Best cars for first time drivers
For first time drivers, getting that all important first car feels monumental. When you first slip into the driving seat, place your hands on the steering wheel, and start you first solo drive – there's no feeling quite like it.
But before you make it there, you first have to consider what kind of first time car you’re going to get – and there’s a laundry list to consider. You need to look at body size, whether you want a petrol, diesel or electric, and what size engine you want. As well as this, you’ll need to consider fuel consumption and whether your chosen car is friendly on your wallet (insurance, maintenance, road tax, and more).
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What to look for in your first-time car
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Body Size
Will it be just you and one other person in the car? Opt for a city car. A small size car will go around the city in no time, taking up little space, making it ideal for parking.
If it’s for you and your family, or you’re hosting more than three people in your car, you can justify the need for an SUV or a larger car. Travelling with a pet as well? Maybe look for a large boot to accommodate your fluffy companion.
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Petrol VS Diesel VS Electric
Although diesel is not the most popular option, if you find yourself travelling a long distance daily, it may make more sense to get a diesel car.
But as the production of diesel cars reduces and the UK looks to limit their usage, the future may lie in the petrol and electric cars.
If you can afford it or find it more in line with your needs, you can opt for an electric car from the offset. These are great for a smooth first experience.
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Horsepower
Horsepower, aka engine size, will have an impact not only on your acceleration but also on your insurance cost. A higher horsepower (e.g. 1.6L) will be more costly to insure than a 1L car. Why? Because the greater the acceleration the “riskier” you are to insure them.
If the acceleration is not your priority at the beginning, opt for lower horsepower and save toward your future - a more established car.
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Fuel consumption
Although this goes hand in hand with the horsepower, this is a crucial consideration when buying your first car.
Look for the “MPG” (Miles Per Gallon) indicator. The higher it is, the better. Basically, the more miles you can do with a gallon of fuel, the less you’ll pay when it comes to filling up at the pump. As a rule of thumb, anything beyond 50mpg is a good starting point.
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Budget friendly
Finally, there are ways to find a first-time car that will fit your budget and long-term needs.
Look for the insurance band. These are letters, it goes from A to Z, A being the cheapest all the way down to most expensive. Some brands are more expensive to cover because of their parts or simply because they are too old and don’t fit under the CO2 regulation.
Also keep an eye out for the overall maintenance costs. As mentioned above, if your car is too old or expensive to maintain, parts won’t come cheap, and you might have to pay a big sum to get it fixed. You can ask a garage or a dealership about the cost of maintenance of the car you are after before committing.
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Best starter cars
Don’t fret – we're here to help, and make sure your first car as a new driver is a great one. Below is a list of the main first-time cars that tick the list above.
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Toyota Yaris / Aygo
Whether you opt for the Yaris or the Aygo will depend on your transmission preference and fuel type considerations.
The Aygo X offers various petrol options in both manual and automatic transmission. If you passed your manual test, as a new driver you may prefer to stick with a manual for now to preserve these skills.
The Yaris is exclusively automatic, with a hybrid fuel type. This means it uses both electric and fuel – specifically petrol.
Both cars are ideal choices for first time drivers. Both with smaller engines, this is good whilst you’re getting used to driving. Smaller engines provide better fuel economy, which is even better if you do a lot of city driving.
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Nissan Micra
You may be familiar with the older-style Micra, but in recent years this small but mighty supermini has had a serious glow up. Its fifth generation is particularly attractive, and that’s exactly why it’s on our list.
The Micra is one of the most popular small hatchbacks as an easy-to-drive and cheap first car. Available in both petrol and diesel, the Micra has an extra seat over the Toyotas – so perfect if you need an extra bit of space.
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Vauxhall Corsa
Vauxhall’s Corsa model is renowned in the UK for being a popular first car, and the 2021 Corsa is their best yet.
It’s not hard to see why. The Corsa is extremely versatile, offered in a range of transmissions and fuel types boasting a top-end MPG of 53, meaning you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck.
Plus, their sporty look makes them particularly attractive to first time drivers, allowing for style without the intimidating power of other sporty cars with bigger engines.
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Fiat 500
Whilst not sporty looking like the Corsa, the Fiat 500 has a unique city look that means it’s beloved by first time drivers and veterans alike.
One of the most popular compact cars out there, the Fiat 500 is small, efficient, and pretty fun to look at – inside and out.
The 500 isn’t the car for you if space is a dealbreaker – but if you’re looking for something small, nippy, and fun, then look no further.
This car is great for short trips and city driving, with an MPG of almost 50.
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Ready to find your first car?
Whilst this list is not exhaustive of all the cars available on the market, these are our top picks for a cheap first car.
Any of these will tick boxes for fuel economy, engine size, and offer a range of fuel types and transmissions.
Still not sure which one is a good first car for you as a new driver?
Our experienced team are happy to help you decide.
Simply pop into your nearest SLM branch and speak to the team.
