Best cheap first cars 2025
High quality cheap first and learner cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Best cheap first cars of 2025
Sadly, the days of a brand-spanking new car complete with insurance, a year’s servicing and road tax - all for under £10,000 - are long gone, but there are still some excellent, cheap choices of first car on sale at the moment. The best cheap first cars offer a mix of affordability, ease-of-use, practicality and ideally they’re cheap to insure, too.
Some examples have been around for decades, such as the Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza; staples of your university car park or the local late-night McDonalds. They’re not the cheapest options on the market, but they’re good to drive both in town and on the motorway, and they have plenty of street cred as a first set of wheels.
For something even smaller and easier to park or thread through tight city streets, the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto are the last of the proper city cars on sale. The Toyota Aygo X has grown since the old Aygo was introduced, but it combines dinky proportions with more rugged looks.
Some of the cheapest first cars are no- or low-frills, back-to-basics machines which may not be well equipped, but they’re some of the most affordable as a result. The Dacia Sandero and MG3 are two such examples, offering more space inside than a city car but with less chic looks and little more than four seats and a steering wheel in their most basic trim levels.
Our expert reviews team has tested every small hatchback on sale, and put together this list of the ten best cheap first cars you can buy. If money is no object, or you’re after an EV, check out this list of the best first cars, regardless of price, or the best cheap cars which might not be suitable for first-time drivers.
Best for: fuss-free motoring
The Dacia Sandero wears the crown of being the cheapest petrol-powered car on sale in the UK, but don’t for one second think it’s an unpleasant car as a result. The entry-level model may be a bit barren, but it’s a practical, cheap and simple-to-own small hatchback that’ll get you to grips with driving.
It’s a decent looker too, with wide headlights, a broad grille, sporty-looking bulges over the wheel arches and quite a neat rear end. Even the most basic models come with painted bumpers, something older models did without, but the only free colour you can get is white, and you can only opt for steel wheels on the entry-level ‘Essential’ model.
Dacia has focused its cost savings on the interior, which feels a bit plain. Analogue dials, a rubber boot for the manual gear lever, big, chunky knobs for the climate controls and lashings of cheap, scratchy grey plastic remind you that you’re in a budget-conscious motor. You don’t even get an infotainment display in the Sandero.
That doesn’t mean that the interior feels flimsy, because the Sandero has rather solid build quality inside. There’s plenty of space for such a small car, too, with plenty of headroom for adults in the back and a 318-litre boot that, while large, still lags behind the Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo.
You get a choice of two engines in the Sandero, both 1.0-litre units. The 92hp version is petrol-only, while the dual-fuel 101hp car can run on either petrol or LPG, which could be a cost-saver so long as you have access to a gas pump. You’ll see around 50mpg with either engine option, and it’s cheap to insure in insurance group three.
Manual gearboxes come as standard on both cars, though you’ll need the top-spec version if you want an automatic, while the light steering and comfort-oriented suspension take the strain out of the daily commute. You’ll be able to take the Sandero on motorway jaunts with little fuss, though you won’t have a great time on a country road; the soft suspension means the little Sandero leans through quick bends
The Dacia Sandero wears the crown of being the cheapest petrol-powered car on sale in the UK, but don’t for one second think it’s an unpleasant car as a result. The entry-level model may be a bit barren, but it’s a practical, cheap and simple-to-own small hatchback that’ll get you to grips with driving.
It’s a decent looker too, with wide headlights, a broad grille, sporty-looking bulges over the wheel arches and quite a neat rear end. Even the most basic models come with painted bumpers, something older models did without, but the only free colour you can get is white, and you can only opt for steel wheels on the entry-level ‘Essential’ model.
Dacia has focused its cost savings on the interior, which feels a bit plain. Analogue dials, a rubber boot for the manual gear lever, big, chunky knobs for the climate controls and lashings of cheap, scratchy grey plastic remind you that you’re in a budget-conscious motor. You don’t even get an infotainment display in the Sandero.
That doesn’t mean that the interior feels flimsy, because the Sandero has rather solid build quality inside. There’s plenty of space for such a small car, too, with plenty of headroom for adults in the back and a 318-litre boot that, while large, still lags behind the Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo.
