Compare the best cars for teenagers

High quality cars for teenagers from rated and reviewed dealers

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Best cars for teenagers of 2024

Nothing is more liberating for a young adult than their first car – and nothing worries parents of young adults more than their first car. This paradox is key to selecting the right car for a teenager who has just passed their test.

Teens will want something cool, with a stylish design, lots of tech and cheap to run: parents will want something that is safe, to protect their child if they’re involved in a collision. We’ve assessed all the cars that match these various criteria and selected the best cars for teenagers.

Hyundai i10

1. Hyundai i10

8/10
Hyundai i10 review

What's good

  • Stylish exterior design
  • Very easy to drive in town
  • Good-sized boot for such a small car

What’s not so good

  • Really basic entry-level models
  • Cheapest petrol engine is gutless
  • Alternatives have more eye-catching interiors
For the last decade or so, successive generations of the Hyundai i10 have impressed buyers – and rightly so, because this is a fabulously good-value package of style, equipment, on-road manners and practicality.
It’s great to drive, especially around town, and (apart from the entry-level trim) has all the equipment a young driver will appreciate, including an infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and reversing camera to help avoid all those new-driver bumps and scrapes.

What's good

  • Stylish exterior design
  • Very easy to drive in town
  • Good-sized boot for such a small car

What’s not so good

  • Really basic entry-level models
  • Cheapest petrol engine is gutless
  • Alternatives have more eye-catching interiors
Peugeot 208

2. Peugeot 208

8/10
Peugeot 208 review

What's good

  • Striking looks
  • Fantastic interior
  • Efficient hybrid engine

What’s not so good

  • Rear legroom
  • Bumpy with large wheels
  • Alternatives are much cheaper
A little French flair goes a long way in making a small car desirable – which is why the Peugeot 208 is such a winner with style-conscious teens. The exterior styling is youthfully funky, looking good from whatever angle you look at it, and the cabin is just as appealing, with a modern design and materials that are impressive for a small car.
The small steering wheel might feel a little odd for new drivers, so it’s worth test driving before buying.

What's good

  • Striking looks
  • Fantastic interior
  • Efficient hybrid engine

What’s not so good

  • Rear legroom
  • Bumpy with large wheels
  • Alternatives are much cheaper

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Dacia Sandero

3. Dacia Sandero

8/10
Dacia Sandero review

What's good

  • Value for money is tough to beat
  • Interior is spacious and impressively practical
  • Holds its value well

What’s not so good

  • Poor two-star safety rating
  • No USB charge points in rear
  • Colourful paint job costs extra
When it comes to cars that offer real value for money, you have to go a long way to beat the Dacia Sandero. Among the cheapest new cars on the market and based on Renault engineering, the Sandero is surprisingly well-equipped, as long as you don’t opt for the base trim version (which is very basic).
From mid-spec versions upwards, the Sandero comes with LED headlights, remote central locking and a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration. It’s not the most stylish small car, but you get plenty of interior space to compensate for that.

What's good

  • Value for money is tough to beat
  • Interior is spacious and impressively practical
  • Holds its value well

What’s not so good

  • Poor two-star safety rating
  • No USB charge points in rear
  • Colourful paint job costs extra
Volkswagen Polo

4. Volkswagen Polo

8/10
Volkswagen Polo review

What's good

  • Slick cabin feels posh
  • Very comfortable on the road
  • Plenty of boot space

What’s not so good

  • Not as fun as some alternatives
  • Entry-level petrol engine lacks punch
  • Useful options can be expensive
The Volkswagen Polo has been a popular first car for decades, largely because it’s such a good all-rounder. The design is classic, but stylish, there’s lots of space in the comfortable, high-quality cabin and there’s lots of useful equipment on offer.
It feels solid, if unexciting, on the road, but versions with the 1.0-litre petrol engine are economical and have low insurance premiums.

What's good

  • Slick cabin feels posh
  • Very comfortable on the road
  • Plenty of boot space

What’s not so good

  • Not as fun as some alternatives
  • Entry-level petrol engine lacks punch
  • Useful options can be expensive
Renault Zoe

5. Renault Zoe

8/10
Renault Zoe review
Battery range up to 245 miles

What's good

  • Cheap to buy and run
  • Lots of the latest tech
  • Impressive electric range

What’s not so good

  • Interior feels cheap in places
  • Cramped back seats
  • Fast charging capability costs extra
For teens who won’t countenance contributing to climate change with a petrol or diesel car, the Renault Zoe is here to help them with their carbon footprint.
This small French EV is good value for money and cheap to run – especially when you factor in the cost of electricity compared to fossil fuels – and can travel 240 miles on a single charge.
It also charges quickly: you have to pay extra for the fast-charging option, but for young people in a hurry, it’s pretty much a necessity.

What's good

  • Cheap to buy and run
  • Lots of the latest tech
  • Impressive electric range

What’s not so good

  • Interior feels cheap in places
  • Cramped back seats
  • Fast charging capability costs extra
MINI 3-Door Hatch

6. Mini 3-Door Hatch

7/10
MINI 3-Door Hatch review

What's good

  • Fun to drive
  • Excellent infotainment
  • Lots of personalisation options

What’s not so good

  • Small boot
  • Tight rear-seat access
  • Wind and tyre noise
For style-conscious teenagers, the Mini Hatch is probably top of the shortlist for a first car, especially as it still exudes a retro cool and there are so many personalisation options for a young driver to make their mark on the car. It’s great to drive, with accurate steering that inspires confidence and it has the engineering pedigree of parent company BMW.
Throw into the mix a great infotainment system and you have a great package for a young driver.

