The semiconductor (or ‘microchip’) shortage really started to impact the running of the Motability Scheme at the end of 2021 as the number of vehicles available to order fell below 1000 for the first time in a long time. Severe vehicle shortages continued across the whole quarter, with many Motability customers choosing to simply extend the lease of their current vehicle rather than order a new one. Anyone who wanted a car quickly had to be very flexible and choose something that probably wasn’t their first choice.
Some of the new models added to the Motability Scheme at the start of quarter 4 included the electric Kia e-Niro, the electric Citroen e-Berlingo MPV, the Hyundai Bayon, the facelifted Skoda Kodiaq SUV and the Hyundai Tucson plug-in hybrid.
Vehicles dropped from the Motability Scheme at the start of October included the the Kia Sportage, the Kia Ceed, the Peugeot Rifter, the Fiat 500L, the Honda Civic and the Volkswagen Polo.
Throughout the quarter many popular vehicles were removed because of long production delays.
Cars taken off the Motability Scheme during October included the Ford Focus, the Vauxhall Astra hatchback and the Toyota RAV4.
In November, models removed included the very popular SEAT Leon plug-in hybrid (hatchback and estate), the Nissan Qashqai and Juke, the Ford Mondeo, the Renault Kadjar, the Volvo XC40 and most of the cars from the Mazda and Suzuki range.
In December 2021, cars taken off the scheme included the SEAT Tarraco, the Skoda Kodiaq, the Volkswagen Tiguan and the electric ID.3 and ID.4.
This was all happening because of the worldwide supply issues in the motor industry, which at the time industry experts said was very likely to continue until mid-2022 at the earliest.
This guide was originally put together on 1 October 2021, but because of problems with vehicle supply many models and trim levels were removed from the Motability Scheme car list during October, November and December.
ABARTH – Two new 595 models were added by Abarth this quarter, the 165 PS Scorpioneoro and the 165 PS Turismo automatic.
ALFA ROMEO – The Italian manufacturer didn't have any models available on the Motability Scheme.
AUDI – There were just 2 Audi models to choose from in quarter 4: the Audi A1 and the Q2. The entry level Audi A1 required £1450 Advance Payment (up £100), while the Audi Q2 range started at £1849 (up from £1449 the previous quarter). The Audi Q3 and A3 saloon and sportback couldn't be ordered.
BMW – The electric BMW i3 was priced from £999 for the i3S with ‘Atelier’ Interior, rising to £1999 if you want the top ‘Suite’ interior version. The BMW 1 Series started at £1599 Advance Payment, with all prices up £100 compared to the previous quarter. The same was true of BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe range, with 4 trims that started at £2099. Prices for the BMW X1 SUV were also up, with the entry Sport model starting at £2449 (or £2749 if you wanted the automatic version) while the X2 range kicked off at £2699 (for the Sport manual trim), up from £1999 in quarter 3.
CITROEN – The 100% electric Citroen e-C4 stayed at £695 Advance Payment this quarter (for the e-C4 Shine Plus trim). The ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) versions could be ordered with nothing to pay upfront, but many other models increased by £200. The Citroen C3 Aircross range started at £295 Advance Payment for the Shine trim (up from £0), and it was £695 if you wanted an automatic version. Prices for the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV began at £995 for the C5 Puretech Shine, up from £395. It was £1395 if you wanted a diesel version. The Berlingo MPV started at £945 Advance Payment (for the 5 seat Feel trim), and they also added the all-electric e-Berlingo for the first time (priced from £1695). The 7 seat Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer range started at £1795 (was £1995), while the larger 8 seat Space Tourer range began at £5595.
DACIA – There was still no Dacia Sandero or the new 7 seat Dacia Jogger this quarter, but the Dacia Duster was available, priced from £495 Advance Payment (up from £0).
DS AUTOMOBILES – The DS7 didn't returned to the scheme in quarter 4. Many ICE DS3 Crossback models want up in price, with the DS3 1.2 PureTech Prestige up to £499 (was £0). The electric DS3 Crossback E-TENSE Prestige trim was £0 Advance Payment, but the next model up (the ‘Ultra Prestige’) did increase by £250 to £1499.
FIAT – Versions of the new Fiat 500 could be ordered with £0 Advance Payment, as could the Fiat 500 Electric (Action trim). Elsewhere in the Fiat line up prices went up. The once popular Fiat 500X Sport had increased from £0 in quarter 2 to £2295 Advance Payment in quarter 4! The 500L MPV was no longer available to order.