You get a choice of two engines in the Sandero, both 1.0-litre units. The 92hp version is petrol-only, while the dual-fuel 101hp car can run on either petrol or LPG, which could be a cost-saver so long as you have access to a gas pump. You’ll see around 50mpg with either engine option, and it’s cheap to insure in insurance group three.
Manual gearboxes come as standard on both cars, though you’ll need the top-spec version if you want an automatic, while the light steering and comfort-oriented suspension take the strain out of the daily commute. You’ll be able to take the Sandero on motorway jaunts with little fuss, though you won’t have a great time on a country road; the soft suspension means the little Sandero leans through quick bends
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Best for: chic city life
The Picanto has long been Kia’s smallest model, and though its name may sound spicy, it’s actually a very easy to drive, un-intimidating, tiny hatchback that’s an ideal choice for someone looking to get to grips with driving. It’s very handsome and well-equipped, but it’s also very slow.
It might just be the most head-turning small hatchback on sale though, thanks to its baby-EV9 vertical headlights and funky lightbar at the front. The Picanto’s basic shape has been around since 2017, but it looks like the first car you might own in 2070.
The interior is altogether less striking, but you get a cute dashboard design with upright air vents and an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, 4.2-inch driver display and a rear camera as standard; very enticing for someone who wants some flash kit to show off to their mates, or who isn’t confident in their parking ability.
While it’s not the most modern-looking cabin, the physical climate controls are a joy to use, while the row-it-yourself gear lever and a manual handbrake mean that new drivers will get some proper driving experience under their belt. It’s fairly spacious inside, with ample room for four six-foot adults to get comfortable; the 255-litre boot is small, but you can’t expect a self-storage unit in the back of a car this small.
You can only choose a 1.0-litre engine for your Picanto, and it’s a gutless motor. You’ll be fine around town, but it really struggles to get you up to speed on the motorway. Insurance ought to be cheap as chips, too, in insurance group three.
Avoid the automatic gearbox like the plague, because it’s a very frustrating thing to use, and the manual is easy enough to use around town. The light steering and tight turning circle help, too.
Once you (eventually) manage to get to the national speed limit, you’ll find the Picanto feels unsettled compared to the larger hatchbacks on this list, feeling a little bouncy and battered by strong winds. The same can be said when you’re on a country lane, too, so there are larger cars you could consider for the same price.
The Picanto has long been Kia’s smallest model, and though its name may sound spicy, it’s actually a very easy to drive, un-intimidating, tiny hatchback that’s an ideal choice for someone looking to get to grips with driving. It’s very handsome and well-equipped, but it’s also very slow.
It might just be the most head-turning small hatchback on sale though, thanks to its baby-EV9 vertical headlights and funky lightbar at the front. The Picanto’s basic shape has been around since 2017, but it looks like the first car you might own in 2070.
The interior is altogether less striking, but you get a cute dashboard design with upright air vents and an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, 4.2-inch driver display and a rear camera as standard; very enticing for someone who wants some flash kit to show off to their mates, or who isn’t confident in their parking ability.
While it’s not the most modern-looking cabin, the physical climate controls are a joy to use, while the row-it-yourself gear lever and a manual handbrake mean that new drivers will get some proper driving experience under their belt. It’s fairly spacious inside, with ample room for four six-foot adults to get comfortable; the 255-litre boot is small, but you can’t expect a self-storage unit in the back of a car this small.
You can only choose a 1.0-litre engine for your Picanto, and it’s a gutless motor. You’ll be fine around town, but it really struggles to get you up to speed on the motorway. Insurance ought to be cheap as chips, too, in insurance group three.
Avoid the automatic gearbox like the plague, because it’s a very frustrating thing to use, and the manual is easy enough to use around town. The light steering and tight turning circle help, too.
Once you (eventually) manage to get to the national speed limit, you’ll find the Picanto feels unsettled compared to the larger hatchbacks on this list, feeling a little bouncy and battered by strong winds. The same can be said when you’re on a country lane, too, so there are larger cars you could consider for the same price.
Best for: rugged looks
While the Toyota Aygo has been around for years, the Aygo X has only been on sale for a few years, gaining some size and height over its smaller predecessor, as well as rufty-tufty looks. It’s a handsome little car that’s pleasant to drive, but the cabin feels a little cheap.
