CathayEV buyer decision
A lower payment can leave a bigger bill to keep the car.
For: UK buyers comparing PCP quotes and deciding whether to own or return the car.
If you plan to keep the car, compare the deposit, all instalments and final payment. If you plan to return it, compare the term, mileage allowance and return charges before choosing from a monthly headline.
What could change the advice?
Whether you will own or return the car, your actual mileage, fees and the full written quote can change which arrangement fits. The larger balloon below lowers the monthly payment but raises the total paid to own under these assumptions.
These matched examples use the same £33,000 car, £3,300 deposit, 48 monthly instalments and 9.9% APR. They are simulations, not offers or resale-value forecasts. APR is divided by 12; payments are at month-end and extra fees are excluded. The quote cards compare PCP, not PCH lease rentals.
Load a matched example to open the loan/PCP simulator above. Drag its controls to update the estimate; use the table below to compare total paid to own. The MG4/B05 quote cards above use separate retailer payment schedules. For an actual PCP quote, edit those cards using the full written terms, including final payment and charges.
Example calculations checked 2026-10-09. CathayEV: compare the quote · MoneyHelper: PCP explained · MoneyHelper: PCH explained
Same car and terms, two final payments
Both examples use a £33,000 price, £3,300 deposit, 48 monthly instalments and 9.9% APR. Only the final payment changes. These calculated examples are separate from the retailer quote cards above.
| Monthly instalment | Final payment to own | Total paid to own |
|---|
| £470.28 | £16,500.00 | £42,373.32 |
| £582.90 | £9,900.00 | £41,179.38 |
Total paid to own = deposit + 48 instalments + final payment, using unrounded instalments and excluding extra fees. A lender's rounded payment schedule may differ. For returning the car, check mileage, condition and return charges instead.
Loan vs PCP: a worked example
For a £30,000 car with a £3,000 deposit over 48 months at an illustrative 9.9% APR, this calculator estimates £683.49 a month for a loan paid down to zero. With a 38% PCP balloon, the estimate is £488.96 a month, followed by an optional £11,400 payment to own the car.
Compare the deposit, all monthly payments, fees and final payment for the same ownership outcome. A lower PCP payment leaves a balance at the end. This example uses APR divided by 12 and excludes fees; your lender's quote can differ.
What should you compare before choosing?
Does the PCP monthly payment buy the car?
You need to pay the optional final payment to keep it. If you return it, mileage and condition charges can apply. Use the deposit, APR, term and balloon from the actual quote.
How is salary sacrifice different?
Enter the gross monthly lease amount supplied by your employer's scheme. The lease price cannot be inferred from the car's retail price. Compare what each quote includes, such as insurance and servicing, and use the scheme's P11D value for tax.
Are electricity and petrol included?
These are car payments. Add your driving energy scenario using the EV and PHEV energy cost calculator.
Example inputs: APR 9.9% and a balloon of 38% of the car price. Neither is an offer or a prediction of your car's value. PCP interest covers the full loan, including the deferred balloon; see MoneyHelper's PCP explanation. Calculation checked 2 October 2026.