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Compare the best first cars

Browse a selection of suitable first and learner cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.6/5 from 47,929 reviews

Best first cars for new drivers of 2023

Choosing your first car is a tough one — it has to be cheap enough to buy and run, robust enough to cope with young driver mistakes, and yet still have a modicum of style so that your friends won’t mock you. Insurance is expensive for new drivers, so a low insurance group is a must for any good first car, too.

So, which are the best first-time cars to buy?

Hyundai i10

1. Hyundai i10

9/10
Hyundai i10 review
As with all cars, Hyundai’s little i10 is a bit pricier than it used to be but still offers a lot of value. The i10 is roomy enough inside for four (although the boot’s tiny) but the good stuff here is a frugal little 1.0-litre engine, and Hyundai’s solid reliability and warranty. The car is not un-stylish, either.
Dacia Sandero

2. Dacia Sandero

9/10
Dacia Sandero review
This is the one to buy if you’re on a tight budget but want a practical cabin. Around £14,000 gets you a Polo-sized hatchback, with space to spare. The basic 90hp turbo 1.0-litre engine is lively, but not thirsty, and instead of a touchscreen, you get a clamp to hold your mobile phone and an app to connect it to the car’s speakers. Neat, if cheap. The safety rating (two NCAP stars) is a bit grim, though.
Peugeot 208

3. Peugeot 208

9/10
Peugeot 208 review
It may be more expensive than the smaller Hyundai or the budget Dacia, but the Peugeot 208 deserves a place on any new driver’s shortlist. The cabin is stylish and distinctive, with a small steering wheel that looks like it belongs in a go-kart. There’s lots of space up front (though the rear seats are quite cramped), and autonomous emergency braking is standard. There’s even a fully electric version, which is great for the eco-conscious new driver.
Volkswagen Polo

4. Volkswagen Polo

8/10
Volkswagen Polo review
If safety is a top priority, this is the one to buy. The Polo is built like a bank vault and performs like one in a crash test - scoring five stars in Euro NCAP testing and very highly across the individual categories. Some Polos may seem a bit too sensible for their own good, but a bright paint colour brings the styling to life.
SEAT Ibiza

5. SEAT Ibiza

8/10
SEAT Ibiza review
The SEAT Ibiza offers many of the same sensible qualities as the Volkswagen Polo but is wrapped in a more stylish, eye-catching body. A mid-life refresh a couple of years back gave the cabin a lift, too. The Ibiza is super-safe and well-equipped for the money.
Skoda Fabia

6. Skoda Fabia

7/10
Skoda Fabia review
Skoda is usually the sober, mature choice among VW Group brands, and the Fabia fits that mould – the styling is smart but inoffensive. Inside, the Fabia is roomier than most small cars, although some plusher plastics would give the cabin a boost. The Skoda is easy to drive – exactly what you want from a first car.
Toyota Yaris Hybrid

7. Toyota Yaris

7/10
Toyota Yaris Hybrid review
Once upon a time, the best thing about a Yaris was that it was indestructible. That solidity hasn’t changed, but Toyota has injected the latest Yaris with a jolt of styling brio, and a chassis that feels more deft and engaging than you’d expect. The pricey hybrid is super-economical, but it suffers from small back seats and a tiny boot.
Vauxhall Corsa

8. Vauxhall Corsa

7/10
Vauxhall Corsa review
A driving school favourite for decades, the Corsa has been much improved with this latest version. It looks quite sensible inside and out, but it’s sweeter to drive than it used to be, and you can even get an electric version if you want to future-proof your first car.
Kia Picanto
2024
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended

9. Kia Picanto

7/10
Kia Picanto review
Cheaper than the equivalent Hyundai, which is nice, and arguably nicer to look at with chunky, square-edged styling. Not the roomiest thing in the world, but it’ll do, and Kia’s seven-year warranty is reassuring when it comes to reliability. You might just crack 60mpg if you drive carefully.
Suzuki Swift

10. Suzuki Swift

7/10
Suzuki Swift review
Though its current iteration is getting a bit long in the tooth, the Suzuki Swift makes for a compelling choice of first car. As well as being roomy inside and available with a lot of tech, its 1.0-litre turbocharged engine is quite frugal and offers just enough performance to enjoy.

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Advice about first cars

Good first cars FAQs

Insurers will want you to buy the smallest engine you can, so it’s probably best to stick to a 1.0-litre unit. Thankfully, the latest 1.0-litre engines from the likes of Ford, Volkswagen, and Renault are much better all-round performers than they used to be, so venturing out onto the motorway isn’t an exercise in endurance.

At the moment, the winner is the Kia Picanto, which manages to be almost £2,000 cheaper than its cousin, the Hyundai i10. Even a Dacia Sandero isn’t that cheap, so snap one up before the prices rise.

The Kia Picanto and basic versions of the Volkswagen Polo are in Group 1 for insurance, so it’ll be tough to get a better quote than you will with one of them. The Ford Fiesta, Skoda Fabia, Kia Rio, and SEAT Ibiza all start in Group 2, while the Renault Clio, Hyundai i10, and Dacia Sandero all start in Group 3.

Check out our explainer guide on car insurance groups to find out more.

Well, saving up is the best way — there’s nothing like going into a car dealer with a pocket full of cash, and you’ll definitely wangle a good deal if you do. Many will buy with parental help, of course, so be nice to mum and dad.

Maybe. Finance is a big commitment, and while the monthly repayments on PCP plans look temptingly low, don’t forget there’s always the final payment to make in three years’ time, or you’ll have to be ready to roll the car over into a new deal. Make sure you read all the fine print, and don’t assume that the car company’s finance deal is the best — shop around with high street banks and credit unions to get the best deal. Above all, make sure you can afford the repayments in the longer term.

You can read more about buying a car on finance in our guide on PCP car financing.

The two key words here are reliability and economy. With fuel prices the way they are, you don’t want something that’s getting any less than 45mpg on average (and preferably better than that). Reliability is key too, as even if problems can be sorted under warranty, if you’re in a first car you’re also probably in a first job, and missing days to get your car fixed is a no-no.

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