The best car for new drivers and first-time drivers is the second generation Toyota Aygo.
How do we know this? Simple: because we commissioned a survey of 1,000 UK drivers, all of whom had passed their driving test within the past three years, and asked exactly what they wanted from their inaugural vehicle. Our experts then crunched this data and combined it with our knowledge of the car market to see what model most closely matched the requirements identified in the survey.
In this guide we explain more about the survey results, and why we rate the little Toyota Aygo as top choice, as well as identifying 10 other models (including two electric cars) that are ideal for new drivers. To find out more, don't miss our guide to buying your first car.
The Best Cars for New Drivers
- What are the Top Priorities for New Drivers
- Our Top Pick: Toyota Aygo (2014-2021)
- Peugeot 108/Citroen C1 (2014-2021)
- Kia Picanto (2011-2016)
- Hyundai i10 (2014-2019)
- Nissan Micra (2017-2022)
- Volkswagen Up (2012-2023)
- Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
- Renault Clio (2013-2018)
- Renault Zoe (2013-2019) - Electric choice
- Kia Soul EV Mk1 (2014-2018) - Electric choice
What are the Top Priorities for New Drivers?
Unsurprisingly, the cost to buy the car was the most important priority for new drivers, with respondents stating that the budget they’re working with stands at £8,557 on average.
Respondents said that the cost to insure their car was the second biggest consideration, which is perhaps even less surprising given how expensive cover can be for inexperienced drivers. The average sum that respondents said they’d be prepared to pay for 12 months’ insurance stood at £1,144.
Several of the other top answers also related to the cost of running and maintaining their car, with fuel consumption, fuel type and reliability also among the most important factors.
Precisely 46% of those surveyed said they’d prefer a petrol-powered car, with diesel and electric power tying for second place on 19% apiece. There was a clear desire from respondents for their car to have an automatic gearbox, with 57% saying they’d prefer a self-shifter.
A Bluetooth phone connection and parking sensors/cameras were the features most desired by those surveyed, while the maximum age of car that the majority of respondents said they’d consider came out at between five and six years old.
55% of respondents expressed a desire to buy their car outright, compared to 31% who said they’d prefer to take out finance or a loan, and in terms of the body style they’d want their car to have, 21% identified an SUV as their car of choice, while the humble hatchback was only just behind on 20%. When asked which manufacturer they’d like their car to be made by, respondents chose a top five of Audi, BMW and Mercedes (not awfully likely at this end of the market, particularly with the age of car, insurance and running costs factored in) followed by Toyota and Ford.
Our Top Pick: Toyota Aygo (2014-2021)
With the long and exhaustive list of requirements identified by those who took part in our survey, there wasn’t one single model on the used car market that nailed each and every aspect perfectly. However, we’ve identified the second generation Toyota Aygo as the vehicle that gets closest to ticking all of the boxes that new drivers identified. The only one it fails to check is that it’s not an SUV, but with it being a hatchback, it’s very nearly as desirable for new drivers, according to our data.
According to CarGurus listings and our IMV (Instant Market Value) data, you should be able to get hold of a six-year-old petrol-engined example with an automatic gearbox and pretty much all of the most desired features for within buyers’ specified budget. The 71bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine in the Aygo returns a very competitive 64mpg when paired with the X-Shift automatic gearbox, making fuel costs affordable. And even better, insurance groupings stand at between 6 and 9 for an Aygo of this spec, and that low classification means that premiums should be realistic for young drivers.
Perhaps the best news for buyers of a used Toyota Aygo is that the Japanese brand makes some of the most reliable cars on the market, and the Aygo has proven itself over a number of years to be very good in that regard. This means that headaches over dependability should be few and far between, and repair costs should be minimal. Adding to its appeal is Toyota’s Warranty, which can be extended by a year or 10,000 miles when the car is serviced according to schedule at an authorised Toyota dealer, up to a maximum of 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Better still, if you can live without an automatic gearbox, then an Aygo of a similar age and mileage can be had for around £2,000 less.
Toyota Aygo Review
Peugeot 108/Citroen C1 (2014-2021)
The Toyota Aygo has a couple of siblings, in the shape of the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1. All are ostensibly the same car, albeit with different styling for each brand, and so much of what we've praised the Toyota for applies here too. There are, however, two key differences to consider. The first is that the Peugeot and Citroen were offered with an extra choice of engine over the Toyota in the form of a more powerful 1.2-litre unit (although still don't expect any fireworks when it comes to performance). The second is that it is only Toyota that offers a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. It was this, along with the fact that survey respondents listed Toyota as one of their five favourite brands, that prompted us to give the Toyota the nod as the top recommendation.