Still, squint from a distance and the Aygo X could be a much larger car; Toyota has done a great job of bestowing its smallest car with a properly funky design. The black body cladding, funky lights, optional two-tone colour schemes and big wheels help the Aygo X to stand out from other city cars.
The interior also looks funky, with the vents and infotainment displays on the dashboard contained in pod-like shapes and a neat driver display/analogue speedometer combo in front of the steering wheel. It’s a shame it feels quite plasticky though, with scratchy materials all over the place - and the painted, metal door tops looking a bit cheap.
Build quality feels solid though, and the high-mounted front seats offer a good view of the road ahead. There’s decent space up front for such a small car, but rear seat passengers have far less room. Even the door openings are comically small, making entry and exit a bit of a pain. The 230-litre boot is only really useful for a piece of hand luggage or a big shop.
There’s only one engine option for the Aygo X, a 1.0-litre petrol with 72hp mated to five-speed manual transmission. It’s highly efficient and ideal for pottering about town, but it’s a bit noisy when accelerating hard. Being in insurance group six is good for low prices, too.
The Aygo X feels at home around town, skipping over speedbumps and threading through tight lanes with ease thanks to its diminutive size and the visibility from its high seating position. It copes better than other tiny hatchbacks on the motorway, remaining comfortable though not feeling quite as stable as in larger hatches, and it's rather planted on a country lane.
While the Toyota Aygo has been around for years, the Aygo X has only been on sale for a few years, gaining some size and height over its smaller predecessor, as well as rufty-tufty looks. It’s a handsome little car that’s pleasant to drive, but the cabin feels a little cheap.
Still, squint from a distance and the Aygo X could be a much larger car; Toyota has done a great job of bestowing its smallest car with a properly funky design. The black body cladding, funky lights, optional two-tone colour schemes and big wheels help the Aygo X to stand out from other city cars.
The interior also looks funky, with the vents and infotainment displays on the dashboard contained in pod-like shapes and a neat driver display/analogue speedometer combo in front of the steering wheel. It’s a shame it feels quite plasticky though, with scratchy materials all over the place - and the painted, metal door tops looking a bit cheap.
Build quality feels solid though, and the high-mounted front seats offer a good view of the road ahead. There’s decent space up front for such a small car, but rear seat passengers have far less room. Even the door openings are comically small, making entry and exit a bit of a pain. The 230-litre boot is only really useful for a piece of hand luggage or a big shop.
There’s only one engine option for the Aygo X, a 1.0-litre petrol with 72hp mated to five-speed manual transmission. It’s highly efficient and ideal for pottering about town, but it’s a bit noisy when accelerating hard. Being in insurance group six is good for low prices, too.
The Aygo X feels at home around town, skipping over speedbumps and threading through tight lanes with ease thanks to its diminutive size and the visibility from its high seating position. It copes better than other tiny hatchbacks on the motorway, remaining comfortable though not feeling quite as stable as in larger hatches, and it's rather planted on a country lane.
Best for: spirited driving
The old MG3 was one of the worst cars we’ve tested, but MG has managed to totally turn it around for this generation and turn it into one of our favourite small hatchbacks. It has funky looks, loads of standard kit and a sporty driving experience, though it’s not all that efficient.
A pointy front end, loads of creases down its sides, neat little wheels and a sporty silhouette give the MG3 a unique appearance, and while it’s not classically handsome it’s certainly distinctive.
The interior looks rather smart too, if unexciting. The dashboard design wraps around onto the door cars, the two-spoke steering wheel is funky and you can even get quilted seats, but it’s the quality that lets the MG3 down, with scratchy, hard plastics everywhere you can touch.
It’s well-equipped though, with a standard-fit 10.3-inch infotainment display, digital driver’s instruments and adequate space inside for such a small car. The 293-litre boot is smaller than you’ll get in other comparable hatchbacks, though.
While you can opt for a fantastic hybrid engine in the MG3, that pushes the price and insurance group up rather substantially, so first-time drivers ought to look at the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol engine, paired with a manual gearbox. Even then it’s in insurance group 16, so not the cheapest to insure.
It’s a bit jiggly, but not uncomfortable, around town, while it’s easy to drive on the motorway as it feels stable and you get adaptive cruise control as standard. It’s one of the best cars to drive on a country lane, with its firm suspension keeping body lean in check and plenty of grip through its wheels.
