You don’t need an expensive Range Rover to haul your gear to the UK’s wild places - these affordable lease cars are perfect for the great outdoors!
The school summer holidays are now in full swing.
With heatwaves - and fires - raging across the Continent, a British ‘staycation’ might sound more tempting than a jaunt overseas.
If a camping trip or excursion to the great outdoors is on your ‘to do’ list, you’ll need a car capable of rising to the challenge.
And when it comes to big boots, all-wheel drive capabilities, and even ‘vehicle to load’ wizardry - where an electric car can power your camping appliances - this selection of cheap lease cars should have your back when you venture off the beaten track.
Dacia Duster | From £243 per month*
The Dacia brand is all about getting you behind the wheel of a solid, dependable lease car for not much dosh.
And the Duster is brilliant for adventurous types who spend their weekends hanging off cliff faces… or just chilling by the campfire.
You get a 445 litre boot to stash all of your kit - which is a larger luggage area than you get with the Duster’s nearest rival, the Suzuki Vitara.
The most rugged ‘Extreme’ models come with plastic moulding on the exterior so you can really tackle the tough stuff without scratching the paint, and you can choose an all-wheel drive powertrain, too.
Suzuki Ignis | From £204 per month*
The Suzuki Ignis is living proof that you don’t need a huge car to enjoy the great outdoors.
At first glance, the Ignis is a city car designed for the urban jungle.
But look again and you’ll find a pretty decent off-roader if you choose to lease an Ignis with ‘ALLGRIP’ all-wheel drive.
A high-riding SUV stance and better ground clearance than most hatchbacks also means the Ignis will never feel out of place fizzing down country lanes or bouncing across camping fields. A 267-litre boot is also larger than you get with a Kia Picanto.
Most of all, the Ignis is just a fun car to drive (check out our recent review https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk/car-leasing/reviews/suzuki/suzuki-ignis-hatchback-suv-crossover-2023) so long journeys to the bum end of nowhere won’t feel like a chore.
The MG4 EV is good at a LOT of things - it wasn’t named ‘Car of the Year 2023’ at the UK Car of the Year Awards for nothing.
All models, no matter which trim level, come with ‘vehicle to load’ (V2L) capabilities. Not all EVs have ‘V2L’, and it’s a skill usually reserved for much more expensive models.
Vehicle to load essentially means you can use the car’s electric battery for things like recharging e-bikes, or powering a pump that blows up your air bed when you’re camping.
All you do is plug a special cable into the car’s charging port and, hey presto, you’ve got yourself a typical, home-style three pin plug socket. Get the kettle on!
Also, there’s a new MG4 EV ‘XPOWER’, which is all-wheel drive and perfect for tackling tougher terrain.
Skoda Octavia Estate | £275 per month*
The Skoda Octavia is the boss when it comes to affordable estates.
And the great thing about the Octavia is that you can access an all-wheel drive powertrain without having to plump for a top-of-the-range model.
Yep, you can get Skoda’s 4x4 system with the mid-range ‘SE L’ trim and above.
For that you get a 2.0 TDI diesel engine that’ll return close to 60 miles to the gallon - hello, Highlands of Scotland.
And you can lease a 4x4 Octavia from £410 per month.
You also get a mahoosive 640 litre boot - which is plenty more than you get with the 495-litre Audi A4 Avant estate.
Citroen Berlingo | From £385 per month*
The Citroen Berlingo is available with a traditional engine, or as the fully electric e-Berlingo.
And whichever one you go for, you’re leasing one of the most versatile and underrated vehicles on the market right now.
There are sliding doors at the rear for maximum convenience when you’re piling it high with equipment, as well as a Tardis-like interior littered with lots of cubby holes.
The most affordable models employ a frugal 1.5 litre diesel engine that will see you traversing the countryside without having to stop for fuel.
The ‘XL’ Berlingo comes with seven seats, while standard five-seaters have 775 litres of luggage space.
No, you don’t have to be a business lease customer to drive a pickup - you can enjoy one as a personal lease purely for leisure or commuting purposes.
And the Ford Ranger is one of the most affordable pickups you can lease as a personal customer right now.
If you’ve not considered a pickup as a daily driver, you really should.
You get all the comfort associated with being behind the wheel of a typical SUV, including a sophisticated interior and tall ride height.
Yet you can also load pretty much anything you need in the back bed for big trips away.
Add-in off road abilities and economical diesel powertrains, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
Volkswagen T-Roc | From £226 per month*.
The chunky, funky VW T-Roc is one of the best-looking compact SUVs available, and at this price point, you can see why lease customers are snapping them up.
Again, like the Skoda Octavia (see above) you don’t have to pay through the nose to get a rugged, outdoorsy, 4x4 model.
The ‘4MOTION’ all-wheel drive system is available with the ‘Style’ trim and upwards - which is the next rung up from the entry-level ‘Life’ model.
You can also add a removable and lockable tow bar to your lease for an extra fifteen quid a month.
The T-Roc also comes with roof rails as standard - a handy addition when you’ve got kayaks and mountain bikes to lug around.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 25/07/23.
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