Best first cars for new drivers 2024
These are the best cars for first time drivers, all of which are cheap, easy to drive and safe
Once you've passed your practical driving test, the next barrier between you and a whole new level of freedom is finding your new car. The best first cars offer a combination of safety, equipment, practicality, and easy manoeuvrability, not to mention being some of the cheapest cars to insure. To help make your search as easy as possible, our experts have rounded up the very best first cars for new drivers right here.
The cost of buying and running a car can be steep, especially for new drivers, so we’ve chosen these cars with their value for money, reliability and fuel economy at the forefront of our minds. Naturally, our picks also offer cheaper car insurance for young drivers. All of these models are brand new, but many great examples can also be found on the used market for lower prices. Either way, they are all available for a reasonable price, particularly if you finance them through a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) finance agreement or a Personal Contact Hire (PCH) leasing deal.
The best first cars for new drivers
Read on to find the best first cars for new drivers, as based on our thorough real-world testing.
10. Vauxhall Corsa
- Prices from £18,500
You may well have learned how to get your driving licence by taking driving lessons in a Vauxhall Corsa, as these are a firm favourite of instructors across the country. If so, this supermini will come with a sense of familiarity, but even if you learned to drive in another car, the Corsa is easy to live with, good to drive, economical and even rather practical for its size.
There are a number of powertrains and trims to choose from with the Corsa, but if you want the lowest purchase price you’ll want to look at the petrol-powered model. If you’re prepared to spend a bit more, there are hybrid or fully-electric power options on offer. In terms of standard kit, every trim level gets a reasonable amount including alloy wheels, LED lighting and a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
9. Renault Clio
- Prices from £18,000
If you’re something of a fashionista, the latest Renault Clio should suit you as it’s one of the best-looking superminis that you can currently buy. It’s more than just a looker, too, as it comes with plenty of standard-fit equipment and also has the option of hybrid power.
Even if you decide to go for the petrol model, you should still see some pleasingly high economy figures as the three-cylinder TCe 90 engine claims up to 54.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. The petrol-powered Clio also boasts a 391-litre boot, which is one of the biggest in the supermini class.
8. Fiat 500e
- Prices from £28,000
- Best for efficiency
The car industry is rapidly switching over to electric power, and with the UK ban on petrol and diesel cars coming into effect in 2035 you may be considering going electric from day one of holding your licence. If you are, the Fiat 500e should definitely be on your radar.
The 500e may be one of the smallest and lower-priced EVs on sale, but it’s so good that we named it our City Car of the Year twice. Much like its petrol-powered predecessor, the little Fiat offers flair and style in bulk, only this time with the added bonus of zero-emissions. If you’re a bit concerned about range then you’re best-off opting for the larger 42kWh battery, as this offers a claimed range of up to 199 miles on the WLTP combined cycle.
7. Dacia Sandero
- Prices from £14,000
- Cheapest to buy
The Dacia Sandero is one of the cheapest cars to buy in the UK, and the latest-generation model is based on the current Renault Clio, which itself is a great supermini.
Admittedly, equipment on the Sandero is rather more sparse than in some of the other cars on this list, but the essentials are all still there. With prices starting from around £14,000, though, you won’t feel like you’re being short-changed. The latest Sandero should also prove practical for everyday use, with five seats, five doors and a 320-litre boot. While it won’t give any major thrills from behind the wheel, the Sandero is reasonably cheap to insure for new drivers – it starts from as low as insurance group 7.
6. Volkswagen Polo
Prices from £21,000
If what you desire is a ‘grown-up’ supermini, the Volkswagen Polo is very hard to beat.
There are a few versions of Polo to choose from, but the base ‘Life’ trim offers plenty of features, including alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a DAB radio, electronic stability control, and rain-sensing automatic wipers.
While the current Polo is notably larger than previous generations, it should still prove easy to drive and park. That said, there is the option of the Driver Assistance Package, which includes parking assist.
5. Fiat Panda
- Prices from £15,000
It’s one of the oldest cars that you can still buy brand-new in the UK, but the charming Fiat Panda is still one of the best first cars out there. It’s pretty cheap and thanks to its low group 6 insurance across the entire line-up, your premiums shouldn’t be too horrifying.
The downside of its age means the Panda is a bit short on the most modern features, but you’ll still get a few creature comforts like Bluetooth and air-conditioning. New models also have a mid-hybrid powertrain to keep running costs well under control.
4. Toyota Aygo X
- Prices from £16,000
Toyota’s funky-looking Aygo X brings a little SUV style into the city car class. Chunky plastic cladding on the wheelarches and 17-inch alloy wheels give the car an upright stance, but its 3.7-metre length still enables it to squeeze into the tightest of parking spots. The standard-fit reversing camera means that there’s less chance of unintended bumps, too.
The thrummy little three-cylinder engine has plenty of character, but its modest power output means it’s in Group Five. Body-coloured splashes on the insides of the doors add some charm to the cabin, while the central touchscreen features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It isn’t quite as refined or as spacious as the Kia or Hyundai, but there’s still plenty to like.