The old MG3 was one of the worst cars we’ve tested, but MG has managed to totally turn it around for this generation and turn it into one of our favourite small hatchbacks. It has funky looks, loads of standard kit and a sporty driving experience, though it’s not all that efficient.
A pointy front end, loads of creases down its sides, neat little wheels and a sporty silhouette give the MG3 a unique appearance, and while it’s not classically handsome it’s certainly distinctive.
The interior looks rather smart too, if unexciting. The dashboard design wraps around onto the door cars, the two-spoke steering wheel is funky and you can even get quilted seats, but it’s the quality that lets the MG3 down, with scratchy, hard plastics everywhere you can touch.
It’s well-equipped though, with a standard-fit 10.3-inch infotainment display, digital driver’s instruments and adequate space inside for such a small car. The 293-litre boot is smaller than you’ll get in other comparable hatchbacks, though.
While you can opt for a fantastic hybrid engine in the MG3, that pushes the price and insurance group up rather substantially, so first-time drivers ought to look at the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol engine, paired with a manual gearbox. Even then it’s in insurance group 16, so not the cheapest to insure.
It’s a bit jiggly, but not uncomfortable, around town, while it’s easy to drive on the motorway as it feels stable and you get adaptive cruise control as standard. It’s one of the best cars to drive on a country lane, with its firm suspension keeping body lean in check and plenty of grip through its wheels.
Best for: squeezing through tight roads
The Hyundai i10 is almost an icon, being one of the first properly desirable Hyundai models to reach our shores in the 2000s and being one of the very few proper city cars left on sale. It looks great, it’s surprisingly spacious inside and it’s rather fun to drive, but the automatic model is dire.
With its dinky wheel tucked into the far corners of its bodywork, swoopy headlights and fog lamps set into its grille, the i10 looks far sportier than you’d expect from such a small, box-shaped car.
The interior looks smart too, with a nifty dimpled trim piece across its (admittedly scratchy) dashboard, plus the infotainment and driver’s display conjoined in a neat little surround.
A benefit to its boxiness is that the i10 has plenty of room inside, with loads of headroom all round and lots of handy storage cubbies dotted around the cabin. The 252-litre boot is about average for a car of this size.
You can opt for a 1.0-litre petrol engine with 63hp, or a 1.2-litre unit with 79hp instead, though it will be more expensive to insure. Both engines will see MPG well into the 50s, but make sure you avoid the woeful automatic gearbox. Being in insurance group one makes it cheap to insure, too.
The i10 is comfy around town and oh-so-easy to thread through tight streets, while it feels like a bigger car when you get it up to a motorway cruise. It’s also good fun on a twisty road, with lots of grip and accurate steering.
The Hyundai i10 is almost an icon, being one of the first properly desirable Hyundai models to reach our shores in the 2000s and being one of the very few proper city cars left on sale. It looks great, it’s surprisingly spacious inside and it’s rather fun to drive, but the automatic model is dire.
With its dinky wheel tucked into the far corners of its bodywork, swoopy headlights and fog lamps set into its grille, the i10 looks far sportier than you’d expect from such a small, box-shaped car.
The interior looks smart too, with a nifty dimpled trim piece across its (admittedly scratchy) dashboard, plus the infotainment and driver’s display conjoined in a neat little surround.
A benefit to its boxiness is that the i10 has plenty of room inside, with loads of headroom all round and lots of handy storage cubbies dotted around the cabin. The 252-litre boot is about average for a car of this size.
You can opt for a 1.0-litre petrol engine with 63hp, or a 1.2-litre unit with 79hp instead, though it will be more expensive to insure. Both engines will see MPG well into the 50s, but make sure you avoid the woeful automatic gearbox. Being in insurance group one makes it cheap to insure, too.
The i10 is comfy around town and oh-so-easy to thread through tight streets, while it feels like a bigger car when you get it up to a motorway cruise. It’s also good fun on a twisty road, with lots of grip and accurate steering.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
Best for: stylish looks
The Renault Clio is one of our very favourite small cars, with achingly stylish looks, a high quality cabin and a surprisingly massive boot for a dinky hatchback. It’s not the cheapest option going, but it’s worth every penny.
