Compare the best cheap first cars
High quality cheap first and learner cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Best cheap first cars of 2024
Buying your first car is a rite of passage for all drivers. However, it’s also one of the trickiest car purchases you’ll ever make – as a new driver, insurance will be high on anything too powerful, and because of your inexperience you will probably want something smaller and easier to manoeuvre. New drivers also tend to be younger with smaller budgets, making it even more important to get your purchase right the first time.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of our favourite new cars that are cheap to buy, cheap to insure and not too intimidating to drive.
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When it comes to small, affordable cars, the Dacia Sandero really is the top dog. The latest versions look smarter than the ultra-basic models of old and the interior isn’t as utilitarian as you might expect. These improvements mean it’s no longer the absolute cheapest new car you can buy, but it’s easily the best value. It’s surprisingly spacious inside, too, and pretty good to drive.
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Given the fact that the similar Kia Picanto is a couple of grand cheaper than the Hyundai i10, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a touch overpriced. However, we’re big fans of this little car, because it feels much more grown-up than its price and size might suggest. Furthermore, you get an unlimited mileage five-year warranty, so you don’t have to worry about any big bills appearing out of nowhere down the line.
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The Volkswagen Up has been around for a while and hasn’t changed much. But that’s more to do with the fact that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Up is a cracking little car with stylish looks that’s much more refined to drive than you might expect, given its size. It will be reliable and cost buttons to run and insure, too.
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It’s a shame that Toyota had to turn the Aygo into a crossover to keep buyers interested, but we do rather like this new Aygo X’s chunky styling. Typical Toyota build quality means that it should run forever, and the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine burns less fuel than a camping stove.
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The popularity of the Ford Puma means that this icon of the British motoring scene is on its way out in 2023. That’s a shame, because the Fiesta is still one of the best all-rounders you can buy. Another car that’s perhaps a touch pricier than it should be, but it costs less than a Volkswagen Polo, gets loads of standard kit and has an economical 1.1-litre engine.
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An expensive cheap option, if you catch our drift, but the Volkswagen Polo is worthy of a place on this list because it genuinely feels like a much bigger, more grown up car than its dimensions suggest. It’s basically a baby Golf, so it’s nice inside, reliable and cheap to run. And their popularity means you’ll get a good price on the used market, which will help justify the higher outlay to begin with.
2024
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
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The Kia Picanto might be a seven-out-of-10 car overall, but for very specific buyers – those looking for a cheap first car, for example – it’s closer to full marks. That’s because it’s now the cheapest new car you can buy in the UK and some models even drop into the cheapest possible insurance group. A seven-year/100,000-mile warranty only enhances its value.
Astonishingly, you can currently get a basic C3 for less than the price of an Up, i10, or even a Dacia Sandero. You don’t get a lot of kit for your money — no touchscreens here, but you do at least get manual air conditioning — and it’s an older design, but it still looks fresh, and who could argue with that price tag?
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Fractionally more affordable than the basic Fiesta, and arguably the better-looking car of the two, the Corsa scores highly with its fuel-sipping 1.2-litre petrol engines and solid build quality. Not the most exciting thing, but that’s not the point, is it? The point is that it's just a good car that’s great value, and that’s the reason why it has kept topping UK sales charts in recent years.
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Another car that’s slightly more expensive than it ought to be, but the new Fabia makes up for that with a super-stylish cabin, good interior space and a boot that’s as big as what you get in a Golf. Refined to drive, too, and with Skoda’s reliability it’ll do you for years to come.
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