13 May 2015
6 Mins read

What are the best cars on the market for new drivers?

Buying a new car is always a tricky task for consumers, as they want to get value for money, but at the same don't want to compromise on safety. So anyone looking for their first car can be overwhelmed with options.

That's why thorough research is so important. Working out what your priorities are and being realistic about how far you can expect your budget to go are both important, especially if you are a novice when it comes to showrooms.

So what cars should you be looking at? Read our handy guide to find out everything you need to know.

Low insurance cars

Insurance is the biggest expense after the actual cost of the car, so it's always a good idea to buy a vehicle that comes with low insurance premiums. The easiest way to keep this expense down is to go for a motor in a low insurance group – 1 or 2 is ideal – as this means the insurance industry views these cars as being low risk. If insurance is proving to be a stumbling block, you can consider telematics to bring the cost down. Among the best performing in this field are:

Dacia Sandero 1.2

Renault Twingo

SEAT Mii

Skoda Citigo

Volkswagen Up!

Running costs

If you are on a budget, you'll want to buy a car that is economical. CAP has done extensive research into this area, and their study takes a whole host of factors into account – including servicing, tax, depreciation and insurance – to make sure that people are choosing vehicles that are cheap and easy to run. According to the study, the five cars with the lowest running costs are:

Toyota Aygo 1.0 VVT-i 3dr

Peugeot 108 1.0 Access 3dr

Citroen C1 1.0 VTi Touch 3dr

Dacia Sandero 1.2 Access 5dr

Kia Picanto 1.1 1 5dr

First-time drivers

Drivers buying their first car will nearly always have a budget to keep in mind, so they will be looking for an all-round model that offers a good level of safety and doesn't use up too much fuel. New drivers will also want a model that is easy to manoeuvre and simple to park. Among the best models for first-time drivers are:

Hyundai i10 hatchback

Ford Fiesta hatchback

Kia Rio hatchback

MINI hatchback

Toyota Aygo hatchback

Best new cars under £10,000

Of course, many of the models mentioned above have been on the market for a while, so some people will be looking for cars that are newer. Once again, the priority should be getting a vehicle that is easy to drive, performs well in crash tests and has a low insurance group ratings. All of the following cars can be bought for under £10,000.

Volkswagen Up!

Vauxhall Corsa

Ford Fiesta

Smart FourFour

Renault Twingo

Toyota Yaris

As you can see, there are plenty of options for anyone looking a new car. The key is to make sure you know exactly what you are looking for, and have a figure in mind that you are not willing to go over. Finally, don't get carried away with optional extras, as this could see the cost of your vehicle increase dramatically.