Choosing a car that is safe for a beginner to drive can be a minefield, especially when you want to keep costs to a minimum! We’ve picked out some of the most popular cars for new drivers and shared what makes them a great choice so that you can buy with confidence – check them out now.
Renault Clio
The Clio has been a stalwart of UK roads for many years and for good reason – this car is small, sturdy and safe, having achieved a 96% score for adult protection and 89% for child protection on the Euro NCAP test. The Clio has a small engine that makes it cheaper to run and insurance providers offer great deals on keeping it covered so that you can get out and about without breaking the bank.
It’s also really comfy to drive and comes in both 3-door and 5-door options depending on your needs. You can get a quality, used Clio for anything up to £9,000, with older models costing far less upfront.
The newer models also come with all the tech you’d want in a car, including smartphone connections, electric windows and music systems. For such a practical car, you’ll be amazed by how much you love driving it.
Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen is renowned for producing safe cars that last forever and the VW Polo is no exception. It is a small car that comes in both 3-door and 5-door options and has one of the best safety ratings of all car brands in the world with a 96% for adult safety and 85% for child protection. The other great thing about VW Polos is that they look great too, with a design that never goes out of fashion.
The VW Polo is also seriously comfy to drive, and offers a simple layout that is easy to decipher when you first start driving it. Newer models come with digital displays but older versions will offer more traditional dials and buttons to get used to.
There are a number of different Polos to choose from, but the small engine models are often the best as they are cheap to run and easy to insure for those new to driving. You can expect to pay up to £11000 for a quality used VW Polo.
Toyota Yaris
If you are after a small runaround that is safe to drive then the Toyota Yaris could be the right car for your needs. However, the 83% safety score does only apply to the current Yaris model as the older ones did not achieve such a high score.
If you are willing to spend up to £8000 for a used version of the latest model then you will get a car that is comfy, safe and easy to drive as well as being packed with great features for you to enjoy.
The other great thing about the Toyota Yaris is that it is very reliable, meaning that you won’t constantly need to be put in the garage for work to be done. When it does need repairs, you will find that parts are well-priced and easy to locate. All in all, this is a car that is great for short journeys and is cheap to run and comfy to drive.
Nissan Micra
The Nissan Micra has undergone a huge change in recent years, moving away from the tiny, funny shaped vehicle that it once was. The new modes come with a 91% adult protection score and a 79% child protection score, making it a safe car to invest in. However, to get that score, you will need to buy a model that comes with the safety pack included.
The newest Micras are comfy to drive and come loaded with the newest technologies as Nissan works hard to move away from the dull and boring image the car once had. The engine is basic and small and it is cheap to fill with petrol, helping to keep costs low.
However, the car comes in a range of fun colours that help you to set yourself apart from the crowd when you decide to buy one of these cars. You can expect to pay up to £6500 for a newer used Nissan Micra.
Seat Ibiza
The Seat Ibiza has long been a favourite of new drivers because it looks great and drives beautifully. Seat achieves this status by using shared components from the Skoda Scala and VW Polo, helping you to get the highest quality car for a very reasonable price. The Seat Ibiza is also very safe with a child protection score of 77% and an adult protection score of 95%.
The Seat Ibiza appeals to younger drivers who want to have fun in the car but it’s important to remember that it is not a sports car, even if it looks like one! It is easy to drive and can be used for city driving as well as longer journeys, plus the newer models come with lots of great tech to make the driving experience even more fun than before.
You can expect to pay up to £9,000 for a quality, used Seat Ibiza.
Suzuki Swift
The last car that we recommend for new drivers is the Suzuki Swift. It has an 88% score for adult protection and a 75% score for child protection which may not be as high as you’d like but it does come with a high score for crash protection, making it well worth considering. It’s great for new drivers because it is easy to drive and has a small engine that helps to keep it cost effective.
It’s lightweight, handles well and offers plenty of room for passengers to get comfy too. As it is one of the smaller cars on our list, it is also easy to manoeuvre, giving you access to simple parking when you are building up your confidence as a new driver.
It may not have all the features of some of the other cars we’ve suggested but it does come in at under £8000 for a quality used version!
So, which one would you pick?
