Best First Cars
From the popular VW Polo to the fabulous Fiat 500 and everything in between. Here’s Marmalade’s list of the best cars for young drivers.
Shopping for your first car should be an exciting experience, however, with so many makes and models on the market, it can seem like a daunting task. Never fear, Marmalade is here! We’re sharing our top best-selling cars of the last year with some handy pointers on what to look for in a first car!
Choosing a new car as your first car may be more affordable than you think! Instead of a larger initial outlay for the car and insurance, buying a new car on finance allows you to buy the car for a fixed monthly price. Browse our amazing selection of cars, many of which come with the first year's insurance included* As if that's not enough, we'll deliver your car to you with the first year's tax paid for, 12 months breakdown cover, and you won't need to fork out for an MOT for 3 years!
Hopefully our top 10 cars have given you a little inspiration on what your new ride will be! It’s also important to remember that there are many things to consider when choosing your perfect car. Here are 4 things to look out for before buying a new set of wheels.
Car insurance
Looking for a car in a low insurance group will help to keep running costs low, as they tend to be more economical and cheaper to insure. You reduce the cost of insurance further with a black box insurance policy.
Road tax
Remember to check how much tax your new wheels will cost you – smaller cars with lower emissions will generally be cheaper to tax. It's good to know that if you finance a car through Marmalade, your first year’s tax will be paid for!
Fuel
Check the Miles per Gallon figures for the cars you’re considering. This will help you to work out what running costs may be. Remember, newer cars tend to be more fuel-efficient than older models which will see you saving at the pump!
Safety
Safety is incredibly important and it could reduce the risk of a claim, which could save you money on your insurance too. Check your chosen cars NCAP safety rating, and check out other young drivers reviews to see what they think!
1 VW Polo
Volkswagen have been making the Polo since 1975 and it continues to be a favourite with young drivers from then to now. It’s reliable, diverse and a great size for new drivers because there’s plenty of room for passengers inside but doesn’t feel heavy or sluggish to drive! There's also ample safety features like Pedestrian Detection and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking, minimising the risk of an accident. There's no wonder why many people choose the Volkswagen Polo as their first car.
2 Audi A1
For those new drivers who may want to spend a little more on their first set of wheels, you can’t go far wrong with an Audi A1. This high quality, reliable and stylish car is the perfect choice for new drivers. There’s plenty of room inside so it grows with young drivers as they get older, but never fails in bringing a smile to your face when you’re behind the wheel.
3 Vauxhall Corsa
When thinking about the first car to get a new driver, a Corsa is definitely going to be on the shortlist, and it’s a great choice. They’re well-engineered, high quality cars that will help to keep young drivers safe on the roads from the moment they pass their test and take them into many years of driving. Not only that, but they’re great on running costs too – such as fuel economy and cheap insurance prices.
4 Fiat 500
This fun, quirky and retro inspired car has been a top selling model over the last few years, and it’s easy to see why it's a great starter car for a new driver. It’s efficient on fuel (47-72mpg), is light and easy to handle, and will see you have cheaper than average insurance costs too! It’s also won multiple awards like the Sunday Times top City Car, which means it’s a practical and reliable yet fun purchase for young drivers as their first car. What's more - the launch of the new Fiat 500 Hybrid range allows young drivers to have lower C02 emissions and help resolve sea pollution with the introduction of the recycled fibre made from plastic collected in the sea in the interior!
5 Seat Ibiza
Young drivers love the SEAT Ibiza and everything it has to offer. The Ibiza offers great design with LED headlights, and the convenience of Keyless entry! The latest makeover of this supermini has enhanced the style and drive from all previous versions, and young drivers have taken it to their hearts. If you’re looking for a car that’ll suit a young driver for years to come this is a great choice.
6 Ford Fiesta
Celebrated as being Britain’s best top-selling car of all time means this car always has and continues to be a great purchase for young drivers who are looking for good first cars. The Fiesta is safe, compact and stylish as well as being reliable and cheap to run. Choosing the Ford Fiesta as a first car makes sense because you'll find driving and parking it a breeze with it's Active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Aid and so much more tech to help you behind the wheel.
7 Seat Leon
Spanish, spacious and stylish, the brand new Seat Leon is fitted with the latest tech as well as safety features. The Seat Leon is great for driving about town but even better for long drives. There is plenty of room too, making this the perfect car for long weekends and camping trips!
8 Kia Picanto
They say small things come in good packages and the Kia Picanto is no exception! The Kia Picanto is a smart, stylish little city car perfect for whizzing around town. After a fancy new makeover in 2015 and all the best tech, this small car is better than ever! Lower insurance costs, no road tax plus Kia’s 7-year warranty - what’s not to love?
9 Renault Clio
The brand-new Renault Clio is a showstopper and will definitely turn some heads when taken out on the roads. With plenty of colour options and tech choices, young drivers can take this model and really make it their own – whilst enjoying great MPG and tax costs. The Clio has been named Carbuyer Car of the Year 2020!
10 Hyundai i10
The smallest of the Hyundai i range is the Hyundai i10! It’s a smart, dependable, and great value small car for first drivers. Don’t let the small car fool you either – there’s bags of space inside giving plenty of room for young drivers and friends or family for the road trips they’re longing for. It's also full of cutting-edge technology and safety equipment like Lane Keeping Assist and a Forward Collision Warning System which monitors the distance between you and the vehicle ahead, giving visual and audible alerts if the risk of collision is detected.
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