The Best Cars for New Drivers in 2025
By Motor Match • 27/12/2024
If you’ve just passed your driving test, the next step is to look at buying a new or used car. But how do you know what to go for? Whilst there are some obvious things to look at when buying a new car, such as insurance, power and tax, the type of car you choose is also very important. You need to be able to feel comfortable and relaxed in your car as you get used to driving on your own and through roads you haven’t driven on before.Take a look at some of our top picks for new and used cars when you’ve just passed your test.
The best new cars for new drivers
When looking for a brand new car as a new driver, it can seem very daunting - there are so many makes, models, colours and engine sizes to choose from! However it doesn't have to be confusing or scary - we’ve collated a list of some of the top new cars you could consider as your first car:
Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen are renowned for their high quality cars with iconic designs - and the Polo is no different. With many advanced safety features, such as Driver Attention Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Keep Assist and reversing camera. All of these features can be vital to new drivers to ensure that you feel relaxed and safe on the road, no matter where you’re travelling to. You can also rest assured that the VW Polo has achieved a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, with 96% Adult Occupancy safety score, which is determined by tests that evaluate the protection offered to adult drivers and passengers in frontal, lateral, and whiplash impacts. Some Polos can also average 60mpg as well, so if you’re looking for something fuel efficient that may save you a few pennies when you drive around, the Polo might just be for you.
Vauxhall Corsa
The Vauxhall Corsa has been a staple for the brand for some years now and there’s really no wonder as to why it’s so popular. Getting a facelift in 2023 gave a new lease of life to the old favourite - improved interior technology such as a 10 inch touchscreen and wireless phone charging create a relaxed driving experience. Ideal for city and motorway driving, there is a choice between three petrol engine variants - 75hp, 100hp and 130hp. For the more environmentally conscious, the Corsa is also available as an EV, which comes with two motor and battery combinations as standard. The 136hp version offers a range of 222 miles and the 156hp offers a range of 246 miles.
Renault Captur
Dramatic in design and stylish in finish, the Renault Captur is the perfect mini SUV if you’re looking for something larger and that offers a higher driving position. This car is one of the more affordable new cars on the market, with prices starting from just over £20,000. The Captur is also an incredibly popular model, much like its sister model the Renault Clio and with the market so saturated and competition high, the company has done well to succeed. The light clusters make this car stand out from the rest, with sharp lines and distinctive shapes. Each trim level brings its own features to the interior but trims like the S Edition offer luxurious fabrics for the seating, a digital display on the dashboard and a 10.4 inch tablet style touch screen. It offers a smooth ride and is good at handling down motorways and through the cities, with integrated safety features such as being a huge plus for a car of this size. It’s let down slightly by a poorer quality rear view camera but it still does the job and adds to the overall safety of driver and passengers.
Citroën C1
Offering a colourful design both inside and out, the Citroën C1 is a compact car perfect for new drivers. A central touch screen display is fitted to all models but the basic ones as standard, which can be connected to your phone for calls, entertainment and navigation. Ample room in the front provides a comfortable space for driver and front passenger, but the front drivers seat cannot be adjusted in the basic model. The C1 is ideal for those who live or work in the city, as its compactness allows for easy manoeuvrability and navigating busy streets. It is also a fun drive on a twisty B-road. On motorways, it is a little bit noisy when speeding up and at full speed and suspension allowing you to feel most bumps in the road.
The best used cars for new drivers
Whilst a brand new car would be the perfect gift to yourself after passing your test, we understand that, realistically, budget restricts what you can splash the cash on - which is why we’ve also included our list of used cars that are the best for new drivers, based on maintenance and pricing:
Seat Ibiza
This car is just as good used as it is brand new! With many trims to choose from, from the SE to the Xcellence Lux, the SEAT Ibiza offers a cool and stylish ride whilst offering performance on the larger engines. Whilst best as a city car for short journeys, it’s also very capable of handling motorways and long-distance driving. There’s ample boot space and rear passenger seats offer enough room for your passengers, so is ideal for road trips or days out. Providing an easy and fun drive, the Ibiza is great at handling country and B-roads which can be very important for some new drivers, as stability can help you to feel more confident on the road.
Volkswagen Polo
Another car that is just as good used! With a range of fuel types and trim levels, there’s something for everyone with this car. If you’re looking for a used car on the affordable end of the spectrum, the Polo is a good choice. Packed with tech on the inside and streamlined efficiency on the outside, the Polo can easily navigate around towns and narrow country roads with ease. The seats can be adjusted to accommodate those who need more head and legroom, whilst the rear seats can be folded down to allow for extra boot space. Many of the newer versions of this model come fitted with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is ideal for long journeys for navigation and entertainment.
Honda Jazz
We’ve talked about Honda a lot over many of our blogs and it’s because they are renowned for their reliability and durability, no matter how old they get. The Jazz is the perfect small hatchback for new drivers, as it may seem small on the outside but has a considerable amount of space on the inside. With its larger windows in the back, your passengers won’t feel boxed in or claustrophobic. A strong fuel economy is standard with this car, meaning that running costs are kept low - which is ideal if you’re a uni student. It’s a good drive no matter if you’re on the motorway, driving through the city or are traversing narrow country lanes.
PEUGEOT 208
Another little hatchback, the PEUGEOT 208 is ideal for any new driver. With a range of trim levels including the GT Line, you can choose whether you prefer a faster or slower ride. The design of the 208 doesn’t mean that it’s compromised on technical features and performance - the 1.6-litre engine is impressive, with a top speed of 134mph and reaches 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds. The most recent version of the model which was released in 2020 offered a bold, modern design and was awarded the 2020 European Car of the Year, which beat competition such as the BMW 1 series, the Renault Clio, the Ford Puma, the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model 3. Not bad for a little hatchback.
Buy your first car with Swansway
Buying your first car is an exciting time, but choosing the right one for you is imperative to feeling confident on the road whilst you’re traversing new territory. The car you decide to go for is entirely up to you, so shop around before making the ultimate decision. We have a huge range of new and used cars available for you to look through. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like more information about one of the vehicles you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team and we’d be happy to help you.
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