Peugeot 108 Review
Kia Picanto (2011-2016)
The Picanto is an excellent small car, and like the Toyota is available with a long warranty (seven years/100,000 miles from new in the Kia's case), which means that even a five-year-old model might still have some warranty left to run, which provides lots of peace of mind for buyers on a budget. Not only that, but the Picanto is roomier inside than an Aygo, and for those wanting an automatic gearbox, its four-speed torque convertor transmission is smoother in operation than the five-speed automated manual fitted to the Aygo/108/C1. Throw in low insurance group ratings and you have an excellent first car, even if Kia was only the 17th most in-demand brand of the 30 in our study.
Kia Picanto Review
Hyundai i10 (2014-2019)
Much like the Aygo is closely related to the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1, so the Hyundai i10 is based on the same underpinnings as the Kia Picanto. As such, everything that we praised the Picanto for can also be applied to the Hyundai, with the only significant difference being that the Hyundai had a shorter (five-year) warranty from new. Like the Picanto, however, the i10 is not only a fantastic city car, but a fantastic small car full-stop, with a far more grown-up driving experience than you'd expect given its size.
Hyundai i10 Review
Nissan Micra (2017-2022)
The Nissan Micra has long been a favourite with driving instructors, and for good reason: it's an incredibly straightforward and simple car to drive, and the model historically has an excellent reputation for reliability. Although no longer on sale, the latest version still looks striking thanks to its sharp styling, and basic models fall into low insurance groups too. For something with a little extra space than a city car, this Japanese supermini is worth considering, particularly as Nissan was the eighth most popular brand car in our survey.
Nissan Micra Review
Volkswagen Up (2012-2023)
The Volkswagen Up was a close contender for overall honours in this guide. Survey respondents didn't desire a VW quite as much as Toyota, and the Up doesn't come with quite the same reassurance of bulletproof reliability or extended manufacturer warranty cover when the car is serviced at a main dealer. However, it's a much nicer car to drive than the Aygo, with more cosseting suspension and better feel through the car's controls, plus it has slightly more room for rear passengers. A really good little car, and a great option for new drivers.
Volkswagen Up Review
Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
From the 1970s original, to the recently discountinued 7th generation model, the Ford Fiesta has served as first car for countless drivers over the years. For a budget of up to £8,500, there are loads of great examples of the Mk6 Fiesta for sale, with both the 1.25-litre Zetec and 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo models making great choices for those who are new to driving (or any driver come to that). Key to the Fiesta's appeal is its ride and handling, which is good enough to make it a genuinely appealing car for keen drivers. Throw in low prices, high levels of stock on the used car market, and the fact that Ford was one of the top five most desirable car brands in our survey, and you have a great first car contender.
Ford Fiesta Mk6 Review
Renault Clio (2013-2018)
The Clio is another model where its life can be measured decades rather than years, and because of that there's a wide range of examples to choose from on the used market. For this budget, we are recommending the 2013-2018 model (that's the fourth generation of Clio) as the best pick for new drivers. It's a particularly good option for those who need a bit more boot space, because it's roomier than the Fiesta in this regard. Opt for one of the small petrol engines (most are turbocharged, but an entry-level SCe 75 without a turbo was also offered) to keep runnings costs low. While Renault wasn't a top pick of brand from our survey respondents, we think the Clio's low running costs, affordable purchase price, and smart styling make it well worth considering.
Renault Clio Mk4 Review
Renault Zoe (2013-2019) - Electric choice
While it is true to say that the majority of our survey respondents wanted petrol power for their first car, there was also an interest in electric cars. Of the 19% of respondents who said they’d choose an electric car, 50% said they’d want a minimum electric range of between 200 and 250 miles. Not many electric cars at this end of the market will do that in the real world. Later versions of the Renault Zoe would qualify, but buyers will need to be aware that some versions still have a leased battery that you might have to pay Renault a monthly fee for. We also noted, however, that 78% of all respondents - electric car fans or otherwise - said that they’d most likely drive their cars less than 100 miles per week. This opens up the possibility of owning an earlier Zoe, which would have a smaller battery and therefore smaller range, but could be fine for those who can easily charge at home or at work. Whatever the version, the Zoe is very easy to drive, it looks smart, and if you can find one where the battery is owned rather than leased it could be very cheap to run, too.
Renault Zoe Review
Kia Soul EV Mk1 (2014-2018) - Electric choice
The Kia Soul EV Mk1 is quite a rare electric car, and like the Zoe (or any EV for that matter), it sits in a higher insurance group than our petrol-powered protagonists. It makes this list for a few reasons, including that it is an electric car that falls within budget, and because it has SUV-inspired styling, which our survey respondents rated as even more appealing than a hatchback. Our experts also noted that, as a Kia, the Soul EV had a long warranty when new, which might still be in place for some used examples. With a real-world range of around 80 miles from a full charge, a Soul EV Mk1 could make an interesting choice of first car for those wanting to go electric.
Kia Soul Review
To find out more, don't miss our guide to buying your first car.