Best First Cars for New Drivers in 2025 – Carwow

Browse a selection of suitable first and learner cars from rated and reviewed dealers
You may have your eyes set on a flashy motor, but the best first cars are sensible, affordable, reasonable to insure and offer a great mix of attributes. The Renault Clio is a prime example, stylish, practical and great to drive, while being cheap to buy.
It’s also available with a manual gearbox, great for practising your skills, but for those of you looking for a hassle-free driving experience then an electric car such as the Citroen e-C3 or Renault 5 offers similar attributes – but with smooth, silent driving.
Our expert reviews team has comprehensively tested every car in the UK, living with them as if they were their own. After being subjected to school runs, motorway journeys, multi-storey car parks and hefty shopping trips, the team has put together this list of the best first cars on sale.
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It feels as though the number of manual cars on sale is dropping by the day, which is a shame – not only because they’re fun to drive, but because knowing how to drive a manual car is a useful skill to possess. Still, if you’re only interested in an easy-to-drive commuter, an automatic car makes more sense.
Just because all of the cars on this list are roughly the same size, don’t expect them all to sit in the same insurance bracket. An electric option such as the Renault 5, Citroen e-C3 and BYD Dolphin Surf will be more expensive to insure than a simple, petrol-powered Dacia Sandero, Seat Ibiza or Hyundai i10.
While they’re all relatively dinky, road-trippers who’ll pack out the boot and load up the car with your mates are better off opting for a larger hatchback such as the Skoda Fabia, Renault Clio or Dacia Sandero. If you’re still building confidence and want a smaller car to squeeze into parking spaces, the Kia Picanto and BYD Dolphin Surf are worth considering.

Insurers will want you to buy the smallest engine you can, so it’s probably best to stick to a 1.0-litre unit. Thankfully, the latest 1.0-litre engines from the likes of Ford, Volkswagen, and Renault are much better all-round performers than they used to be, so venturing out onto the motorway isn’t an exercise in endurance.
At the time of writing the Dacia Sandero and all-electric Dacia Spring are the only new cars that start at less than £15,000 new. However, the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto are also great budget options that don't cost much more.
The Kia Picanto and basic versions of the Volkswagen Polo are in Group 1 for insurance, so it’ll be tough to get a better quote than you will with one of them. The Ford Fiesta, Skoda Fabia, Kia Rio, and SEAT Ibiza all start in Group 2, while the Renault Clio, Hyundai i10, and Dacia Sandero all start in Group 3.
Check out our explainer guide on car insurance groups to find out more.
Well, saving up is the best way – there’s nothing like going into a car dealer with a pocket full of cash, and you’ll definitely wangle a good deal if you do. Many will buy with parental help, of course, so be nice to mum and dad. You can also browse the latest new car deals on Carwow to see how much you could save, or browse used cars from our network of trusted dealers.
Maybe. Finance is a big commitment, and while the monthly repayments on PCP plans look temptingly low, don’t forget there’s always the final payment to make in three years’ time, or you’ll have to be ready to roll the car over into a new deal. Make sure you read all the fine print, and don’t assume that the car company’s finance deal is the best — shop around with high street banks and credit unions to get the best deal. Above all, make sure you can afford the repayments in the longer term.
You can read more about buying a car on finance in our guide on PCP car financing.
Insurance should be your first concern. New drivers are facing hefty premiums at the moment, so make sure you get a quote before buying a car and finding out you can’t afford the insurance. Once that’s settled, you also want to consider reliability and economy. With fuel prices the way they are, you don’t want something that’s getting any less than 45mpg on average (and preferably better than that). Reliability is key too, as even if problems can be sorted under warranty, if you’re in a first car you’re also probably in a first job, and missing days to get your car fixed is a no-no.
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* Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term, 8000 miles annually, inc VAT, excluding fees. Vehicle returned at term end.
** Our marketing claims explained.
Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Carwow vs manufacturer RRP. Where it is shown that the EV Grant is included, this refers to the Government grant awarded to manufacturers on certain EV models and derivatives, the amount awarded under the EV Grant is included in the Savings stated and applied at the point of sale. Carwow is the trading name of Carwow Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities (firm reference number: 767155). Carwow Leasey Limited is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking (firm reference number: 313486) Carwow and Carwow Leasey Limited are each credit brokers and not a lenders. Carwow and Carwow Leasey Limited may receive a fee from retailers advertising finance and may receive a commission from partners (including dealers) for introducing customers. All finance offers and monthly payments shown are subject to application and status. Carwow is covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (please see www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk for more information). Carwow Ltd is registered in England (company number 07103079), registered office 2nd Floor, Verde Building, 10 Bressenden Place, London, England, SW1E 5DH. Carwow Leasey Limited is registered in England (company number 13601174), registered office 2nd Floor, Verde Building, 10 Bressenden Place, London, England, SW1E 5DH and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Carwow Ltd.

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