Volkswagen Polo

Mazda 2 Hybrid

New MG3

Toyota Aygo X

Dacia Sandero

Skoda Fabia

New Suzuki Swift

Toyota Yaris

best-first-cars-for-new-drivers-in-2024

best-first-cars-for-new-drivers-2024

Buying your first car is an exciting experience, and the good news is that there are some excellent new cars out there to choose from.

This doesn't mean that finding the right car is an easy process, though. The list of options can be lengthy, and there are a lot of things that could make a difference in how much it will cost to own.

Crucially, a first car has to be cheap to insure.&nbsp; This is why small cars are often the ideal fit; they don't need a big engine, so are generally cheaper to buy, run and insure than larger models. Of course, there are many other factors to consider, including safety, practicality and fuel economy.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Best first cars for new drivers 2024

Hatchback

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

Version&nbsp;1.5 e-Skyactiv G MHEV Centre-Line&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£19,515 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£18,599 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£222

The Mazda 2 is a very easy car to get along with, and that's&nbsp;helped by its user-friendly interior and comfortable driving position.

We especially like the fact that there's a good range of adjustment with the driver's&nbsp;seat and steering wheel, and the fact that it&nbsp;comes with&nbsp;height adjustment as standard (so even tall drivers can find a comfy position).

The infotainment system is also very easy to use. The 8.0in&nbsp;touchscreen responds well to inputs, and you also get a&nbsp;rotary controller between the front seats to&nbsp;control it. This makes it far&nbsp;less distracting to use&nbsp;while driving than touchscreen-only systems.

In key areas such as&nbsp;ride comfort, performance and practicality, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio</a>,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a>&nbsp;are better options. However, the&nbsp;2 is still worthy of your consideration if you're looking for a well equipped alternative.&nbsp;

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/2/hatchback/review/n95">Mazda 2 review</a>

10: Mazda 2

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Frugal economy from mild-hybrid engines</li>
	<li>Infotainment system is easy to use</li>
	<li>Even entry-level trim is well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Poor refinement</li>
	<li>Small boot</li>
	<li>Gutless performance from all but the range–topping engine</li>
</ul>

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

CORSA

Version&nbsp;1.2 Turbo GS&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£22,905 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£19,481 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£227

For many, the Vauxhall Corsa is the go-to first car because it has a wide range of engines and trims to choose from, plus it has a big boot.&nbsp;

Our favourite engine is the&nbsp;mid-range 1.2-litre petrol engine with 99bhp. It's the same engine that you get in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n30">Peugeot 208</a>, which means&nbsp;it's a strong performer; that's evident by its&nbsp;0-62mph time of&nbsp;9.9sec.

GS trim is also a good option; it comes with&nbsp;17in alloy wheels, climate control, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, sportier styling and sports seats.

It's worth noting that the&nbsp;208 has a nicer interior than the Corsa,&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>&nbsp;is more spacious inside. Those cars are also more affordable to buy,&nbsp;although the Corsa does have competitive PCP finance rates.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Vauxhall Corsa review</a>

9: Vauxhall Corsa

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Decent boot</li>
	<li>Efficient engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Fiddly infotainment system</li>
	<li>Below-par safety rating</li>
	<li>Poor resale values</li>
</ul>

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

PICANTO

Version&nbsp;1.0 3&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£15,950 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,978 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£184

Like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a>, the Kia Picanto is a very cheap car to insure.

This makes&nbsp;it&nbsp;a great&nbsp;buy if you're looking for a car that's cheap to own. That's helped by its tiny 66bhp 1.0-litre engine, which averaged a reasonable 46.8mpg on our hilly real-world test route. As you might expect from a car with so little&nbsp;horsepower, though, it isn't very&nbsp;quick; we managed a 0-60mph dash in 14.9sec at our private test track.

More positively, the Picanto has a smart interior,&nbsp;tidy handling and a generous equipment list with our favourite 3 trim. It comes with&nbsp;electrically adjustable door mirrors,&nbsp;a leather-trimmed steering wheel, rear parking sensors and an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto review</a>

8: Kia Picanto

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Really tidy handling</li>
	<li>Frugal 1.0 MPi petrol engine</li>
	<li>Excellent infotainment and equipment on 3 trim</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>1.0 MPi petrol engine isn't very quick</li>
	<li>Firm(ish) low-speed ride</li>
	<li>A Dacia Sandero is much roomier</li>
</ul>

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Version&nbsp;1.2 PureTech Active&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£20,400 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£16,986 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£169

The Peugeot 208 is the most comfortable car on this list, and it's actually very well priced – especially with our Target Price discount factored in.