The entry-level model doesn’t have the same posh wheels or trim as the range-topping versions, but the base Clio still gets the same sporty design with arrow-shaped running lights and swoopy creases down the sides. The 16-inch alloys look good, too.
Inside, the lowest-rung Clio feels a bit more barren than in higher trim levels as it doesn’t have the swanky, tall, portrait-oriented infotainment display that the more expensive cars have. You still get a smaller touchscreen display though, and digital driver’s instruments.
It feels solid and well-built inside, and there’s plenty of space up front. The back seats are a little cramped, but you get an enormous 391-litre boot as a result.
You’ll see over 50mpg from the entry-level petrol engine with its manual gearbox, and while we prefer the automatic hybrid model it’s far more expensive. The petrol is only in insurance group 10, too.
The Clio is pleasant to drive around town and on the motorway, though it’s not quite as comfortable as its alternatives, but that makes it more fun to chuck around on a country lane.
The Renault Clio is one of our very favourite small cars, with achingly stylish looks, a high quality cabin and a surprisingly massive boot for a dinky hatchback. It’s not the cheapest option going, but it’s worth every penny.
The entry-level model doesn’t have the same posh wheels or trim as the range-topping versions, but the base Clio still gets the same sporty design with arrow-shaped running lights and swoopy creases down the sides. The 16-inch alloys look good, too.
Inside, the lowest-rung Clio feels a bit more barren than in higher trim levels as it doesn’t have the swanky, tall, portrait-oriented infotainment display that the more expensive cars have. You still get a smaller touchscreen display though, and digital driver’s instruments.
It feels solid and well-built inside, and there’s plenty of space up front. The back seats are a little cramped, but you get an enormous 391-litre boot as a result.
You’ll see over 50mpg from the entry-level petrol engine with its manual gearbox, and while we prefer the automatic hybrid model it’s far more expensive. The petrol is only in insurance group 10, too.
The Clio is pleasant to drive around town and on the motorway, though it’s not quite as comfortable as its alternatives, but that makes it more fun to chuck around on a country lane.
Best for: a sporty vibe
The SEAT Ibiza may be a little long in the tooth now, but few hatchbacks on sale can match its mix of affordability, build quality and sporty driving experience. It’s fun to drive and fairly practical, but not quite as cheap to insure as its alternatives.
And it really does look sporty, too, with pointy, angular headlights, crisp lines down its flanks, a pert rear end and a neat little grille at the front. There’s a clear resemblance between the Ibiza and the mechanically-similar Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia, but SEAT has given it some definite Spanish flair.
The interior isn’t quite as convincing as when it was launched, and while it’s still a handsome cabin with funky angles and trim here and there, it doesn’t look as sleek or interesting as the latest crop of alternatives.
It’s pretty roomy all round though, with space for four adults in comfort, and while it’s still lagging behind the mighty Renault Clio for boot space, 355 litres of cargo room is really rather good for a small hatchback.
Unfortunately you don’t get any super-sensible engine choices to lower the insurance group below group eight, but the entry-level model gets an economical 1.0-litre petrol with a manual gearbox which shouldn’t break the bank.
Though it’s rather large when compared to a true city car, the Ibiza is still a piece of cake to manoeuvre around town, while the advantage of its size is that it feels stable and secure on the motorway. The engine is a bit noisy at speed, but the little SEAT is good fun to chuck about on a country lane.
The SEAT Ibiza may be a little long in the tooth now, but few hatchbacks on sale can match its mix of affordability, build quality and sporty driving experience. It’s fun to drive and fairly practical, but not quite as cheap to insure as its alternatives.
And it really does look sporty, too, with pointy, angular headlights, crisp lines down its flanks, a pert rear end and a neat little grille at the front. There’s a clear resemblance between the Ibiza and the mechanically-similar Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia, but SEAT has given it some definite Spanish flair.
The interior isn’t quite as convincing as when it was launched, and while it’s still a handsome cabin with funky angles and trim here and there, it doesn’t look as sleek or interesting as the latest crop of alternatives.
It’s pretty roomy all round though, with space for four adults in comfort, and while it’s still lagging behind the mighty Renault Clio for boot space, 355 litres of cargo room is really rather good for a small hatchback.
Unfortunately you don’t get any super-sensible engine choices to lower the insurance group below group eight, but the entry-level model gets an economical 1.0-litre petrol with a manual gearbox which shouldn’t break the bank.
