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

New Ford Fiesta EV on the way under massive Renault tech share deal
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta EV on the way under massive Renault tech share deal

Ford’s passenger-car business to get new lease of life thanks to Renault’s Ampere platform, paving the way for two new small EVs
News
10 Dec 2025
Best Motability cars 2025/2026 - top choices with nil advance payment
Best Motability cars - header image

Best Motability cars 2025/2026 - top choices with nil advance payment

The Motability scheme is designed to get less able people moving, and we've picked out the very best cars on offer
Best cars & vans
25 Nov 2025
Best used small cars to buy 2025
Best used small cars 2025 - header

Best used small cars to buy 2025

Our guide to the best used small cars, covering the top second hand city cars and superminis
Best cars & vans
19 Nov 2025
Kia Picanto review
Kia Picanto - front tracking

Kia Picanto review

The little Kia Picanto boasts plenty of kit and offers a grown-up drive to go with its sporty looks
In-depth reviews
5 Nov 2025

Most Popular

New Ford Fiesta EV on the way under massive Renault tech share deal
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta EV on the way under massive Renault tech share deal

Ford’s passenger-car business to get new lease of life thanks to Renault’s Ampere platform, paving the way for two new small EVs
News
10 Dec 2025
EU petrol car sales ban to be delayed until 2040: What will it mean for the UK?
Electric car charging mega test - charging overhead

EU petrol car sales ban to be delayed until 2040: What will it mean for the UK?

With the EU delaying its ICE ban, the UK Government may come under more pressure to follow suit. 
News
8 Dec 2025
Apple CarPlay quietly gets a major upgrade: here’s what’s new
Apple CarPlay Ultra - vehicle

Apple CarPlay quietly gets a major upgrade: here’s what’s new

More widgets and the ability to switch off annoying pinned messages feature are all a part of iOS 26.2
News
8 Dec 2025