clinton family get-together, but the Citroen C3 Picasso is one of the best of a seemingly dying breed. Prices start from £16,975, but you can expect a 30% discount across the range.
MPVs, finance: Ford S-Max Vignale
Finance: 3yr 0.9% APR PCP with a £1,000 deposit
Vignale is Ford's posh trim level – a Ghia for a new generation, if you like. Order a Ford S-Max Vignale and you can enjoy a three-year 0.9% PCP deal for a £1,000 deposit.
Small SUVs, discount: Renault Captur 0.9 TCe 90 Expression+
Discount: 11.8%
"We knew average prices were going up, but rather than a gradual rise, our research has shown that there has been a perfect storm of elements that has conspired to create a big bang in price hikes," explained What Car? editor Steve Huntingford. But don't worry, a 11% discount is available on the Renault Captur.
Small SUVs, finance: Skoda Yeti SE and SE L
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a £1,500 deposit
The Skoda Yeti might be getting long in the tooth, but it remains one of our favourite small SUVs. A three-year 0% PCP deal on the SE and SE L models is a tempting proposition.
Large SUVs, discount: BMW X5 xDrive50i M Sport Step Auto
Discount: 12.7%
"Our new car buying marketplace saves you the hassle of shopping around, letting you configure a car to your desired spec and then directly compare prices from dealers in your area," said Steve Huntingford. Why spend £67,505 on a BMW X5 xDrive50i M Sport when you can save 12.7%?
Large SUVs, finance: Jeep Cherokee Limited
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a £2,750 deposit
Right now, the three-year 0% PCP deal available on the Jeep Cherokee Limited is the best you can hope for in the large SUV segment. For more deals, consult the What Car? Target Price, which is the most you should have to pay for a particular model.
Coupes, discount: BMW 650i Sport Gran Coupe Auto
Discount: 22.1%
The BMW 6 Series features heavily in the What Car? data, appearing in five of the final six deals to be featured. First up, the 650i Sport Gran Coupe, of which you can expect a 22.1% discount.
Coupes, finance: BMW 6 Series SE and M Sport Coupe
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a 0% deposit
Meanwhile, the 6 Series SE and M Sport Coupe are available with a three-year 0% PCP deal and a 0% deposit. That should make the £60k+ price tag a little easier to stomach.
Convertibles, discount: BMW 650i Sport Convertible Auto
Discount: 23.6%
A BMW 650i Sport Convertible has an on-the-road list price of £75,800, but nobody pays that. Not when there's a massive 23.6% discount available.
Convertibles, finance: BMW 6 Series SE and M Sport Convertible
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a 0% deposit
The BMW 6 Series Convertible also features as the What Car? best buy in the convertible segment. It's that same three-year 0% PCP deal once again.
Performance cars, discount: Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 S Tip Auto
Discount: 18.6%
Breaking from the BMW 6 Series for a moment, you can expect an 18.6% discount on the Mercedes-AMG CLS 63 S.
Performance cars, finance: BMW M6
Finance: 3yr 0% APR PCP with a 0% deposit
Finally, the gloriously good looking but eye-wateringly expensive BMW M6. The list price of £93,265 is on the large side, but a three-year 0% PCP deal and 0% deposit should soften the blow.
