To the concern of many, keyless entry is now becoming a standard option across the car market. Today, we’re going to take a look at 5 of the best new cars on sale in 2023 which are still available without making yourself vulnerable to relay theft.
Unfortunately, the list is somewhat limited for brand new cars, especially as a majority of EVs and hybrids opt to fit keyless entry as standard for their tech-obsessed clients. Luckily, there are a number of great options left, so you aren’t out of luck if you want an old school car which was actually developed with security in mind… yet.
5. Abarth 595 – Best Hot Hatch Without Keyless Entry
Abarth make a number of highly popular, affordable sports cars – from the 595 to the 124 Spyder, Fiat’s performance-focussed offshoot are known for making lightweight, fun cars for the masses. It’s worth noting that some brand new Abarths in 2023 are fitted with keyless entry, including the 500e and 500e Turismo models, as is standard with most EVs.
The Abarth we’re focussing on today though is the ever popular 595. It’s small, affordable, light and fast, all without being vulnerable to relay theft.
New examples of the 595 with a decent specification come in at around £23,000 which is somewhat miraculous with new car prices in 2023. If you don’t need miles of boot space, definitely consider one. The reason it takes out number 10 spot is because, as a hot hatch, it still remains a prime target for traditional car thieves, so it’s arguably not the safest option out there from a security standpoint still, although that’s through no fault of the manufacturer.
4. Nissan Juke
Nissan Jukes have been available both with and without keyless entry for a number of years now. Nissan refer to their system as having the “Intelligent Key”, so look out for cars which don’t have this option fitted. Unfortunately based on their UK configurator which you can view here, a majority of the higher spec models do have keyless entry, but a number of the lower specification models don’t come fitted with push to start as standard. This mini SUV is 2 wheel drive so don’t expect to be off out doing some incredible off-roading, but a majority of Juke owners aren’t really looking for something to compete with the likes of a Range Rover.
The Nissan Juke is a practical car and is definitely worth considering, especially since there are a few new examples on the market at barely over £20,000. Look for the “Visia” and “Acenta” models.
3. Dacia Sandero “Essential”
The Dacia Sandero has won a number of awards, and it’s no wonder when you consider the price. Starting from £13,995 new this is one of the best value new cars available in the UK. At the bottom of the trim levels, the “Essential” version of the Sandero does not come with keyless entry as standard, so security-conscious buyers will be happy.
The higher spec model (Known as the “Expression”) does have it as standard though, so be careful when looking to book a drive in one. You can see a full list of specifications for both trim levels on Dacia’s website. Granted, it’s not quite got the same road presence as the likes of a BMW X5M, but it serves a purpose, which is to get you from A to B, and in that regard, it’s simply brilliant.
2. Volkswagen UP!
This is a favourite of mine, but like the Abarth 595, it may be too small for a lot of households. The UP can be had without keyless entry, even on the newer models, and at barely £15,000 is one of the best value new cars on the market today. Granted, there are a number of other features as well as keyless entry which don’t come as standard, but as a little town run-around it’s hard to beat.
As expected from the VW Audi Group, the build quality is considerably better than a lot of other economy cars – it’s just solid, but light enough that it’s surprisingly fun and practical. The styling is very tasteful as well in my opinion, with a reasonable degree of sophistication without being too boring.
Small, affordable, fun and secure. What else could you want?
1. Seat Ibiza – Most Trim Levels
The Seat Ibiza is without a doubt one of the best all-round affordable hatchbacks on sale in 2023, and it doesn’t have keyless entry fitted as standard! You can still spec one to a very good level before needing to sacrifice your car’s security.
Based on the spec sheet for trim levels in the Seat configurator, these are the trim levels which are not vulnerable:
- SE – The cheapest trim level
- SE Technology – Similar to the SE, but has a nice touch screen Sat Nav fitted and a few other extras
- FR – Full LED lights and Digital Cockpit, as well as larger wheels and some other bits
- FR Sport – Bigger wheels and more sporty bits, as well as a larger virtual cockpit display
The trim levels which are worth avoiding as they do come with the dreaded push-to-start button is the two most premium levels, the “Xcellence” and “Xcellence Lux”.
Conclusion – There are Still a Few Cars Without Keyless Entry in 2023.
So there you have it, 5 very reasonably priced, great cars which you can still buy new without needing to worry about buying a car which is more vulnerable to theft than your current vehicle! If you’re looking for more choices and end up needing to buy a car which has keyless entry, there are a few options I’ve researched and covered in previous articles.
Firstly, you can protect the key fob by making use of a good quality police approved faraday pouch. It’s also worth considering installing some good wireless outdoor security cameras to keep an eye on your vehicle, and perhaps fit a good driveway bollard too, if you plan on parking the car on private land.
It’s a sad reality that car makers are opting to throw security out the window for the sake of ever so slightly improving driver convenience, but that’s just how it is in 2023. My thoughts? If you’re set on a car but you have to have it with a keyless fob, go for it. Just make sure you take a few additional security measures to make sure that you aren’t an easy target.