The Coronavirus pandemic continued to affect the Motability Scheme in January, February and March 2021, as a new nationwide lockdown forced car dealership showrooms to close again to the public. Motability-accredited car dealerships could only operate their sales departments via a 'click-and-collect' system for the entire quarter.
In December 2020 Motability warned that trade negotiations with the European Union could seriously affect Motability Scheme vehicle pricing in the New Year.
The deal that the UK government eventually secured with the European Union reduced the risk of both price rises and availability issues for customers who wanted to order a new vehicle imported from Europe, however increases in manufacturing costs and the forced shutdown of many car factories and parts suppliers (because of the Covid-19 pandemic) meant that the Advance Payment price of many Motability cars increased on January 1 2021.
New models added to the Motability Scheme during January, February and March 2021 included the electric SEAT Mii, the SEAT Leon hatch and estate PHEV plug-in hybrid, the electric Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life, the Volvo XC40 plug-in hybrid, the Suzuki Swace Estate, the new Mini electric, the new Hyundai Tucson and the MG HS PHEV plug-in hybrid.
Vehicles dropped from the price guide during quarter 1 2021 included the Ford Mondeo, the Vauxhall Insignia, the Honda HR-V, the BMW 3 Series and the electric BMW i3.
ALFA ROMEO – The only model available from Alfa Romeo was the Giulietta 5 door hatch, which started at £1995 Advance Payment (up from £595 the previous quarter). That was for the new Sprint trim, which could be driven by customers under 25.
AUDI – In quarter 1 there were 4 Audi models to choose from on the Motability Scheme. The Audi A1 was priced from £150 Advance Payment (up from £0 the previous quarter), with the more rugged A1 Citycarver version £549 (up from £399). Black Editions were added for the first time. Prices for the recently updated Audi Q2 were unchanged, as were the new Audi A3 Sportback and Saloon prices, which started at £699 (for the Technik trim). The popular Audi Q3, could still be ordered, priced from £1299.
BMW - The BMW 1 Series range started at £1499 Advance Payment (and the total number of models available to order was cut to 4). The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe started at £1799, up from £1249 (remember it was £749 when it first appeared in the summer 2020). BMW also removed most 3 Series models. All that remains at the start of the quarter was the 318 Touring Sport automatic, priced at £3449. The German carmaker also increased the price of their X2 SUV models by £100, starting at £1949 for the sport trim. The X1 SUV still started at £2099, while the electric BMW i3 was no longer available to order.
CITROEN - Motability Advance Payment prices for the C5 Aircross SUV started at £495 for the C5 Puretech Shine. The Plug-In hybrid version of the C5 Aircross was no longer available to order. The seven seat Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer range started at £1995, while prices for the larger 8 seat Space Tourer started at £4895 (up from £4695). Prices were also up a little for the 5 and 7 seat Berlingo range, which began at £895 Advance Payment for the Feel trim. The Citroen C3 Aircross range started at £0 Advance Payment for the Shine trim, or £495 if you wanted an automatic gearbox. There was the new Citroen C4 and electric E-C4, both of which were added during the previous quarter. Prices for most trims dropped by £100.
DACIA - The cheapest Motability car on the scheme was the Dacia Sandero 1.0 SCE Essential 5 door in January 2021, which could be ordered with £0 Advance Payment and £52.75 weekly rental. Dacia removed the Logan and the Logan Stepway, along with the Bi-Fuel Dacia Duster range.
DS AUTOMOBILES - The DS3 Crossback started at £999 Advance Payment for the 1.2 PureTech Performance Line, up from £799 the previous quarter. The DS3 Crossback E-TENSE electric range started at £1999. The larger DS7 model didn't make reappearance.
FIAT – Fiat prices were competitive again this quarter, with versions of the updated 500, the larger 500L and the rugged 500X all available to order with £0 Motability Advance Payment. The Fiat 500 Star automatic was £195, or £395 if you went for the 'convertible' 500c version. The Fiat 500X Sport was great value yet again at £0 Advance Payment, or £495 for the automatic trim. Prices for many Fiat Panda models came down a little, and you could order the Panda Wild 4x4 with £0 to pay upfront.
FORD – On January 1 the Ford Puma range started at £495 Advance Payment for the Titanium manual trim. Automatic versions were added for the first time, with prices starting at £895. Advance Payment prices for the all-new Ford Kuga SUV began at £1295 for the Zetec diesel, with 1.5 EcoBoost 150PS petrol engine options added for the first time. There was also the option of the new 2.5 Duratec 225PS PHEV plug in hybrid with certain trims. The popular Ford Focus range started at £95 Advance Payment (up from £45), with estate versions priced from £195. The impressive Ford Focus Estate ST-Line X Edition was £745. Prices for the seven seat Ford Galaxy and S-Max started at £2495 and £2795 respectively. The Ford Grand Tourneo - the only seven seat car at the time that could be driven by people aged under 25's - could be ordered with £695 AP.
