Mitsubishi Lancer: £3,000 off

Mitsubishi is slashing the price of its cheapest Lancer saloon by over £3,000.

The new 1.5-litre four-door SE has gone on sale for £12,499. The previous cheapest was the Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8-litre GS3 four-door at £15,648.

Standard features on the low-cost Lancer include metallic paint, 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, air-conditioning and front fog lights.

Safety and security equipment include side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, and a CAT 1 alarm.

The new price point undercuts Volkswagen's 1.4-litre Jetta saloon by £3,300.

Buyers who hand over a car more than ten years old can get an additional £2,000 off on the government's scrappage scheme, bringing the Lancer's entry price down to £10,499.

Stuart Milne reviewed the Lancer saloon and described it as: "Spacious and priced competitively to give the established opposition something to worry about"

Used three year-old Lancers are available on autotrader.co.uk from £3,900.