Though it’s rather large when compared to a true city car, the Ibiza is still a piece of cake to manoeuvre around town, while the advantage of its size is that it feels stable and secure on the motorway. The engine is a bit noisy at speed, but the little SEAT is good fun to chuck about on a country lane.
Best for: interior space
Skoda’s simply clever mantra shines in the Fabia, because while it may not be the most exciting, most stylish or sportiest first car, the little Skoda offers a lot of space inside and an upmarket cabin for not a lot of money.
It’s handsome too, but in a very understated way. Its straight lines, broad grille and angular body shape are all easy on the eye, if unexciting, but for someone who just wants to blend in with traffic then the Fabia is a great choice.
The interior is much the same, with a clear, crisp design that’s far from ugly, but isn't all that interesting either. All models get a touchscreen infotainment system with phone mirroring as standard, as well as a digital driver’s display and a useful umbrella built into the door card.
What it lacks in style, the Skoda makes up for in space. There’s loads of room inside for adults to get comfortable, even on long drives, and its 380-litre boot is the only one that gives the Renault Clio a run for its money when it comes to cargo capacity.
The most sensible model for new drivers is the SE version with the 1.0-litre MPI engine and manual gearbox, offering around 50mpg and a low insurance group, sitting in group four.
Comfort is the name of the game in the Fabia, and it soaks up lumps and bumps around town with ease thanks to its soft suspension, while it’s quiet and planted on the motorway. You won’t have much fun on a country lane though, so they’re best taken at a steady pace.
Skoda’s simply clever mantra shines in the Fabia, because while it may not be the most exciting, most stylish or sportiest first car, the little Skoda offers a lot of space inside and an upmarket cabin for not a lot of money.
It’s handsome too, but in a very understated way. Its straight lines, broad grille and angular body shape are all easy on the eye, if unexciting, but for someone who just wants to blend in with traffic then the Fabia is a great choice.
The interior is much the same, with a clear, crisp design that’s far from ugly, but isn't all that interesting either. All models get a touchscreen infotainment system with phone mirroring as standard, as well as a digital driver’s display and a useful umbrella built into the door card.
What it lacks in style, the Skoda makes up for in space. There’s loads of room inside for adults to get comfortable, even on long drives, and its 380-litre boot is the only one that gives the Renault Clio a run for its money when it comes to cargo capacity.
The most sensible model for new drivers is the SE version with the 1.0-litre MPI engine and manual gearbox, offering around 50mpg and a low insurance group, sitting in group four.
Comfort is the name of the game in the Fabia, and it soaks up lumps and bumps around town with ease thanks to its soft suspension, while it’s quiet and planted on the motorway. You won’t have much fun on a country lane though, so they’re best taken at a steady pace.
Best for: a posh badge
The Volkswagen Polo is another staple first car, because it doesn’t feel small or pokey at all. You can think of it as a Golf that’s been shrunk a little, offering a posher cabin and more grown-up driving experience than in a lot of small hatchbacks, but it’s rather expensive when you start fitting options.
Much like the Skoda Fabia the Polo is understated, rather than striking, with lots of crisp lines and pointy headlights. It’s the posh badge on the nose and tail which appeals the most with the Polo, while its inoffensive looks are easy to live with.
The interior is much the same as the exterior, with a restrained design that’s handsome if not exciting, but it’s the interior quality that impresses the most. There are a good amount of soft-touch plastics in the cabin, while the build quality is top notch.
You get lots of space inside the Polo, with headroom and legroom verging on Volkswagen Golf territory, while the 351-litre boot is plentiful, if not quite as generous as some of its alternatives.
You can get the Polo with the same, super-sensible 1.0-litre engine as in the Skoda Fabia, but the Volkswagen has managed to sneak into insurance group two, which might just offset its higher purchase cost with cheaper insurance.
It’s comfortable around town and on the motorway, while a well-insulated cabin means it’s quiet, and though it’s not much fun on a country lane it’s a very grippy, stable car to chuck around.
The Volkswagen Polo is another staple first car, because it doesn’t feel small or pokey at all. You can think of it as a Golf that’s been shrunk a little, offering a posher cabin and more grown-up driving experience than in a lot of small hatchbacks, but it’s rather expensive when you start fitting options.
