New Year, New Car: Six of the best cars to lease this year

Out with the old and in with the new; these are six of the best cars on offer if you’re looking for a new lease in 2025

The Christmas decorations are down, your resolutions are made, and it’s time for a freshen up. Whether that’s sprucing up the house or changing your old vehicle for a new one, we’re down for it.

And really, what better time to contemplate a new vehicle than January?

With the rain and freezing weather we’ve been having recently, wouldn’t it be lovely to have a brand-new set of wheels with all the mod-cons to keep you warm and dry until the sun decides to make a reappearance?

We’ve rounded up six of our favourite cars to lease from across the past year that are sure to get you through the next – and beyond. Whether you’re looking for an electric car, a nippy little hatchback, or something to cart the entire family around in, we’ve got you covered.

After all, there’s nothing that quite brightens up a dull January like a shiny set of sparkling wheels.

Nissan Qashqai

Being the quintessential crossover-SUV, it’s no real surprise that the Nissan Qashqai has crept onto this list.

We love it, you love it, everyone who comes into contact with it loves it.

Sure, it’s not the prettiest car on the road. Nor is it the fastest, or the most fun to drive, or the most innovative. But it is sturdy and dependable. If you looked up the word ‘workhorse’ in the dictionary, you’d likely find a picture of the Qashqai there, in all its family wagon glory.

And if you need your car to be able to cart around your entire family, plus all their luggage (whether that’s the day-to-day bits, like sports gear, buggies and snacks, or actual suitcases for your next holiday) and the family dog, then the Qashqai is exactly what you need.

None of those bells and whistles around here, we’re looking for a family wagon that can deal with anything family life might throw at it.

The beauty of car leasing means you’ll get your mitts on the latest Qashqai too, and all of the technology that brings with it. More infotainment, more safety gear, more fun. You simply can’t go wrong.

Browse our best Nissan Qashqai lease deals

Audi A3 Sportback

In a crowded list of iconic cars, the Audi A3 Sportback still manages to stand out as perhaps the most iconic.

Well. The most iconic hatchback, anyway.

The Audi A3 Sportback has long been one of the best premium hatchbacks that money can lease, and has proven such a good seller for Audi that it’s not really changed in the 20 years that it’s been on sale.

Sure, it’s had a few little tweaks there, and a tuck or two to bring it up to date. The latest A3 is crammed with all the tech you could need to keep you entertained and connected on the go, and it’s got plenty of safety kit. But visually, the A3 Sportback is basically the same car you know and love.

And, with it being a Sportback, it combines all the best bits of a hatchback, a coupe and a saloon to create some sort of hybrid car that ticks off all the boxes. Sleek, stylish, spacious – it really doesn’t get much better than this.

Browse our best Audi A3 Sportback lease deals

Hyundai Tucson

There’s something about the Hyundai Tucson that just screams Big Adventure.

Whether it’s the rugged SUV look or the name, we’re not quite sure. But it’s the perfect vehicle for spontaneous road trips, mystery drives out into the sticks, or even the more mundane journeys, like jaunts up and down the motorway or trips into town to run errands.

Or throw caution completely to the wind, pack up your Tucson, and head out on a family holiday somewhere you’ve never been before.

Whatever you need your Hyundai Tucson for, it’s sure to rise spectacularly to the occasion.

And, lets be honest, we could all do with a little more spontaneity, adventure and fun in 2025, if the last few years are anything to go by. Life is too short, and the world is too big.

You can do it all in a Tucson. With bold lines, brilliant wing headlights and sculpted bodywork, it’s an enviable car as well as a practical one. And with the hybrid model being that extra bit efficient, you’ll be able to spend more of your hard-earned cash on the adventure instead of the car.

Where will you go first?

Browse our best Hyundai Tucson lease deals

CUPRA Born

The CUPRA Born is the first fully electric car the sporty Spanish brand released.

And it’s a very good one.

Sure, it doesn’t go reinventing the hatchback wheel. But it does give the old electric hatchback a stylish, Spanish, sporty flair. If stylish, Spanish, sporty flairs are up your street, then this is going to be the lease car for you this year. And next. And the year after that.

In fact, you might even love it so much that you lease a new one once this contract is over.

With its aggressive styling and impressive maximum WLTP Comb range of 335 miles (model dependent), you can’t go wrong with the Born. And, despite being a hatchback, it’s still a pretty practical car, with a decent-sized boot and plenty of interior space.

If you’re after something a little bit more exciting than the standard daily runaround, look no further.

Browse our best CUPRA Born lease deals

SKODA Karoq

We had to include a SKODA on the list.

After shaking off their old reputation, SKODA have since built themselves up to be one of the best value manufacturers around.

Practical, affordable, efficient, packed with extra cool features like the ice scraper in the fuel filler cap and the in-built parking ticket holder, a SKODA lease is well worth some consideration, if you didn’t have the Czech brand in mind already.

And the SKODA Karoq is one of the best.

Second only to the Octavia when it comes to practical family cars, if you ask us. The SKODA for you if you’re after an SUV rather than a hatchback or an estate.

In terms of size, the Karoq sits between the smaller Kamiq and the larger Kodiaq in SKODA’s SUV line-up, making it essentially the Goldilocks of the piece. Not too big, not too small – the Karoq is just right.

And if you think the Karoq is just right to be your next lease car of choice, simply get in touch with our leasing experts and you’ll be behind the wheel of your new car faster than you can say ‘porridge’.

Browse our best SKODA Karoq lease deals

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer

When it comes to the electric car spectrum, Volkswagen have got you covered.

Seriously. There’s pretty much an ID.-badged car for every eventuality. Want a hatchback? You can lease the ID.3. Fancy an SUV? You’ve got the VW ID.4. Want to shave the rugged edges off the SUV for a coupe-fied look? Opt for the ID.5.

And then you have the Volkswagen ID.7. It’s available as a saloon too, if you want something a little sleeker, but we’re shining a light on the Tourer model today.

Essentially, VW took the ID.3, rolled it around a bit, stretched it out, and turned it into an electric estate. Which is an area of the EV market which has been a little neglected over the last few years, with manufacturers seemingly focused on SUVs, hatchbacks and saloons.

Don’t get us wrong, we love those things. But sometimes you just can’t beat the practicality of the old estate.

And the VW ID.7 is a very good one. With its WLTP Comb range of up to 373 miles, cavernous boot and spacious interior, it makes for an excellent electric family lease.

We’re sold.

Browse our best Volkswagen ID.7 lease deals