HONDA - Prices for the new electric Honda E dropped. It was £999 for the standard model (down from £1849) or £2499 for the Advance trim. The Honda Jazz SE automatic was £0 Advance Payment. The better SR version was £399, down from £499. The Crosstar variant was £1199.
HYUNDAI – In January Hyundai added their new i10 and i20 models. Both could be ordered with nothing to pay upfront. The Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid range started at £0 Advance Payment this quarter, with the full electric version of the IONIQ priced at £1499. The Hyundai Kona Hybrid (which was updated during the quarter) started at £999 Advance Payment for 1.6 GDi Hybrid SE automatic. The standard Kona started at £199 for the SE trim. Prices for the 2020 Hyundai Tucson SUV began at £299 (down from £899), with the all-new 2021 Tucson joining the scheme part way through the quarter.
JEEP - Prices for the Jeep Renegade went up, with the popular Jeep Renegade Night Eagle special edition requiring £495 Motability Advance Payment (up from £0 the previous quarter). The automatic version was £1695. Jeep also added 3 new Plug In Hybrid models on January 1, but these were removed a few days later. Jeep Compass prices also increased, with the Night Eagle special edition trim up from £1295 to £1995.
KIA - The popular Kia Sportage SUV ‘2’ was priced at £649 (up by £350), with the all-wheel-drive version up to £1149. The Kia Niro self-charging hybrid - one of the most popular Motability cars during 2020 - was £799 Advance Payment (up from £399), while the Niro PHEV plug-in hybrid £3049. The Kia Soul EV ‘First Edition’ rose by £350 to £3449 Advance Payment.
MG MOTORS - The MG HS Crossover remained one of our best buys in quarter 1. The popular HS Excite trim was priced at £0 Advance Payment, with the automatic version dropping slightly to £299 (from £399 in quarter 4 2020), as did the top-spec Exclusive automatic (down from £1199 to £999). The MG ZS EV Excite electric was still £0 Advance Payment, making it another one of our best buys. The better Exclusive trim was £299. The new MG5 EV electric estate also came down a little, starting from £599 (it was £699).
MAZDA - The price of most Mazda CX-30 trim levels increased, with the exception of the entry SE-L trim (which came down by £100 to £699 Advance Payment). Pricing for the Mazda3 hatchback were very similar to the previous quarter.
MERCEDES BENZ - Mercedes-Benz removed quite a few A Class trims from the scheme this quarter. The starting price for the Mercedes Benz A-Class hatch was a whopping £2149 (for the A180 AMG Line Executive), while the A-Class Saloon range started at £1949 for the A200 Sport (up from £1399). On January 1 they also introduced a number of Plug-In Hybrid options for the A Class (priced from £6495) but this was removed after just a few days. Prices for CLA Coupe weren't much better. The CLA 180 AMG Line Premium automatic was £3499. Mercedes-Benz GLA Advance Payment prices started at £2899 for the GLA 180 Sport automatic trim, rising to £3999 for the GLA 180 AMG Line Premium Plus automatic version (later removed due to supply issues).
MINI – Mini prices increased this month. The 3 door and 5 door Mini required a minimum £249 Advance Payment, and it was an extra £250 for an automatic version. The larger Mini Clubman ‘estate’ started from £499, with the Mini Countryman SUV range available from £749 (for the Mini Countyman Cooper Classic). The Plug-In PHEV version could be ordered with £2999 Advance Payment, rising to £3899 for a top-spec version. Facelifted versions of the Mini 3 door, 5 door and convertible were added in March, along with the new Mini Electric.
MITSUBISHI - The popular Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug in hybrid was back on the Motability Scheme this quarter, priced at £2999 for the Verve, Design and the Dynamic trims. The starting price for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross range was £0 Advance Payment.
NISSAN – Nissan’s two 100% electric models – the Leaf and the E-NV200 Combi MPV - were priced from £299 and £2999 respectively. The starting Advance Payment for the E-NV200 came down by £1000. The Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium 1.3 DIG-T was very competitively priced at £0 Advance Payment. The automatic version was just £299. Pricing for the popular Nissan Juke was unchanged, with the range starting at £0 Advance Payment. Nissan X-Trail prices increased.
PEUGEOT - The electric e-208 range started from £999 in quarter 1 2021, with the e-2008 range available to order from £1899. Prices were pretty much the same this quarter for the petrol and diesel powered Peugeot 208 hatchback and 2008 SUV, while the recently refreshed Peugeot 3008 SUV range started from £999. The 7 seat 5008 range began at £1699. 8 new Peugeot Traveller models were re-introduced, priced from £3799 Advance Payment for the 8 seat Active version. The Peugeot Rifter range started at £699 Advance Payment, but it was minimum of £2499 if you wanted to order a 7 seat version.
