Best cars for new drivers revealed as popular hatchback claims top spot for the first time – it only costs £8,000
THE best car for first-time drivers is the Toyota Aygo, according to research.
A poll of 1,000 motorists who’ve passed their driving test in the last three years identified what they’d want from their inaugural motor.
Low cost would be the number one requirement for 30%, with 65% wanting to pay no more than £8,000 for their first car.
Insurance cost is the next biggest priority, followed by the number of miles on the clock, and fuel consumption.
Taking this into account, CarGurus has created the First-Time Buyer Guide to provide consumers with information and advice for all budgets.
And after consistently faring well in many of the priority areas identified through the study, the Toyota Aygo emerged as the best option for new drivers.
Chris Knapman, for CarGurus, said: “While no car ticked every single requirement set out by respondents to our survey, the Toyota Aygo is the model that comes closest.
“Built between 2014 and 2021, the second-generation Aygo is affordable to buy and run, roomy enough to carry four people, and should prove to be extremely reliable if properly maintained.
“To complement this recommendation, we have created a comprehensive first-car buying guide which blends our survey results with expert advice, and also contains details of nine other recommended models to consider.”
In line with the number one requirement of low cost and most not wanting to pay more than £8,000 – and 57% wanting an automatic car – consumers can purchase a six-year-old automatic petrol-engine Aygo which meets these needs.
The 71bhp 1.0-litre petrol-engined Aygo returns a very competitive 64mpg when paired with the X-Shift automatic gearbox, making fuel costs affordable.
And as insurance groupings stand between six and nine for an Aygo of this spec, this low classification means premiums, although slightly beyond what they want to pay, are realistic for many new drivers – around £1,500.
New drivers, on average, would be willing to insure their car for a maximum of £1,100 and they would expect to travel an average of 70 miles a week in their vehicle.
The study found reliability is also important to 22% of those polled – and the Aygo “excelled” here thanks to “historic reliability.”
The Japanese brand is considered to make some of the most dependable cars available, regularly doing well in consumer satisfaction surveys.
Factors like MOT history, service history, and vehicle age would also be important to those polled.
When it comes to body style and size, new drivers have a preference for SUVs and hatchbacks.
And they primarily prefer vehicles which seat four to five people.
As for extra features, new drivers would like Bluetooth connectivity, parking sensors, and parking cameras.
The study also found new drivers would opt for a petrol-powered car, followed by electric, diesel, and hybrid.
The car would ideally be around five years old, with 48 per cent after a second-hand motor, and 43 per cent looking for a new vehicle – with 10 per cent undecided.
Carried out through OnePoll, the research found the top five most desired brands are Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, and Ford.
Chris Knapman, for CarGurus, added: “While none can quite match the Aygo, there is still a selection of models – both petrol and electric – that make for great first-time buys based on the criteria identified in our data.”
Other notable models to make CarGurus’ top 10 list include the Peugeot 108/Citroen C1 (2014-2021) which are mechanically identical to the Aygo but finished second best because they aren’t eligible for Toyota’s extended warranty.
The Kia Picanto (2011-2016) and Hyundai i10 (2014-2019) also came highly recommended for their low running costs and affordable purchase prices.
For those wanting an automatic gearbox, the four-speed unit used in the Picanto and i10 is one of the better systems available in a car of this size, according to experts at the automotive research and shopping website.
For buyers specifically looking to begin their motoring life with an EV, the Renault Zoe (2013-2019) and Kia Soul EV Mk1 (2014-2019) are recommended for being two of the best-value used EVs on the market.
10 best cars for new drivers
- Toyota Aygo (2014-2021)
Runners up:
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
Kia Soul EV Mk1 (2015-2019) – electric