With around 500,000 new drivers taking to the roads every year in the UK, the search term ‘best cars for new drivers’ is far from uncommon. As we all know, young drivers are stung by high insurance costs because they are deemed most likely to be involved in an accident.
For the average 17-year-old looking to buy their first set of wheels, it can be nigh on impossible to pay for the car and all of its associated costs on their own. This is when the bank of mum and dad is usually called upon. According to MoneySuperMarket, the average annual premium for a new driver aged between 17 and 24 is £1,183 which, when compared to the overall average cost of £485 for comprehensive cover, is an awful lot of money.
In the interest of keeping costs to a minimum, and finding a car that you actually like, we have looked at some of the better options available to new drivers.
Ford Fiesta
The tried and tested Ford Fiesta has been the choice of new drivers since it first went into production in 1976. 16 million sales later and the Fiesta is Ford’s third best-selling model behind the Escort and F-Series.
Volkswagen Fox
Volkswagen is a brand built on dependability and the Fox is one of the manufacturer’s cheapest car’s to buy and insure making it a perfect fit for a new driver. Spacious and known for its good handling, new drivers will feel confident behind the wheel. It must be said, however, that a lack of features compared to other vehicles in its bracket is something of a drawback, and it is only the 1.2-litre version that is in car insurance group 1.
Suzuki Baleno
The Suzuki Baleno presents a hybrid option to help keep running costs down to a minimum. While the interior can feel a touch on the cheap side, new drivers really shouldn’t worry about this. Buyers have the option of 1.0 and 1.2-litre engines, with the former managing up to 62.7mpg which would be more than suitable for drivers simply looking to get from A to B.
Toyota Yaris
Taking its spot in insurance spot 2, complete with a European safety rating of five stars, the Toyota Yaris takes a lot of flak from certain corners but is a highly dependable car. It’s far from being the prettiest option on the list, but its value for money is not one to be ignored.
Vauxhall Corsa
Commonly referred to as the boy racer’s car, there are plenty of reasons why new drivers may opt for the Vauxhall Corsa. The manufacturer themselves have a number of offers to help young drivers with insurance costs which, with good driving, can result in some very nice discounts. Even if you do want to place a set of striking aluminium wheel protectors to show off to your friends (click here for more information), you can still make massive savings on running costs.
SEAT Mii
Using many of the components manufactured by SEAT’s parent company Volkswagen, you are almost guaranteed a dependable set of wheels with the Mii. This city car is the brother of SEAT’s Up and Citigo, other good picks for new drivers, but possesses a sportier exterior that will certainly appeal to young drivers. With 1.0-litre engine versions falling in insurance group 2, the SEAT Mii is one of the cheaper cars to run.
Hopefully, our selection of the best picks for new drivers has helped on your journey to finding an affordable first car.