Much like the Skoda Fabia the Polo is understated, rather than striking, with lots of crisp lines and pointy headlights. It’s the posh badge on the nose and tail which appeals the most with the Polo, while its inoffensive looks are easy to live with.
The interior is much the same as the exterior, with a restrained design that’s handsome if not exciting, but it’s the interior quality that impresses the most. There are a good amount of soft-touch plastics in the cabin, while the build quality is top notch.
You get lots of space inside the Polo, with headroom and legroom verging on Volkswagen Golf territory, while the 351-litre boot is plentiful, if not quite as generous as some of its alternatives.
You can get the Polo with the same, super-sensible 1.0-litre engine as in the Skoda Fabia, but the Volkswagen has managed to sneak into insurance group two, which might just offset its higher purchase cost with cheaper insurance.
It’s comfortable around town and on the motorway, while a well-insulated cabin means it’s quiet, and though it’s not much fun on a country lane it’s a very grippy, stable car to chuck around.
Battery range up to 28 miles
Best for: a first family car
The Renault Captur may seem like an unlikely first car at a quick glance, but it’s affordable, very stylish, even more practical than the Clio and stands out as being one of the cheapest SUVs to insure. It’s not all that comfortable, though.
You can see a clear resemblance between the Captur and its smaller Clio sibling, as they share similar arrow-shaped running lights at either end of the front bumper and sharp, angular headlights. The Captur’s chunky body cladding gives it plenty of road presence.
Unlike the base-model Clio, even the entry-level Captur gets Renault’s swish portrait infotainment system which is slick to operate. The interior is fairly basic otherwise, but the driver’s display and sporty steering wheel give it a little more pizzazz.
You get plenty of space up front in the Captur, but tall passengers in the back might complain after a long drive. Much like the Clio, you get a huge boot as a result, in this case a whopping 484 litres of space.
The insurance- and budget-friendly version of the Captur comes with a 1.0-litre, 90hp petrol engine with a manual gearbox, but it’s rather slow and feels a bit weedy for such a large car. Still, sitting in group seven should mean a cheap premium.
It’s still pleasant to drive around town though, and while the suspension jostles you around a bit on bad roads the light controls and good visibility make it easy to place around town. It’s more comfortable on the motorway, while it’s merely adequate on a country lane, neither sporty nor very comfortable.
The Renault Captur may seem like an unlikely first car at a quick glance, but it’s affordable, very stylish, even more practical than the Clio and stands out as being one of the cheapest SUVs to insure. It’s not all that comfortable, though.
You can see a clear resemblance between the Captur and its smaller Clio sibling, as they share similar arrow-shaped running lights at either end of the front bumper and sharp, angular headlights. The Captur’s chunky body cladding gives it plenty of road presence.
Unlike the base-model Clio, even the entry-level Captur gets Renault’s swish portrait infotainment system which is slick to operate. The interior is fairly basic otherwise, but the driver’s display and sporty steering wheel give it a little more pizzazz.
You get plenty of space up front in the Captur, but tall passengers in the back might complain after a long drive. Much like the Clio, you get a huge boot as a result, in this case a whopping 484 litres of space.
The insurance- and budget-friendly version of the Captur comes with a 1.0-litre, 90hp petrol engine with a manual gearbox, but it’s rather slow and feels a bit weedy for such a large car. Still, sitting in group seven should mean a cheap premium.
It’s still pleasant to drive around town though, and while the suspension jostles you around a bit on bad roads the light controls and good visibility make it easy to place around town. It’s more comfortable on the motorway, while it’s merely adequate on a country lane, neither sporty nor very comfortable.
Factors to consider
If you live in a small town or a densely packed city, your first ports of call should be the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto. Not only are they some of the cheapest cars on sale, but their dinky dimensions and boxy bodies maximise interior space while making them easy to thread through traffic.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Renault Captur, or the Volkswagen Polo/Skoda Fabia/SEAT Ibiza trio, which are some of the largest cars on this list and offer plenty of interior and boot space - ideal for families looking for their first car.
For the budget-conscious of the bunch, you’ll struggle to go wrong with a Dacia Sandero. Yes it may be a bit bare-bones, but it’s a good car to drive, offers a practical interior and if you just need a set of wheels to get to grips with driving, it’s a fantastic choice.
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