FORD – The Ford Fiesta was only available to order from stock at the start of the quarter, but the new 2022 model year Fiesta was added part way through. The Ford Puma range started at £195 Advance Payment (up from £95) for the Titanium and Titanium Design trim, with the automatic version up to £795. The Puma ST-Line X 125PS was £495 (up from £395) while the ST-Line Vignale range started from £645. Advance Payment prices for the Ford Kuga SUV range began from £1895, as the cheaper entry level models could no longer be ordered. Plug-in Hybrid versions of the Kuga started from £4195. The popular Ford Focus range started at £445 for the Focus ST-Line Edition estate, but the whole range was removed after a few months. Prices for the large seven seat Ford Galaxy and S-Max ranges began at £3545 and £3245 respectively, with all models featuring Ford’s new mild hybrid technology. The lowest-priced Ford Tourneo Custom was £4445 (up from £3845), while the 7 seat Ford Grand Tourneo Connect unfortunately couldn't be ordered.
HONDA – The all-electric Honda E was down to £0 AP for the standard trim (it was previously £749) or it was £1499 (down from £2249) for the better Advance trim. The Honda Jazz increased in price, with the SE automatic up to £499 Advance Payment (was £0) and higher-spec SR £799. The Crosstar trim was priced at £1399 (up from £899). The Honda Civic, CR-V and HR-V couldn't be ordered.
HYUNDAI – This quarter the Hyundai Bayon joined the Motability Scheme, with automatic models available to order from £0 Advance Payment. Hyundai i10 and i20 models could also be leased with nothing to pay upfront. The i20 Premium automatic was £349 Advance Payment (down from £599), and a new sporty N Line trim was also been added. The electric Hyundai Kona could be ordered with nothing to pay upfront (SE Connect trim) while the top-spec Ultimate stayed at £999. The Kona (with the new MHEV mild-hybrid petrol engine) and the Kona Hybrid range both started at £0 Advance Payment. The Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid range began at £0 Advance Payment, with the full electric version of the IONIQ priced from £199 (down from £499). The Hyundai Tucson SUV could be ordered with £749 Advance Payment (SE Connect), with prices for the rest of the Tucson range down by around £300. The new Tucson PHEV was also been added.
The Hyundai Bayon was added to the Motability Scheme in October 2021.
JEEP – Advance Payment prices increased again in quarter 4, with the Jeep Renegade Night Eagle special edition up to £1245 (was £945). Jeep Compass prices also increased, with the range starting at £1945.
KIA – The electric Kia e-Niro joined the scheme for the first time in quarter 4, priced from £499. Prices for the Kia Niro self-charging hybrid also started at £499 (up from £199), while the Niro PHEV plug-in hybrid was £3749 for the ‘2’, or £4199 for the better ‘3’ trim. The Kia Stonic and Xceed ranges both began at £0 Advance Payment. The Kia Soul EV was not available to order at the start of the quarter, but was added back part way through. The popular Kia Sportage was removed from the scheme (there's an all-new 2022 version coming).
MG MOTORS - The MG HS Crossover remained one of our best buys, with the HS Excite manual still priced at £0 Advance Payment or £199 for the automatic. Plug-In Hybrid HS models started at £3345. The MG ZS EV Excite was £0 Advance Payment, with the top Exclusive trim £99. Prices for new MG5 EV electric estate were the same, and two new and slightly more expensive longer range models were also added.
MAZDA – Advance Payment prices for the electric Mazda MX-30 started at £0 for the SE-L Lux, while the higher spec Sport Lux trim was £499, £200 more than the previous quarter. The First Edition MX-30 was £599. The price of models from the Mazda CX-30 range increased again, with the range starting at £699 (up from £499). The Mazda CX-5 wasn’t available.
MERCEDES BENZ – The German manufacturer removed all their models from the Motability Scheme in quarter 4 due to the long waiting times for vehicles.
MINI – Pricing for the all-new Mini Electric have improved this quarter, with the range starting at £0 Advance Payment for Mini Electric ‘Level 1’. The ‘Level 2’ trim could be ordered for £749 (was £999) while the top-spec ‘Level 3’ was £1749 (down from £1999). 3 door and 5 door Mini models could both be ordered in the Cooper S Classic trim with £0 to pay upfront (down from £249) or £249 if you wanted an auto. The Mini Convertible started at £1749. Mini Countyman models were more expensive, starting at £999.
NISSAN – There were 6 Nissan Qashqai models available to order at the start of quarter but these were removed part way through, along with the smaller Juke. Nissan’s two electric models – the 5 door Leaf and the 7-seat E-NV200 Combi MPV - started at £0 and £3949 respectively.