RENAULT - The 100% electric Renault Zoe Iconic could be ordered with £0 Motability Advance Payment, plus there were 6 other models to choose from including a new Play trim (priced at £399). The Renault Clio 5 door range had 9 models available for less than £300 Advance Payment. The RS Line E-TECH Hybrid automatic was £245. Yet again, the Renault Captur was another great option this quarter, with 2 versions available for £0 Motability Advance Payment. We liked the Renault Captur S Edition automatic at £495 Advance Payment. Plug-in Hybrids were a bit cheaper this quarter, starting from £2299 Advance Payment for the Launch Edition (was £2599). Kadjar GT Line was priced from £999, down from £1195.
SEAT – More SEAT Leon models were added to the Motability Scheme list on 1 January. The Leon 1.5 TSI EVO FR was great value at £0, as was the newly-added FR Sport eTSi automatic at £399. The XCELLENCE LUX automatic was £499. There were also more Leon estate models to choose from, with prices starting from £49. A few new SEAT Tarraco models were added, and overall prices increased for this model line. For example, the SE trim of the 7 seat Tarraco was £1749 (up from £1399 Advance Payment). The SEAT Ateca SUV range started with the SE Technology at £249, with the impressive Ateca EVO FR Sport DSG automatic £1099. XPERIENCE and XPERIENCE LUX trims were also added. The SEAT Arona XCELLENCE LUX 110 DSG automatic was £399 Advance Payment.
SKODA - Pricing for the Skoda KAROQ SUV came down a little this quarter, and the entry model - the 1.0 TSi 110 SE - stayed at £0 Advance Payment. The Skoda KAROQ SE Technology 1.5 TSI DSG automatic was £695 Advance Payment, down from £895. Prices for the smaller Skoda KAMIQ were unchanged. The refreshed Skoda Octavia range had automatic models priced from £745 (or £945 for the estate).
SMART - The smart FORTWO and FORFOUR could be driven away with £0 Motability Advanced Payment.
SUZUKI – Some Suzuki Vitara SUV prices improved in quarter 1. The Vitara SZ4 and SZ-T Boosterjet 48v hybrid trims were great value at £0 Advance Payment. The SZ5 trim dropped by £250. The recently updated Suzuki Swift Hybrid SZ-5 automatic was £199 Advance Payment.
TOYOTA - The Toyota C-HR Hybrid came down in price £200, starting at £295 this quarter for the ICON trim. The better C-HR Design version was £795 Advance Payment. The new Yaris Hybrid 5 door range started at £0 Advance Payment. Toyota Corolla prices also started at £0 for the hatchback version, while the touring sports automatic was £495. The RAV4 could be ordered with £2645 (for the ICON trim). The Proace Verso was not available to order on 1 January, but it was added back on to the scheme later in the quarter.
VAUXHALL - This quarter the electric Vauxhall Corsa-e could be ordered through the Motability Scheme with £0 Advance Payment. That was for the SRI Nav Premium 11KW version. The Elite Nav Premium trim was just £99 Advance Payment. The next generation Vauxhall Mokka started at £999, or £2149 if you wanted the all electric Mokka-e. Prices for the Vauxhall Grandland X range started at £0 Advance Payment (was £299) for the SRi NAV, and it was £499 for the Elite Nav trim, down from £699. The Grandland X SRi Nav automatic was £799 Advance Payment. The facelifted Vauxhall Crossland appeared on the list for the first time, priced from £0 Advance Payment, but the Ultimate Nav automatic at £99 Advance Payment was the one to go for in our opinion. The Vivaro Life (with 8 or 9 seats) range began at £1249 Advance Payment.
VOLKSWAGEN – The Volkswagen Golf started at £0 Advance Payment for the impressive 1.5 TSi R Line, but at £400 the Golf eTSi 150 R Line automatic was the one to go for (down from £999 vs the previous quarter). Prices for the Volkswagen T-Roc range were very similar, with the T-Roc 1.5 TSi EVO SEL automatic at £499 and the T-Roc R Line at £999 great value for money. The seven seat Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace was added on 13 January, priced from £1799, while the updated Tiguan SUV range started from £849. Prices for the 7 seat Touran MPV increased, with the SEL trim £1049 (up from £899).
VOLVO – There were more Volvo XC40 models added during this quarter. The Volvo XC40 T3 R-Design increased to £2499 Advance Payment (was £1399), while the T3 Inscription was £2599 (it was previously £1499). You would have pay £300 extra if you wanted to order the automatic version of either model. On January 1 Volvo also added new Plug-In PHEV versions of the XC40. These XC40 PHEVs were deleted a couple of days later, but they re-joined the Motability price list on 27 January, priced from £4,449.
Here you'll find some of the printable Motability price guides that car manufacturers released at the start of quarter 1 2021.