Trying the Tesla Cybertruck | Drive Smart Your support helps us to tell the story Read more Jaecoo 7 is selling fast – but should you really buy one? Here’s my view as an EV expert A year ago, our Grandland had a list price of £38,255. It’s cheaper now thanks to the government’s Electric Car Grant, but a year-old example on a Vauxhall forecourt would still cost around £27,000. In reality, I’d get far less than that if I were selling privately after a year – which shows that, in my case, leasing has worked out cheaper than buying and taking the hit on depreciation. Scanning leasing websites is one of my favourite pastimes – there’s not much on the telly these days anyway. It’s great intel on what’s being pushed, by whom, and which manufacturers are most desperate to hit their targets. The Vauxhall Frontera remains king of the bargain deals, with a well-specced model available on similar terms to my lease for a total of £4,479 over two years, on a car that costs £26,395. Even the fancy new Renault 4 can be yours for a total lease cost of £5,528.95, while a larger, family-friendly Leapmotor B10 will set you back £7,257.10 over two years. Tempting as those deals are, none quite stack up to what I think is Britain’s best-value new car right now. At the time of writing, you could be running a Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive – a car I rate very highly, with a list price of £37,990 – for just £295 a month. Yes, that’s a higher monthly outlay than the sub-£200 deals, but the Tesla requires just one month’s deposit (£295), plus a £200 arrangement fee (I’ve never understood why that’s always extra). That brings the total two-year cost to £7,575 – just £318 more than the £31,430 Leapmotor B10. open image in gallery The Tesla Model 3 can be yours for £295 down and £295 a month over two years and 8,000 miles a year (Steve Fowler) In my view, the rear-drive Model 3 is one of the best electric cars you can buy, which makes this a sensational deal. You also get an 8,000-mile annual allowance, compared with the 5,000-mile limit on some of the cheaper offers. Of course, a Tesla isn’t for everyone, and £295 a month is still out of reach for many. But it does highlight the strength of the deals currently available – and the value of leasing. You can probably tell I’m a fan. If you’ve spotted a better deal, do let me know – just click the button below to email me. Sign up for the DriveSmart newsletter open image in gallery Our DriveSmart newsletter is packed full of expert tips, trusted car reviews, the latest motoring news, and interviews with industry leaders (The Independent) To get the latest motoring insights from EV editor Steve Fowler delivered straight to your inbox, simply enter your email address in the box at the top of this page. Each edition of DriveSmart offers clear, expert guidance on the fast-moving world of electric vehicles and modern motoring, from trusted reviews and practical tips to the biggest industry news of the week.