The best cars available on Motability

It’s a system by which those who receive certain disability-related benefits – usually the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance – can apply to lease a new car, which is usually replaced every three years.

Motorists can use the whole of their allowance to pay for the vehicle, or just part. Vehicles with a list price of more than £25,000 require an advance payment, too.

There’s a wide range of choice available, so those on the scheme don’t have to be limited by what they drive. Everything from tiny city cars to sporty models are available.

For the more severely disabled, Motability also provides wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs), which can accommodate wheelchair users as passengers or in some cases, even as a driver. However, these tend to be made by specialist converters to meet an individual’s own needs, so we’ve concentrated on standard cars here.

For most, we’ve also added an automatic gearbox for added ease of driving.

Small car: Kia Picanto

Weekly rental: £49.25

Advance payment: £0

The dinky Kia Picanto is a great city car. It offers willing engines and fun driving dynamics, so it’s great to punt around town. It’s also pretty spacious thanks to its standard five-door body shell. Kia’s warranty is class leading, it’s well equipped from the very base specification – and you can have it for less than 50 quid a week.

Mid-sized car: Kia Ceed SW

Weekly rental: £59.75

Advance payment: £0

We’ve opted for another Kia in this class, simply because the Ceed SW is such an excellent car in almost all respects. Exciting? No. But in this estate form it’s superbly spacious, and the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is a good companion for the smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic.

Family car: Skoda Octavia

Weekly rental: Total allowance

Advance payment: £145

A £145 advance payment will secure you an example of the Skoda Octavia – remarkable for offering space levels more familiar to cars in the class above. You’ll find no shortage of room for passengers or luggage, and the Octavia also offers a premium interior and low running costs.

MPV: Citroen Berlingo

Weekly rental: Total allowance

Advance payment: £695

The Citroen Berlingo may look like a van… okay, it is a van. But that’s no bad thing. An enormous boot and more headroom than you can shake a stick at plus handy sliding doors make this the ideal family wagon. It’s also a popular base for WAV conversions.

SUV: Suzuki Vitara

Weekly rental: Total allowance

Advance payment: £299

Somewhat of a left-field choice, but the Suzuki Vitara is actually a brilliant small SUV. The firm’s BoosterJet engines are powerful and characterful, and the Vitara just exudes a sense of practicality and determined ruggedness.

Convertible: Mini Cooper Convertible

Weekly rental: Total allowance

Advance payment: £1,249

Our first choice in this category would be the brilliant Mazda MX-5 – but it’s not necessarily the best choice for those with mobility issues due to its tiny cabin and low-slung driving position. The Mini Convertible is far from a poor substitute, though – great to drive, fun to look at and dripping with charm.