Whether you’ve just started learning or have passed your test, perhaps you’re a parent looking at buying your son or daughter their first car. But what are the best models out there, and what should you be considering when looking at buying a car for a young driver?
Where will you be driving?
It’s worth thinking about the type of driving that you’ll be doing the most often. For example, if you live in a town or city, you’ll want something a little nippier, perhaps with parking sensors, or even parking assist. Whereas if you live in the countryside, a car that drives well across muddier terrains would be beneficial. Whether you’re looking for the latest models or more affordable pre-owned options, checking out a new and used car dealership in Singapore can offer a wide range of vehicles suitable for young drivers. Consider also the maintenance costs and fuel efficiency, as these are crucial factors for a first car.
Best town and city cars
City cars are ideal if you’ll be spending most of your time driving through congested streets, with a lot of start-stopping. You’ll want to invest in one that’s small and highly manoeuvrable.
Skoda Citigo
The Skoda Citigo is a great first car if you need to zip around busy streets. It’s also cheap to run thanks to its 1.0-litre petrol engine. Thanks to its comfy suspension and the car’s light weight it’s surprisingly agile.
Vauxhall Corsa
The archetypal first car, the Vauxhall Corsa is a safe and sturdy car. Low insurance groups, and cheap running costs make it an appealing option. And the sixth-generation Corsa features an all-electric ‘Corsa-e’.
Best countryside cars
If you live in a more rural village, or countryside setting a car that can manoeuvre over trickier terrain whilst still retaining control should definitely be considered.
Mini Countryman
The Mini has been given an update and Peter Vardy offers a range of Mini’s including the Countryman – perfect for countryside driving. A compact SUV, the Mini Countryman offers practicality and sturdiness and a wealth of safety features making it perfect for young drivers.
Fiat 500X
Similar in style to the Fiat 500, the Fiat 500X is a stylish and small SUV crossover and is confident at travelling over a host of terrains. Its chunkier in appearance compared with the Fiat 500, but it’s still easy to handle.
When choosing a car for a young driver, substance over style should always win out. It’s always worth checking the safety rating of a car to ensure it’s suitable to your requirements. You may also want to think about taking a Pass Plus test to give you a bit more real-world driving experience once you’ve passed your test. Sometimes your car insurance goes down once you’ve taken the test too!