Best new car deals 2026: top cash discounts, plus how to haggle

New cars can be eye-wateringly expensive, so whatever model you're looking at you won't want to pay over the odds. But it's not easy knowing exactly what a good deal looks like.

That's where our unique pricing data comes in, revealing the cars that have seen the biggest cash discounts (and increases) so you know exactly what to expect to pay and whether now is a good time to buy.

Each month, we calculate new car discounts by combining real-world mystery shopping, detailed market research and rigorous validation. This includes analysis of dealer discounts, manufacturer incentives and other key factors that shape transaction pricing.

The result is data that reflects genuine, achievable discounts, so you'll know how much you should be paying for your new car.

Read on to see the biggest price swings for the cars we've reviewed and how to haggle when buying a car from a dealership.

Note: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular T&Cs of a provider before committing to any financial products. All figures calculated 15 October, 2026.

Biggest new car price drops

These are the five new cars we've reviewed with the highest month-on-month price decreases, according to our unique pricing data.

*we only have three months of pricing data for the Leaf

Several cars have seen significant price drops this month.

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• Volvo XC60: Volvo increased the discounts it offers for several of its models at the start of October. The XC60 is one of these models and is now available with a £7,000 discount (it was previously available with a £1,000 discount).
• Ford Kuga Plug-in Hybrid: Ford's own discounts on the Kuga range (including the plug-in hybrid model, our pick of the Kuga range) increased at the start of October, to £3,500 per car. You should also be able to secure an additional discount from Ford dealers.
• Nissan Leaf: Availability of the 52kWh Nissan Leaf is beginning to increase since the car first arrived at dealers in July. As a result, dealers are increasing the discounts they offer to customers. However, Nissan's own deals on the Leaf aren't great. This suggests dealers might be offering a big slice of the discount for cash purchases, so you might have to push them to get the full amount.
• Fiat 500e Cabriolet: The government's Electric Car Grant, which is now available on the 500e Cabriolet, along with a £1,980 - £2,380 discount from Fiat (depending on trim), accounts for its price reduction.
  
• Suzuki Swift: At the start of October, Suzuki unveiled big discounts for most of its model range. This includes a £3,500 discount on the Swift , while our data shows there's also room to push dealers for a slightly higher discount. The Swift didn't score particularly well in our lab tests, though.

How to buy the best new car: we explain how to buy a cheap new car and find the right model for you

Biggest new car price increases

These are the five new cars with the biggest month-on-month price increases.

Several cars have seen large price rises over the last month, with the price of most fluctuating a great deal in previous months.

Log in to your account or join Which? today to see the test scores for each car.

• Ford Mustang Mach-E: Ford's offers on its Mustang Mach-E model are less generous than they have been in the past. However, discounts from dealers are still quite large, which explains why its current typical price is at least £10,000 less than list price.
• Cupra Tavascan: Cupra updated the Tavascan earlier this year and it went on sale in the UK in October. While its list price has decreased with the introduction of a new entry-level model, discounts from dealers and manufacturers have become less generous. Previous price swings are likely due to Cupra updating the Tavascan in 2026, at which point dealers may have offered even larger discounts to sell existing stock of the pre-update version. 
• BMW iX2: UK stock of the BMW iX2 has decreased significantly since it became eligible for the government's Electric Car Grant. This lack of stock and BMW's own offer becoming less generous have seen the car's typical price rise. The BMW iX2 was also subject to a large discount in August when BMW introduced a cheaper entry-level model and reduced the list prices of all other iX2 models. It also became eligible for the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant.
• Lexus LBX: Lexus recently ended factory orders of the entry-level LBX Urban, and as the next cheapest LBX is nearly £5,000 more expensive, this has seen the model's typical price rise sharply over the last month.
• Audi Q2: Production of the Audi Q2 ended earlier this year. As dealer and manufacturer stock of the car decreases, discounts also decrease and the Q2's typical price increases.

Bestselling cars: average cash discounts

Our data shows that for the UK’s best-selling cars in September 2026 that we've lab tested, their cash prices have generally changed quite a lot compared to last month, often due to the brand introducing or removing an entry-level version of the car.

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• Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3: We're surprised that the two Tesla models in this list are available with £500 discounts compared to September as Tesla sells its cars directly and rarely offers discounts.
• Kia Sportage: Discounts on the Sportage continue to decrease while the brand's finance deals on entry-level cars aren't that generous at the moment.
• Nissan Qashqai: Nissan's own finance offers on the Qashqai aren't that generous either (though the Qashqai is available with 0% APR), which means increased discounts from dealers are the likely explanation for the price drop.
• Ford Puma: It appears that the Puma is now available with significantly larger dealer discounts than in previous months, while Ford is also discounting new cars slightly too.

