Best new first cars 2019: Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and more
Just passed your test and wondering what to drive? Here are our best buys
Finding the right car straight after passing your driving test can be a tricky business. Should you choose a hatchback or a city car? What about a crossover? Thankfully, there’s a good choice of vehicles on the market that are ideal for first-time drivers in terms of cost, safety and style.
It’s also a good time to be buying. Gone are the days of entry-level cars with basic interiors and ugly styling. Most of today’s models come with alloy wheels, smartphone connectivity and hi-tech safety systems as standard
Here’s our pick of the best cars for first-time buyers:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Skoda Citigo/ Seat Mii/ Volkswagen Up!
One car offered in three different flavours.
The Skoda Citigo, Seat Mii and Volkswagen Up! use the same VW-developed production platform and engine line-up, making them nearly identical to each other. The only difference is in style and pricing.
All three use 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines, available in either 59bhp or 74bhp form. Entry-level models aren’t just “economical”, they also fall into the lowest insurance group, says CarBuyer.
They’re safe, too, with five-star ratings all-round from Europe’s car safety programme Euro NCap.
At £8,095, the Skoda Citigo is the cheapest model of the three. It’s followed by the £8,525 VW Up! and the Seat Mii £11,905.
Ford Fiesta
There’s a good reason why the Ford Fiesta continues to be Britain’s best-selling car. The latest model is a “delight to drive” and boasts a larger cabin with better trim quality than its predecessor, says The Sunday Times.
All models come with seven airbags and a key that can be programmed to limit the car’s top speed, says WhatCar?. The car even comes with lane keep assistance as standard. This automatically turns the wheel if the driver accidentally drifts into another lane.
Entry-level Zetec models start at £15,670, which may seem expensive compared to the competition, but the motoring reviews site says that monthly leasing costs are “temptingly low” for buyers unable or unwilling to pay for the car in a single lump sum.
Vauxhall Corsa
Like the Fiesta, the Vauxhall Corsa is a common sight on British roads. It was the second best-selling car in the UK last year, one step below the Ford.
At £11,735, the Corsa is cheaper than its key rival and a bit of a jack of all trades. Auto Express says it “isn’t particularly groundbreaking in any area”, but overall it’s “very good indeed and has enough quality to take on the class leaders”.
Entry-level models come in the form of a 1.4-litre engine with 74bhp, and careful drivers should be able to achieve around 43mpg. The car also produces 128mg/km of emissions, putting it in one of the lower road tax bands.
Volkswagen Polo
“This is a more grown-up, spacious, well-mannered Polo than VW has made before”, says Autocar.
The cabin is “unquestionably” built to a very high standard, with no sign of any wobbly fittings or creaking plastics, the motoring magazine says. It’s also generously equipped, and includes an 8.0in infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay as standard.
The latest Polo also “dwarfs” the old model in “every dimension that counts”, providing ample head and legroom for occupants in the front and rear seats, says Parkers.
Prices start at £14,240. But while it’s a little cheaper than the Fiesta, it isn’t as much fun to drive, the website says.
Peugeot 208
Buyers looking for a car with stylish looks both inside and out should consider the Peugeot 208.
“The 208 is a very comfortable car and comes with plenty of standard equipment”, including air conditioning and a touchscreen infotainment system, says CarBuyer. The system is also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning buyers can connect their smartphone to the car with ease.
Bear in mind there’s a new 208 set to launch later this year. This means there’s a good chance buyers will be able to get their hands on a current-generation 208 for less than its listed price of £14,654.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why is China stockpiling resources?
The Explainer The superpower has been amassing huge reserves of commodities at great cost despite its economic downturn
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Paraguay's dangerous dalliance with cryptocurrency
Under The Radar Overheating Paraguayans are pushing back over power outages caused by illegal miners
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week contest: Tattoo prediction
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Douglas Is Cancelled: Hugh Bonneville plays a shamed news presenter
The Week Recommends Cancel culture drama is mostly 'clever and sharp'
By The Week UK Published
-
A Quiet Place: Day One – the 'pleasant surprise of the summer'
The Week Recommends Silence is golden in this prequel to the popular 2018 apocalyptic thriller
By The Week UK Published
-
The Bikeriders: Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy star in high-octane drama
The Week Recommends Film inspired by 1968 book about notorious biker gang in Chicago
By The Week UK Published
-
Raffles London at The OWO review: a quintessentially British stay
The Week Recommends This heritage building has been given a twist as a luxury hotel in the nation's capital
By Leaf Arbuthnot, The Week UK Published
-
The Young Woman and the Sea: Daisy Ridley stars as 'tenacious' heroine
The Week Recommends The film explores the story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the Channel
By The Week UK Published
-
Has Bridgerton lost the plot?
Talking Point Return of the hit Regency series has divided both fans and critics
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Michelangelo – the last decades review: an 'absorbing' exploration of art
The Week Recommends New exhibition focuses on works from the final 30 years of the artist's long career
By The Week UK Published
-
Silversea cruise review: a Central and North American adventure
The Week Recommends An incredible journey featuring cultural exploration, cooking classes, comfort and more
By Yasemen Kaner-White Published