The best first cars for new drivers- driven, rated and ranked

Best for: flair 

The genius of the Seat Ibiza is that it blends a youthful fit and feel with complete ubiquity. A recent facelift has added an extra dose of kerb appeal, while the interior offers a pleasing blend of touchscreen tech and the convenience of actual buttons to press.

The entry-level SE offers the most affordable way into Ibiza ownership, but we'd understand the young blades you want to pay a few thousand more for the snazzily sporty FR.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Under the skin it's pure Volkswagen Polo, which means the Ibiza is one of the more mature performers in the (diminishing) supermini class. Accurate steering and planted handling combine with a composed ride and decent refinenent.

There's only one engine option: a turbocharged 1.0-litre triple with either 94 or 113bhp, but it offers effortless mid-range punch and easy 50mpg returns. Depending on power output there's either a five- or a six-speed manual gearbox, with both providing a light and positive shift action. There's also the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic DSG.

Despite falling into the supermini category, the SEAT is a surprisingly spacious choice, with room for five adults (at a push) and generous 355-litre boot.

Best for: driving fun

If you thought the demise of the Ford Fiesta meant the death of the entertaining small car, then think again. Thanks to the Suzuki Swift it's still possible it have big fun for a small amount of cash.

If you want a small car that can handle the odd trip off the beaten track, then Suzuki offer a four-wheel-drive version of the Swift.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

On paper its mild-hybrid-assisted 84bhp 1.2-litre triple doesn't look that exciting, but it feels eager on the move and is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox that benefits from a short and accurate throw.

Better still, with a kerb weight that dips below 1000kg, compact dimensions and taut suspension, the Swift is an absolute riot to fling through a series of corners. Genuinely, there are warm hatches that fail to make you smile as much as the agile and engaging Suzuki.

Downsides? Well, the interior is a little cramped in the back, while the rest of the cabin is almost completely devoid of premium appeal. Yet it's robustly built and comes with enough kit to keep most gadget fans happy. More importantly, it costs a whisker over £17,000 and you'll struggle to get less than 60mpg.

Best for: interior quality

Modern design, a huge boot and economical engines are the chief reasons to buy Renault’s evergreen supermini.

Plush, smooth and mature, this is a car of substance as well as style.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

It’s plusher than you might imagine a French hatchback to be, with everything feeling well put-together. The up-to-date infotainment has the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it even gets niceties such as cruise control.

The three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine is quiet, smooth and very economical – as long as you make the most out of the six-speed manual gearbox. There’s also a 1.6-litre hybrid, which is both more economical (60mpg versus 50mpg) and quicker. Even so, we prefer the lower costs and more rounded character of the smaller-engined machine.

Best for: style

Could a 'first car' list ever be complete without a Mini? Generations of Brits have grown up with them, and this latest version might just be the best yet.

Not only does it lack the option of a manual gearbox, but you also have no control over the auto ’box unless you choose the questionably styled Sport cosmetics package.

Felix Page, Deputy editor

It’s certainly easy to drive. The steering is accurate and intuitive, giving you real confidence to place the car correctly in tight squeezes. It’s a hoot, too, with the firm suspension making it quite Tiggerish on UK roads, along which it bounces – and sometimes thumps a bit – with boundless energy.

The 1.5-litre three-cylinder Cooper C is the one to go for here. It only comes with an automatic gearbox, which might come as a bit of a shock to some, but it’s the cheapest to insure and run. Over the course of a week, we averaged 43.4mpg in one.

Interior-wise, it’s the most minimal and modern car on this list. Mini has removed all unnecessary trimmings and buttons and it feels spartan - but in a good way. The huge circular infotainment screen is great for tech lovers, but a quick word of warning: Apple CarPlay is displayed as a square inside the circle, meaning you can’t take full advantage of the screen while using it.

Best for: bargain prices

The 208 is a truly compelling first car choice. It has been the best-selling supermini throughout various countries in Europe, it has a genuinely posh interior and, best of all, it's great value.

Smaller wheels make the ride less firm and thereby more comfortable.

Rachel Burgess, Magazine editor

Equipment levels are hard to fault. All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the quality of materials are a cut above other cars at this price point. Admittedly, though, there are a few rogue bits of cheap plastic if you really look.

Like the Clio, the 208 offers both a petrol and a hybrid option. The hybrid comes with an automatic gearbox and is more economical and powerful than the regular petrol, but it is also more expensive.

Best for: practicality

Not everyone seeking their first car is some worry-free 17-year-old. And the T-Cross is perfect if you require that extra bit of space.

The T-Cross has the measured, grown-up aura we expect of a Volkswagen, with fine space and versatility.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

It sits on the same platform as the Volkswagen Polo, which means it inherits that car’s frugal engines that are cheap to insure, but the T-Cross teams it with a larger, taller body that’s a bit more practical.

Passenger space for both front and rear occupants is impressive and much more generous than you would find in a supermini.

The back bench slides to boost boot space or rear leg room as you see fit, and there’s a boot floor you can lower or take out, making it perfect for tall items such as plants.

The seating position is higher and more upright, too, giving the driver a clearer view of the road ahead.

Best for: zero-emissions motoring

A slew of EVs could have graced this list. The Citroën Ami is a wonderful choice if you restrict yourself to cities (it can barely do 30mph), while the Leapmotor T03 offers great value for money, if not the design ethos (nor the proven reliability) offered by European marques.

There are some really creative design touches in the car that make it a joy to be in.

Mark Tisshaw, Editor

Which brings us to the Fiat Grande Panda Electric. It strikes a fine balance between retro and modernism, with its design aping that of the original Panda of 1980 while bringing an air of modernity thanks to features such as a retractable charging cable.

Officially this little Fiat will travel 199 miles on a charge. Broadly those figures are unachievable, but we were seeing around 185 miles on a mild January day when we tested the car in Turin.

If you can charge from home, an EV is a really canny way to save pennies, too. If set up with a charging-specific energy provider you could be looking at prices of less than 5.0p per mile, which is about half the cost of a petrol-powered equivalent.

Best for: parking

Measuring just 3701mm in length and 1583mm in width, the dinky Dacia Spring is the perfect urban warrior.

You have to manage expectations at this price point, but we would have liked the option of some adjustability in the regen braking

Richard Lane, Deputy road test editor

Despite having just 44bhp, the entry-level model's electric motor delivers instant torque, so it has no trouble keeping up with the flow of surburban traffic. That said, we'd search down the back of the sofa and turn our pockets inside out in search of the extra cash for the 64bhp version.

Despite its gawky looks and cut-price crossover stance, the diminutive Dacia is actually surprisingly fun to fling down a twisty road. In our increasingly surveilled and speed-restricted times there's something refreshing about making the most of a modestly powered, skinny-tyred and lighweight small hatchback. The Spring's steering is accurate, and, despite hilarious amounts of body roll, it clings on well.

Of course, you don't get something for nothing, and the Dacia's bargain price tag comes with compromises. There's the modest sub-200-mile range for starters, while nervous parents won't like the look of the one-star Euro NCAP rating - although it's probably a more crashworthy prospect than a 10-year-old Toyota Aygo.