3. Hyundai i10
- Prices from £16,000
- Lowest insurance group
The Hyundai i10 is a small car with plenty of big car qualities, but the biggest highlight is that it’s available with Group 3 insurance, provided you choose the automatic model in Advance trim. Unfortunately this gearbox is pretty jerky in operation, but if you want the more pleasant five-speed manual, you’ll be looking at a higher insurance premium.
On the plus side, this little Hyundai city car is great to drive and very well equipped. The base Advance trim comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and cruise control. There’s even lane-keep assist to help out more nervous drivers.
2. Kia Picanto
- Prices from £15,500
For buyers who have earned themselves an automatic-only licence, you can’t get any cheaper than the Kia Picanto. The self-shifting version of the Korean brand’s dinkiest car slots into the lowest Group one category, so it should be relatively cheap to run. If you have a full licence, we’d try to avoid that option, because the gearbox is so slow and jerky to shift that many drivers will feel like they’ve been taken back to their first lesson all over again.
There’s more good news for keen drivers, too, as the Kia is a hoot to drive, and its tiny dimensions make it a doddle to park and easy to manoeuvre around town.
1. Skoda Fabia
- Prices from £20,000
Buying a car for a first-time driver can be tricky. Not only do you want something that’s small and easy to handle, but with rising running costs, a low insurance group and a low asking price are an absolute must, too. The car that manages to blend all of these things together best of all is the Skoda Fabia.
Spec the Fabia with the 1.0 MPI petrol engine in SE spec, and it’ll sit in insurance group four, meaning it won’t cost an arm and a leg to cover. You’ll also be getting one of the most refined and spacious superminis around. Its little 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol only puts out a modest 79bhp, so there’s just enough power for an over-enthusiastic 17-year-old to get around without getting too carried away.
Best first cars for new drivers
- Skoda Fabia
- Kia Picanto
- Hyundai i10
- Toyota Aygo X
- Fiat Panda
- Volkswagen Polo
- Dacia Sandero
- Fiat 500
- Renault Clio
- Vauxhall Corsa
What to look for in a first car
Here are some key questions to ask when shopping for a first car…
Is it cheap to insure?
One of the biggest obstacles for new drivers to overcome is sky-high insurance costs. As a new driver, your shortage of experience will count against you in the eyes of an insurer. If you can keep out of trouble for 12 months, you will accrue a no-claims discount which will give you a percentage reduction on your premium. If you continue to not make any insurance claims, then this discount will only grow over the years. There are even some finance deals which include free insurance, although this usually raises the monthly payments drastically.
One way of boosting a no-claims discount is to fit your car with an insurer-approved 'black box'. This electronic device plugs into your car's electronics and monitors your driving, and you and your insurer can review your performance to see how and where you can improve. Return a good score, and the insurer can further reduce your payments.
Is it safe?
Some parents will be in a position to buy their children their first car, and if you're in that enviable situation, then you'll likely want to buy the safest car possible. You need to find the cars that come with the highest Euro NCAP safety rating: the higher the score for a car, the safer it is.
Still, buying a new car rather than an old second-hand one will mean it's inherently safer, because it will feature the most up-to-date safety equipment. This could include more advanced systems such as autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, which allow the car’s systems to intervene in an emergency and try to avoid a collision.
Which fuel type should i choose?
We'd recommend going for a petrol car over a diesel. There aren't many small diesel cars on sale these days, and you'll only reap the benefit of their better fuel consumption if you do lots of motorway miles, which is unlikely if you're an inexperienced driver.
It's better to go for a small petrol, and if the option of stop-start is available then that should help to reduce running costs even more. While the experience of the engine cutting out when you put the car in neutral might be unnerving at first, you'll soon get into the habit of saving fuel and making your money go further.
Alternatively, if your budget allows, an increasing number of smaller hybrid models are going on sale. These cars use both a petrol engine and electric motors to lower fuel consumption and emissions, meaning that you could make savings on both running costs, all while reducing your carbon footprint. If you are looking at a hybrid car, it is important to remember that there are different types of hybrid, and these carry their own advantages and disadvantages depending on how you use them.
If you’d prefer to go all-electric, there are lots of small, easy-to-drive models to choose from. However, prices for electric cars are still higher than their petrol, diesel and hybrid counterparts in the majority of cases, and insurance premiums can be a lot higher. Calculate it correctly, and the fuel and tax savings could help to counteract this. It is, of course, important to make sure that you would indeed be able to live with an electric car, such as having the space for a home-charger.
Is it easy to drive?
Other important things to look out for when buying a car for a new driver include light steering, good visibility, a responsive engine and brakes, user-friendly controls and a positive gear shift; all of these will help a new driver build confidence during their time behind the wheel. You’ll want to take a few test drives in the models on your first car shortlist to decide which one suits you best.
Keep reading to find everything you need to know about learning to drive, getting your driving licence and choosing your first car...
Learning to drive
Passing your driving test
- Driving theory test: everything you need to know
- Hazard perception test: what to expect and how to pass
- Driving test 'show me, tell me' questions: hints and tips
- Practical driving test: how to pass
- Driving test pass rates explained
- Driving test aids product test
- History of the UK driving test
Getting your first car