What's more, it also has a&nbsp;smart interior for the money; the design is striking and the materials are mostly very plush. Some drivers may not like&nbsp;the 'i-Cockpit' driving position, though,&nbsp;so&nbsp;we'd recommend test driving one before you buy.

The 99bhp 1.2-litre petrol engine&nbsp;is our recommended engine for the 208; it's&nbsp;gutsy and&nbsp;ideal for propelling you along A-roads and motorways. It's&nbsp;actually&nbsp;more&nbsp;lively&nbsp;than the equivalent engine in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen&nbsp;Polo</a>.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n30">Peugeot 208 review</a>

7: Peugeot 208

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very comfortable for a small car</li>
	<li>Smart and high-quality interior</li>
	<li>Punchy and frugal 1.2 Puretech 100 petrol engine</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Steering wheel design can cause issues</li>
	<li>So-so infotainment system</li>
	<li>Not much fun to drive</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

POLO

Version&nbsp;1.0 TSI Life&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£21,905 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£20,708 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£221

If you're&nbsp;considering a first car, it's likely that the Volkswagen Polo will have already crossed your mind. And these days, it offers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a>&nbsp;levels of sophistication at a much lower price.

Indeed, the Polo is&nbsp;smart inside, comfortable and practical, plus it's very&nbsp;good to drive. We think the 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine is best option for it; it's the same engine that you get in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a>, and it&nbsp;pulls strongly from low revs thanks to its&nbsp;turbocharger.

The Polo&nbsp;is a bit more expensive than its Seat and Skoda siblings, but it does come with a long list of standard kit. Our recommended Life trim, for instance, comes with&nbsp;air conditioning, automatic windscreen wipers,&nbsp;power-folding door mirrors and an&nbsp;8.0in touchscreen infotainment system. All versions come with a&nbsp;wide range of safety kit, too.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo review</a>

6: Volkswagen Polo

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Generous interior space</li>
	<li>Attractive PCP finance deals</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Ford Fiesta is more fun to drive</li>
	<li>Gutless entry-level petrol</li>
	<li>Standard safety kit could be better</li>
</ul>

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds Britain’s cheapest new cars, the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

SANDERO

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel Expression&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£14,795 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£14,551 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£168

The Dacia Sandero is one of the cheapest new cars you can buy, but that doesn't mean it comes with a long list of compromises.

In fact, the Sandero is a strong offering in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>&nbsp;class; it's practical, with plenty of&nbsp;space in the back seats and boot, plus the ride is pretty comfortable. The entry-level engine (the TCe 100 Bi-Fuel) can also run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as petrol to help lower your&nbsp;running costs.

Even though there's a more affordable Essential trim, we think it's worth stepping up to&nbsp;Expression; it comes with&nbsp;rear parking sensors, automatic lights and&nbsp;wipers&nbsp;and a touchscreen infotainment system as standard.

When it comes to safety, the Sandero is less impressive; it only scored two stars when it was safety tested by&nbsp;Euro NCAP&nbsp;in 2020. For that reason, we can't place it any higher up this list.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero review</a>

5: Dacia Sandero

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Amazingly good value</li>
	<li>Lots of space for passengers and luggage</li>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Poor safety rating compared with rivals</li>
	<li>There are more entertaining small cars to drive</li>
	<li>Some other small cars are quieter</li>
</ul>

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

Temporary taxonomy to unlink review until CAP taxonomy is updated

Version&nbsp;1.2 Premium&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£17,520 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£16,652 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£219

Despite being very small, the Hyundai i10 is a&nbsp;practical&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>. It has enough room&nbsp;in the back seats&nbsp;for two adults to sit comfortably (especially those of a taller nature thanks to its boxy shape). Plus, up&nbsp;front,&nbsp;there's plenty of space and adjustment in the seat for the driver to get comfortable.

However, it's not just&nbsp;practicality where the i10 excels, because it's very cheap&nbsp;to buy and run. Okay, it's not&nbsp;as cheap to buy&nbsp;as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a>, but it does at least come&nbsp;with an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system (with Bluetooth) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>&nbsp;as standard.

