Skip advert
Advertisement
Best cars & vans

Ford Fiesta - best first cars for new drivers

The Ford Fiesta is Britain's best-selling car, and makes the perfect first set of wheels

Ford Fiesta Trend - front tracking

The Ford Fiesta is the best-selling car in the country and has been for a long time - and naturally it's still a fine choice for anybody looking to buy or even finance their first car. 

Not only is it easy to drive, and great fun, too, the Fiesta scores well with its raft of safety tech. This includes the clever MyKey system, which allows parents to restrict the maximum speed of the car, the stereo volume when their children are behind the wheel and set a seatbelt reminder. It also features seven airbags and ESP, plus optional autobrake.

Young drivers will be wowed by the technology the interior offers, including SYNC voice activation, while Titanium models upwards get air-conditioning. The Fiesta's larger dimensions mean they can also carry friends in comfort, and the three-door comes with a 292-litre boot, that expands to 1,093-litres with the seats down.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Diesel models return the lowest fuel consumption, but the cheaper 1.0-litre, 99bhp EcoBoost petrol versions return up to 50.4mpg and only drop to 48.7mpg for the 138bhp version. Go for a lower-powered Fiesta, and it’ll sit in a competitive insurance group, too, while the huge Ford dealer network makes it easy to keep up with the service intervals and get any problems resolved.

Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2021

  1. Volkswagen up!/Skoda Citigo/SEAT Mii
  2. Kia Picanto
  3. Ford Fiesta
  4. SEAT Ibiza
  5. Hyundai i10
  6. Volkswagen Polo
  7. Toyota Aygo/Peugeot 108/Citroen C1
  8. Skoda Fabia
  9. Dacia Sandero
  10. Vauxhall Corsa
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best first cars for new drivers 2026
Best first cars - header image March 2026

Best first cars for new drivers 2026

These are the best cars for first time drivers, all of which are cheap, easy to drive and safe
Best cars & vans
25 Mar 2026
Cheapest cars to run 2026
Cheapest cars to run - header image

Cheapest cars to run 2026

When it comes to total cost of ownership, cut-price entry-level models aren’t always the best. So what are the cheapest cars to run in the UK today?
Best cars & vans
11 Mar 2026
Ford and Renault EV deal: Fiesta and other new EVs will ‘feel like Fords’
Ford with Renault

Ford and Renault EV deal: Fiesta and other new EVs will ‘feel like Fords’

Renault boss Provost confirms new Ford supermini EV will feel like a Ford, not a rebodied R5
News
19 Feb 2026
Best small cars to buy 2026
Best small cars 2026 - header image

Best small cars to buy 2026

Small cars come in all shapes, if not sizes. Here we highlight the best ones to buy
Best cars & vans
16 Feb 2026

Most Popular

SEAT Arona vs Hyundai Bayon: Cheap 'n' cheerful small SUV showdown
SEAT Arona vs Hyundai Bayon - front tracking

SEAT Arona vs Hyundai Bayon: Cheap 'n' cheerful small SUV showdown

SEAT has updated its long-running Arona SUV and Hyundai’s done the same with the slightly younger Bayon. We find out which one is best.
Car group tests
28 Mar 2026
Dacia targets 30% more UK car sales, thanks to good-value, larger cars
Dacia Striker- full front

Dacia targets 30% more UK car sales, thanks to good-value, larger cars

Dacia’s UK boss speaks to Auto Express about her bold plans to seize market share
News
27 Mar 2026
New Citroen 2CV: icon to be reborn for the electric era, and it’s coming soon
Citroen 2CV exclusive image 2026

New Citroen 2CV: icon to be reborn for the electric era, and it’s coming soon

The planets are aligned! Retro design buzz and rules promoting small EVs will see Citroen's most famous car rebooted
News
30 Mar 2026