What's good

  • Fun to drive
  • Excellent infotainment
  • Lots of personalisation options

What’s not so good

  • Small boot
  • Tight rear-seat access
  • Wind and tyre noise
Toyota Aygo X

7. Toyota Aygo X

7/10
Toyota Aygo X review

What's good

  • Slick manual transmission
  • Nicely weighted steering
  • Faux-SUV styling works well

What’s not so good

  • CVT gearbox is too noisy
  • Fairly large over-the-shoulder blind spot
  • Lots of scratchy-plastics in the cabin
Many young drivers, like their older counterparts, will like the idea of driving an SUV, but large cars aren’t necessarily a good idea for new drivers finding their feet/wheels.
However, there are quite a few small SUVs now on sale, with the Toyota Aygo X offering the rugged looks of an off-roader alongside the practicality of a smaller urban runabout.
Toyota also have a reputation for reliability, which is comforting for new drivers, while there’s lots of useful equipment onboard too.

What's good

  • Slick manual transmission
  • Nicely weighted steering
  • Faux-SUV styling works well

What’s not so good

  • CVT gearbox is too noisy
  • Fairly large over-the-shoulder blind spot
  • Lots of scratchy-plastics in the cabin
Vauxhall Corsa (2019-2023)

What's good

  • Fairly fun to drive
  • Range of efficient engines
  • Generous standard equipment

What’s not so good

  • Fiddly infotainment
  • Bumpy at low speeds
  • Limited back-seat space
The Vauxhall Corsa is a popular car for young drivers, as many of them learned in one at their local driving school.
But the Corsa is also one of the UK’s best-selling cars, with a wide range of engines (including an all-electric version), lots of equipment and a big boot, for those teens who have to lug a lot of stuff around. And with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part of the infotainment system, it’s a real contender for young drivers.

What's good

  • Fairly fun to drive
  • Range of efficient engines
  • Generous standard equipment

What’s not so good

  • Fiddly infotainment
  • Bumpy at low speeds
  • Limited back-seat space
Skoda Fabia

9. Skoda Fabia

9/10
Skoda Fabia review

What's good

  • All-around practicality
  • Very comfortable
  • Smart design

What’s not so good

  • No electric or hybrid version
  • Cabin quality isn't the best
  • Not that exciting
Thanks to the platform-sharing of Volkswagen Group brands, the Skoda Fabia shares most of its underpinnings with the likes of the VW Polo and Seat Ibiza.
Like other models in the Skoda line-up, though, the Fabia seems to find more space from the way the body is designed, making it more practical than its relatives. This means that the Fabia has a spacious interior, with room for four adults and a bigger boot than other cars in the class, while there are also clever touches such as an ice scraper stored in the fuel filler flap.

What's good

  • All-around practicality
  • Very comfortable
  • Smart design

What’s not so good

  • No electric or hybrid version
  • Cabin quality isn't the best
  • Not that exciting
Suzuki Ignis

10. Suzuki Ignis

7/10
Suzuki Ignis review

What's good

  • Head-turning looks
  • Decent passenger space
  • Hybrid technology

What’s not so good

  • Only one engine choice
  • Alternatives are comfier
  • Infotainment system isn't the best
The Suzuki Ignis is certainly a car that a teen looking to stand out from the crowd will want to consider. Its cute-but-rugged styling make this small SUV a car that will turn heads and earn some street cred (do teenagers still say that?).
For a small car, it’s surprisingly spacious inside, with room for four adults: the cabin materials are a bit plasticky, but that does mean they’ll withstand whatever teen life can throw at them. Mild hybrid engine tech will help keep running costs down and there are four-wheel driver versions to help get out of muddy festival car parks.

What's good

  • Head-turning looks
  • Decent passenger space
  • Hybrid technology

What’s not so good

  • Only one engine choice
  • Alternatives are comfier
  • Infotainment system isn't the best

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Advice about cars for teenagers

Cars for teenagers FAQs

This is a relatively easy question to answer, because the Dacia Sandero is one of the cheapest cars you can buy – and you get a lot of car for the money. The entry-level model comes with remote central locking, air con and Bluetooth, but if you spend a little more and get one of the better-specced versions, there’s an infotainment system with a neat touchscreen. It’s also cheap to insure and economical, if you choose the 1.0-litre petrol engine.

No single model is the cheapest to insure, but if you choose a car that falls in Group 1 for insurance, you won’t go far wrong. For example, the Kia Picanto or even the Volkswagen Polo with the 1.0-litre petrol engine are both Group 1 cars, so they’ll be among the cheapest to insure.

Insurance premiums are calculated on the basis of a range of factors, including where you live, your occupation and the age of the driver. Because drivers under the age of 24 are statistically the most risky drivers, a 17-year-old is not going to find cheap insurance and will probably be quoted for annual premiums in the thousands of pounds, rather than hundreds.

The best advice is to shop around – a lot! – and see what the price comparison websites quote, while fitting a black box tracking device to prove you’re driving safely will also cut premiums.

The best way to find the safest car for a new driver is to look at the ratings handed out by Euro NCAP, which is responsible for testing cars that go on sale to the public. A five-star rating is best, offering the most protection in the event of a collision. 

From our list, the models with the best safety ratings are the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo, both of which have a five-star rating.