Best first cars for new drivers 2017/2018

Best first cars for new drivers - header

A new car for first time drivers should inspire confidence, be relatively cheap, safe and easy to drive. Here are the best 10 first cars

Passing your driving test and buying your first car, is for many, a step on the ladder of becoming a fully fledged adult. You really have your freedom when you can walk outside, get in the car and drive anywhere you like - provided your budget can stretch to some fuel. Saying that, the ‘first cars’ listed below are not solely for newly qualified teens, they are an excellent choice for all types drivers new or experienced. Mostly because they are all cheap to buy, cheap to insure, cheap to run, rammed with safety kit, simple to manoeuvre and not too powerful.

The reason we favoured inexpensive cars, is because paying for lessons often puts cash at a premium, and moving from your instructor’s Vauxhall Corsa to something significantly larger can be difficult. All of the models below offer rock bottom buying and running costs to make sure they are realistic goals for new drivers.

• Best superminis to buy now

Similarly, as insurance (which you are required by law to have) is the biggest outlay for many when buying a first car, we have made sure that each model named is in one of the lowest insurance groups.

To help keep your insurance premiums down, many brokers fit ‘black boxes’ to monitor your car use and driving style. Such policies are a sure fire way to reduce your expenditure and are worth considering.

• Cheapest cars to insure

When you're looking at new cars, you may be attracted by free insurance deals, but while these will cut your costs, there will usually be age restrictions, usually age 21 and older. If you're eligible, it's a great way to build up your first 12 months of no-claims discount, and you'll be surprised by how much your insurance costs will drop after the first year.

If you're a parent who is helping your child to get on the road by buying their first car, then you'll want a car that's safe. It's worth looking at a car's Euro NCAP crash test results, but bear in mind that cars tested after 2015 faced a tougher regime, so you can't directly compare ratings between models. However, any new car is going to be a safe place when compared to an older used model. Do check that electronic stability control (ESC) is included in a car's kit list, too, as it can sometimes be optional on the very cheapest cars.

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Diesel cars have attractively high fuel economy figures, but a diesel can under perform and become unreliable if you don't use it on long-distance runs regularly. If you're just going to use your car for trips to the shops, a petrol car is a better option. In reality, petrol cars will be more than economical enough.

When you're inexperienced behind the wheel, it's important that a car gives you confidence. Look for a car with light steering and a tight turning circle, while large windows will help you see where you want to go and what's around you.

Thankfully, these days small cars can be upgraded with options such as parking sensors which and sat-nav, which will help you concentrate on driving. Most young drivers will want a decent stereo, while gadgets such as Bluetooth and a USB connection can be had on these entry level models, so you can keep connected and help you.