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 shaping up for its gigantic 2028 comeback
Ford Fiesta render Avarvarii

New Ford Fiesta shaping up for its gigantic 2028 comeback

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

Best Motability cars 2026 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 2026
Best used small cars 2025 - header

Best used small cars to buy 2026

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

It’s clear that all buyers want are affordable and desirable cars
Affordable cars - opinion

It’s clear that all buyers want are affordable and desirable cars

Manufacturers like BYD, Jaecoo and Renault are building affordable cars people actually want to buy, and it’s backed up by sales data
Opinion
5 Jan 2026
Ford Puma is UK’s best-selling car once again and Brits prove their love for petrol power
Ford Puma - front corner left turn

Ford Puma is UK’s best-selling car once again and Brits prove their love for petrol power

More than 2,000,000 new cars were sold in the UK last year – the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic
News
6 Jan 2026
New electric Mercedes S-Class will replace the EQS… eventually
Mercedes EQS - front tracking

New electric Mercedes S-Class will replace the EQS… eventually

The next iteration of the S-Class will give its affluent customers the choice of combustion or electric power
News
5 Jan 2026