The best bit? The i10 is in&nbsp;insurance group 2E, which makes it the cheapest car on this list to insure. However, bear in mind that the i10 only&nbsp;has a&nbsp;three-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10 review</a>

4: Hyundai i10

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Comfortable and quiet to drive</li>
	<li>Five seats and decent rear space</li>
	<li>Good amount of kit as standard</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Three-star Euro NCAP safety rating</li>
	<li>Non-turbocharged 1.0-litre engine is a bit lacklustre</li>
	<li>Slow automatic gearbox</li>
</ul>

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

IBIZA

Version&nbsp;1.0 TSI 95 SE&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£19,715 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£17,486 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£219

Looking for a first car that's fun to drive but cheap to run? Then the Seat Ibiza will be your best option.

It's one of the most sophisticated cars in its class to drive; the steering is well weighted and precise, and the suspension&nbsp;irons out imperfections nicely. That's without mentioning the handling, because the Ibiza is a hoot to&nbsp;drive down a twisty road.

Our recommended engine is the mid-level 1.0-litre petrol engine; it&nbsp;has 94bhp (and is turbocharged) so it pulls more eagerly&nbsp;than the wheezy entry-level engine,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it whisks the Ibiza up to speed reasonably&nbsp;quickly. It should also average more than&nbsp;50mpg in&nbsp;real-world driving.&nbsp;

In terms of trim levels, we'd recommend going for the SE trim if you're a first-time driver. The suspension is more supple than the firmer set-up in our favourite FR trim, plus&nbsp;it's slightly more affordable.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza review</a>

3: Seat Ibiza

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Great to drive</li>
	<li>Roomy by class standards</li>
	<li>Strong TSI petrol engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Lots of road noise</li>
	<li>Resale values could be better</li>
	<li>Firm ride in FR versions</li>
</ul>

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

FABIA

Version&nbsp;1.0 TSI SE Comfort&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£19,720 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£19,013 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£200

Skodas are renowned for their value and practicality, and that's no exception with the Fabia.

It's one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">best small cars</a>&nbsp;if you want to carry passengers. It's very small, and yet it has a surprising&nbsp;amount of space in the back seats; three adults will sit more comfortably than in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio</a>. The boot is also one of the biggest of any small car – so much so that it's bigger than what you'll find in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>.

For the best value, we think it's best to stick to the entry-level SE Comfort trim. It's not as cheap or well equipped as the Clio in Techno trim, but it still gives you alloy wheels, LED headlights and&nbsp;air conditioning as standard.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia review</a>

2: Skoda Fabia

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Huge boot</li>
	<li>Roomy interior with clever features</li>
	<li>Fairly supple ride</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Interior is hardly plush</li>
	<li>Not as practical as the Honda Jazz</li>
	<li>Bug-prone infotainment system</li>
</ul>

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

CLIO

Version&nbsp;1.0 TCe 90 Techno&nbsp;|&nbsp;List price&nbsp;£19,195 |&nbsp;Target Price&nbsp;£18,192 |&nbsp;Target PCP&nbsp;£195

The Renault Clio is a fantastic all-rounder, and it's long list of&nbsp;abilities makes it a great car for new drivers.

With 90bhp and a 0-62mph acceleration time of 12.3sec, the entry-level 1.0-litre&nbsp;petrol engine provides decent&nbsp;performance, and it's relatively low power output places&nbsp;it in a low insurance group. Students and parents alike will also be pleased to hear that running costs should&nbsp;also be low, as proved by its official average&nbsp;fuel economy figure of 57.6mpg.

When you combine&nbsp;the entry-level&nbsp;1.0-litre engine with Techno trim, the Clio also undercuts many&nbsp;of its rivals on price. And yet,&nbsp;it still comes with&nbsp;luxuries such as&nbsp;a wireless phone-charging pad, automatic LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.&nbsp;

That's without mentioning the long list of standard&nbsp;safety equipment; all Clios&nbsp;come with&nbsp;automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist&nbsp;for&nbsp;extra&nbsp;peace of mind.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio review</a>

1: Renault Clio

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Smart interior is packed with equipment</li>
	<li>Good ride and handling balance</li>
	<li>Practical boot</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Tight for taller adults in the rear seats</li>
	<li>Slightly firm low-speed ride</li>
	<li>High boot loading lip</li>
</ul>

<hr />
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Best first cars for new drivers in 2024

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

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