Volkswagen up! hatchback review (2012-2023)
Top 10 best used cars for young and learner drivers
Looking for a great second-hand first car? We pick 10 of the best cars you should consider when you’ve passed your driving test
So you’re learning to drive or have just passed your driving test and need a car to practise in? The best cars for new drivers tend to be those that have smaller dimensions and engines. Even if you’re not a 17-year-old looking for your first car, any driver younger than 25 with less driving experience is likely to have higher insurance premiums, and it’s worth considering cars in lower insurance groups because this will likely be your most substantial running cost.
Young drivers tend to face the highest insurance premiums and earn less than other car buyers – most people go for a used car at this point in their motoring life for those reasons, and it’s important to consider those which are not only affordable to buy and cheap to insure, but also frugal on fuel.
Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2024
You might think that cheap used car options for younger drivers might mean you have to settle for an old banger. But these days you can find accessible finance deals on used cars that are only a few years old, which means they’re likely to be much more reliable than older options. Still, if you do have a tighter budget, many of the older cars in our list will fit the bill as first cars as long as they have an extensive service history. It’s also worth bringing someone in the know with you to give it a check before you buy.
Our list of the best used cars for young and learner drivers includes not only petrol-powered options, but also cars with a hybrid powertrain. Hybrid models in particular are more economical to run than their non-hybrid counterparts, so they’re worth considering if your budget can stretch to it. They’re all small cars, too, which should prove less daunting for drivers with less experience.
The Volkswagen up! is already a great new car for drivers who’ve just passed their test, so it’s no surprise to see it’s also a top choice as a used buy. While the little 1.0-litre engine needs to be worked hard to get up to speed on dual carriageways, it’s got more than enough power for fresh-faced drivers (especially if they’ll spend a lot of time driving around town).
Running costs should be pretty affordable, thanks to the car’s low annual tax rates and good fuel economy. Insurance premiums won’t cost too much either, as all versions of the VW up! sit in very low insurance groups.
Having long been a favourite with first-time drivers, the Ford Fiesta has sadly ceased production. The good news is that due to its popularity there are plenty of Fiestas on the used car market. It’s also likely that you might have learnt to drive in a Ford Fiesta, given they’re a favourite with driving instructors – that will make it easier to jump confidently into the driver’s seat.
Despite its larger size compared with city cars such as the Volkswagen Up!, Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10, the Fiesta is still small enough to be nimble and manoeuvrable in the tightest of spaces. Most models, aside from the hot-hatch ST, will be cheap to insure, given they sit in low insurance groups. Later models also got plenty of big-car technology, too, so you’ll be able to listen to your favourite tunes via Bluetooth – some of the more affordable models on the used market still even come with an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible infotainment screen.
The Dacia Sandero is one of the best value cars on the market today, and previous iterations have even held the title of most affordable new car. Given that it’s a budget, no-frills car, entry-level versions can be quite spartan when it comes to equipment, though. Of course, as a used buy the Sandero is even more affordable, meaning the higher-spec models are more accessible.
Whether you go for a used current-generation or previous-generation model, Sanderos are cheap to run and insure, and given they use tried and tested parts from older Renault models, they should be dependable, too. There are even bi-fuel versions, which can run on petrol or cheaper LPG fuel (which you can find at some petrol stations), if you want even lower running costs.
The practical and comfortable Skoda Fabia has become more impressive than ever in the latest generation. There are even some brighter colour options for younger drivers that want to stand out in the crowd. The light controls and solid interior finish make the Fabia easy to drive and easy to keep in good condition. The Fabia also shares many of its parts and engines with two other first-car favourites: the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza.
Running costs are relatively low for the Fabia and the 1.0-litre petrol engine can return 50mpg, while still being powerful enough to keep up with traffic on the motorway. There’s currently no hybrid option, but there is a choice of both a manual and automatic gearbox, so even if you have an automatic-only driving licence, the Fabia is a strong contender.
City cars are great choices for drivers who’ve just passed their driving test, and one of the best you can consider is the Hyundai i10. The compact dimensions and light controls make it very easy to drive, and the economical petrol engines mean your i10 will be cheap to run, regardless of whether it has the 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre option under the bonnet.
As the Hyundai sits in low insurance groups, you shouldn’t face steep insurance costs either. Depending on the age of the car you’re looking at, it may still have some of its warranty left, as the i10 was sold new with a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty which is transferable to the next owner.
The Volkswagen Polo is very closely related to the Skoda Fabia we featured earlier in this list, so it’s no surprise that the Polo is just as good a choice as a used first car. Like the Skoda, the VW is comfy and easy to drive, and equipment levels are pretty good regardless of the version you go for.
All of the Polo’s engine options have more than enough punch for new drivers, with the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol offering the best blend of performance and fuel economy. Stronger residual values mean a used VW Polo will tend to be more expensive to buy than an equivalent-spec Skoda Fabia, though that does mean you should get a bit more of your money back when you decide to sell the car on.
Like its Ford Fiesta rival, the previous generation Vauxhall Corsa was a very popular car when new, so you’ll have plenty of choice if you’re leaning towards a used Corsa as your first car. Even if you haven’t got your heart set on the Vauxhall, it’s still worth considering.
The low insurance group ratings will help take the sting out of the inevitably high first-year insurance premiums and, while some of the Vauxhall’s rivals have more efficient engines, the Corsa is still a pretty affordable car to run. The Vauxhall won’t be an intimidating car for new drivers to get to grips with either, as the Corsa’s small size and light controls make it very easy to place on the road.
The frugal Toyota Yaris is a great city car, and for new drivers who want a hassle-free ownership experience, it can have a 10-year warranty, so long as you service the car at a Toyota dealership.
Engine choices are limited to a single hybrid powertrain, but that isn’t such a bad thing as the hybrid system boosts fuel economy and can travel silently for short periods in EV-only mode.
There’s a good amount of space inside, so even taller drivers and passengers should be able to get comfortable. However, boot space in the Yaris may be a bit of a drawback for some buyers. At 286 litres, it’s smaller than many competitors, partly as a result of cramming in all that hybrid technology. It’s fine for a weekly shop, but you might struggle if you need to transport a child’s buggy, for instance.
If the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia caught your eye but you’d prefer something that looks a bit sportier, then the SEAT Ibiza may be the ideal used first car for you. Like its sister cars, the Ibiza is comfy and easy to drive in town and, while it isn’t quite as dynamic to drive as those sharp looks suggest, the SEAT is still decent fun down a twisty road.
Good fuel economy means running costs are low and, if you’re willing to trade a bit of performance for lower insurance premiums, versions of the Ibiza with the entry-level 79bhp petrol engine under the bonnet sit in very low insurance groups.
Like the Hyundai i10 on which it’s based, the Kia Picanto is a great choice for new drivers who are after a second-hand city car. Being so compact means the Kia is a doddle to drive, yet it’s also surprisingly spacious for a car of this size. Models with the 66hp 1.0-litre petrol engine are a particularly good pick for new drivers, as they’re very cheap to run and sit in very low insurance groups.
Perhaps the Picanto’s biggest selling point is the seven-year/100,000-mile warranty it came with from new, which means there’s the extra peace of mind of knowing you still have some manufacturer cover to fall back on if you go for a slightly older or higher mileage example.
Top 10 best used cars for young and learner drivers
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