PEUGEOT – At the start of quarter 4 2021 both petrol and 100% electric versions of the Peugeot 2008 SUV could be ordered with £599 Advance Payment. The Peugeot 3008 SUV started at £1299 (was £749) for the Active Premium diesel, while the larger 7-seat 5008 range began at £2999, a huge increase from £1449 the previous quarter. The 8 seat Peugeot Traveller range had 7 models priced from £4399, £1000 more than before. The van-derived Rifter range wasn't available to order.
RENAULT – Renault added their all-new Arkana SUV to the scheme in quarter 3, and in quarter 4 prices still started at £1095. There weren't as many Renault Clio 5 door models to choose from but the range still started at £0 Advance Payment, with the sporty RS Line priced at £345. The larger Captur SUV range began at £0, with Plug-In Hybrids versions priced from £2295 (down from £2595). The Renault Kadjar SUV was still available, but it was then quickly removed. The 100% electric Renault Zoe could still be ordered with nothing to pay upfront.
SEAT – After being briefly removed from the Motability Scheme list the facelifted SEAT Ateca SUV range was back, priced from £999 for the SE Technology trim (up from £299). The 7 seat Tarraco also returned, only to be quickly removed. The same happened to the Plug-In Hybrid versions of the SEAT Leon hatchback and estate, which for a brief time could be ordered from £0 Advance Payment.
SKODA – Like SEAT, Skoda also removed many of their vehicles. The Skoda KAMIQ range started at £350, with the special edition KAMIQ Monte Carlo up to £745 Advance Payment (from £395). The larger Skoda KODIAQ was £1395 (or £1695 if you wanted a 7 seat version) but was later pulled. The Skoda KAROQ wasn't available.
SMART – Like Mercedes-Benz, smart cars were also removed from the Motability Scheme during quarter 4.
SUZUKI – Suzuki also removed many of their vehicles part way through the quarter. The Suzuki Vitara SZ4 was still £0 Advance Payment, but it was £999 if you wanted an automatic gearbox (up from £499). The Suzuki Swift Hybrid SZ-5 automatic was still priced at £0 Advance Payment. Both Suzuki Swace hybrid estate models – the SZ-T automatic and SZ5 automatic – came down in price by £500, which meant the Swace could be ordered with £0 Advance Payment.
TOYOTA – Toyota C-HR prices increased again this quarter. The Toyota C-HR Hybrid started at £1545 Motability Advance Payment (up from £1095) for the ICON Hybrid. Other trim levels also went up. The Yaris Hybrid 5 door range still began at £0 Advance Payment, but Corolla prices increased slightly, with the Corolla Icon in hatchback, saloon and touring sports estate trims all up to £295 (vs £0 Advance Payment in quarter 3). Towards the end the the quarter all Corolla models were removed from the scheme, along with the RAV4.
VAUXHALL - The next-generation Vauxhall Mokka was even better value in quarter 4, with petrol versions starting at £99 (down from £199), or £299 if you wanted an automatic. There was nothing to pay upfront if you wanted to order the electric Mokka-e (down from £1849). The top of the range Vauxhall Mokka-e Ultimate was £299, and one of our best Motability deals for this quarter. The electric Vauxhall Corsa-e Elite Premium was £0 Advance Payment. The Vauxhall Grandland range started at £499 (down from £699), while the Vauxhall Crossland could be ordered with just £99 Advance Payment. At £399 the Crossland Ultimate automatic was decent value for money. Prices were unchanged for the electric Vivaro-e Life range, which could still be ordered with £1249 Advance Payment.
VOLKSWAGEN – The big news from Volkswagen this quarter was the reintroduction of some of the models they had removed in quarter 3. Unfortunately, many of these models subsequently dropped off again. The Volkswagen Golf range started from £1249 Advance Payment, with the Golf GTD diesel trim increasing from £2099 to £2845 Advance Payment. The Plug-In Hybrid GTE was unchanged at £3295. The 5 seat Tiguan was briefly back on, with the range starting at £1849 (up from £1199). The electric Volkswagen ID.3 range started at £0 Advance Payment, while the larger ID.4 began at £2849 Advance Payment. Prices for the T-Cross range were unchanged, with some models available to order with nothing to pay upfront.
VOLVO – The Volvo XC40 range was much more expensive in quarter 4, with petrol models priced at £3999 and XC40 Plug-In Hybrid models starting at £4299, up from £2899 in quarter 3. All models were later removed from the scheme.
Here you'll find a selection of the printable PDF Motability price guides that vehicle manufacturers published at the start of quarter 4 2021.