Before buying a new car: what you need to prepare

It helps if you’re clear beforehand on exactly which model, engine/motor and trim level you’re interested in. Manufacturer websites are a good place to check if you’re buying new, but you can also get an idea from our new and used car reviews.

When buying new, look for manufacturer discounts online and in ads, and be prepared to bargain – dealers might still have their own margin to play with on top of what’s offered by the manufacturer.

Some dealers also regularly advertise heavily discounted new cars on sites such as Carwow and Autotrader. Even if the cheapest car you're interested in is hundreds of miles from where you live, it can be useful to see other dealers' list prices for the car you're after. Take any quotes with you to show the salesperson.

Most new car buyers need some form of finance, and dealers are keen to offer their own finance packages. However, they may not be the most suitable or cheapest way to buy a new car. Our expert guide to car finance explains the pros and cons of the most popular methods.

Whether or not you want to take out dealer finance, it can pay to express an interest in it. Some dealers are prepared to offer a bigger discount off the new price because they make more money on the finance that goes with it. You can then push for the same discount when paying cash.

Confused about the different car finance products? Our expert guide to car finance explains all

How to haggle when buying a car

We asked Pat Hoy, founder of Insider Car Deals, an independent specialist in new-car discounts and pricing, to give us his tips on how you can get the best deal when buying a new car and how to haggle for one effectively.

What’s your top tip for someone who hates haggling?

If you dislike haggling, reduce the need for it.

Decide the maximum you’re willing to pay (using the prices displayed in Which? car reviews as a guide), then say to a salesperson that you're happy to proceed if they're willing to match the price for the exact model and trim. This keeps the discussion simple and avoids drawn-out negotiations.

Best car tyres: see the models that did best in our tough lab and road tests – and those to avoid

How would you deal with a salesperson refusing to budge on price?

If a salesperson won’t budge, stay calm and don’t take it personally.

Ask whether the price includes the best available dealer discount and all available manufacturer support. If it does, talk to a few other dealers for comparison.

Additionally, make it clear that you are prepared to walk away. That can often make a salesperson quickly change their stance.

Would you recommend accepting extras in place of a cash discount?

Prioritise a straight cash discount. Dealer-supplied extras such as paint protection or extended warranties often carry high margins, so the 'value' offered may cost the dealer far less than the discount you’re giving up.

Factory-fitted options you genuinely want are different – but only if you’d have chosen them anyway.

How can you tell when you’ve got the maximum available discount?

There’s no perfect way to know you’ve hit the maximum, but you can sense-check it.

If the offer is at, or close to, the car's price in the Which? review (which includes typical discounts for the base model), it’s already a strong deal. However, there may be a bit more discount available if you and the dealer can agree. Treat phrases such as 'that’s our limit' cautiously and use an independent benchmark to judge whether further movement is realistic.

Is there a good time of the year to pick up a bargain?

You’ll hear talk of end-of-month or end-of-quarter bargains, but it often depends on how well a model or dealer is performing. Early in the year can be competitive, as can the September plate change if targets are being chased. Also watch for manufacturer sales events, which sometimes bring stronger support.

Is it always better to pay in cash if you can afford it?

Not necessarily. Paying cash doesn’t automatically secure the best deal. A low-APR PCP offer with a strong finance deposit contribution can sometimes mean you pay less overall than the headline cash price. The key is to compare the total amount payable under each buying option before deciding.

What type of finance deal are you most likely to get the best deal with?

PCP (personal contract purchase) is usually where manufacturers concentrate most of their incentives, as it’s how the majority of new cars are bought. The strongest deals typically combine a low APR with a generous finance deposit contribution. Without both elements, a PCP offer may not be as competitive as it first appears.

Would you recommend part-exchanging a car as part of a deal?

Part-exchange is mainly for convenience, not maximum value. You’ll usually do better by agreeing the best price on the new car first, then discussing your current vehicle. That approach helps ensure the dealer offers a realistic market value. Selling privately can achieve more but involves extra time and effort.

What tricks will salespeople use to avoid giving you too big a discount?

Salespeople may say a model is 'selling out', that only stock cars qualify for bigger savings, or that a manufacturer's deposit contribution is the discount. Some claim they must contribute towards the cost of a PCP finance offer, limiting what they can reduce, or that the manufacturer won’t allow further discounting. These points can sometimes be true, but they’re also common negotiating lines. Sense-check against other dealers before accepting them at face value.

Best cheap cars: see the new and used models that aced our lab tests