A Guide to the Best Cars for First-Time Drivers  

When looking for your first car, there are certainly plenty of models on the market for you to consider. However, it’s always a good idea to look for a car that is safe, easy to use, reliable and reasonably priced. Here are some of the most popular choices for new drivers.



The Honda Insight is a great starter vehicle which makes safety its number one feature. It’s fun to drive, and comes with great handling and safety features. It is easy to park – always a bonus for new drivers - and has a good deal of cargo and passenger room.



Similarly, the Ford Fiesta comes with a great deal of standard safety equipment, including electronic stability control and driver’s knee-level airbags. It has excellent crash-test scores which helped it to the top of the IIHS Safety Pick awards. It also has outstanding fuel economy – very important for new drivers who don’t want to spend too much on petrol or diesel.



New drivers love hatchbacks, which park easily and are zippy to drive. They’re also cheap to run due to their fuel-efficiency. As such, the Mazda 2 is a very popular choice with new drivers. It has a pleasant instrument panel and handles quite nicely, as well as being very reasonably priced.

The Volkswagen Jetta S has a lot of things going for it for which should appeal to young drivers. With 115 horsepower, it’s a fine choice for those who like to feel the power under the hood, and its sleek German engineering makes it attractive both inside and out. It also has electronic stability control and other great features.



The Toyota Corolla may lack the zip of the top four but it makes up for it in practical features. It’s roomy, safe and simple, and gets great mileage. It also grabbed the IIHS Top Safety Pick and it’s sturdy components mean it’s built to last.



This final entry in the list is the Subaru Impreza 2.5i. Another IIHS Safety winner, it has all-wheel drive (AWD) for much better handling on slippery roads. Its electronic stability control also works beautifully, so you’ll never lose control if you drive sensibly. It’s also competitively priced in its most basic form.



Don’t forget, once you buy, you need to keep abreast of the basic rules of car maintenance. Change your oil every 5,000 km unless otherwise indicated, and your car will run well and last a long time. Also, take care of any windshield crack repair issues that come up right away, as these can easily spread.