Buying your first car is one of the most exciting things you’ll do in your driving career. Representing freedom and the open road, these often humble and lower-powered machines often last longer in the memory and your affections than more exotic stuff that comes later.
Even so, that doesn’t mean your first set of wheels should be a boring, middle-of-the-road econobox runaround? To prove it, we’ve put together the best starter cars that manage to have bags of personality, are great to drive, have the latest tech and, in some cases, even boast good looks. Crucially for worried parents, they also pack plenty of safety kit.
Of course, when you’re starting out on a driving journey you still want a car that’s cheap to insure, reliable and and shouldn’t break the bank to service. Our testing team has run the rule of hundreds of suitable candidates, ensuring you’ll be getting the best possible machine for your first solo sorties on the public road.
Every car on this list brings something special to the table - whether it’s size, speed, or style. From city cars to small SUVs, with an electric car thrown in for good measure, there’s something for everyone after a first car on this list.
Best for: overall
The Hyundai i10 leads the increasingly endangered city car sector, a corner of the market that many brands are hastily retreating from.
Yet that doesn’t mean the compact Korean machine gets the nod by default, because even with greater competition it’d be a top pick.
A big part of the car’s appeal are its grown-up driving dynamics that combine the expected small car agility with surprising refinement and a decently controlled ride.
The entry-level 1.0-litre three pot sounds keen but is a little sluggish, so we’d recommend the bigger 1.2-litre that offers far more muscle but offers similar 50mpg running and still falls into insurance group 5.
Whichever one you choose, the five-speed manual rivals some serious sportscars for wrist-flick shifting precision.
Inside, the Hyundai has just about enough space for four, while the interior looks classy, is well-finished and packed with kit - all cars get air-con, electric windows, alloy wheels and Apple CarPlay. Best of all, prices start around £17,000.
Read our Hyundai i10 review
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Great roundup! As a first-time buyer, I really appreciate the focus on affordability and safety—the Toyota Yaris and Kia Picanto seem like solid picks. Have you considered adding a section on ‘best used first cars’ for tighter budgets?
Also, for visual learners like me, it’d be awesome if you could include video to jpg comparison stills in future reviews (maybe key features like dashboards or trunk space?). Would make cross-checking models even easier!
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