Best Cars for New Drivers

As a new driver looking for your first car, GB Vehicle Leasing understands this may be a daunting decision. Fortunately, we’re here to help you find your ideal first lease car. Here we’ve selected a range of the best lease cars for new drivers. Regardless of whether you passed your driving test recently or years ago, new drivers are victims of higher insurance costs until you can build up your no claims. Therefore, the following great starter cars all have small engines, offer value for money and a lower insurance band, to help you save money.

• Kia Picanto

• SEAT Ibiza

• Toyota Aygo

• Ford Fiesta 

• Volkswagen Polo

• Hyundai i10 

• Renault Clio 

• Peugeot 108

Kia Picanto

A stylish and affordable city car, the Kia Picanto is an ideal first car. Now in third generation form, the latest version offers improved styling and a better equipped interior than the previous version. Technological features, such as infotainment systems and advanced safety features, further enhance the overall driving experience. The Kia Picanto also comes with five-doors as standard, making it practical and easy for passengers to access the rear seats. As with all Kia leasing models, the Kia Picanto comes with Kia’s seven year/ 100,000-mile warranty for peace of mind. Plus, it offers low running costs and insurance as low as group 3. Although, beware that models such as the Kia Picanto 1.0T GDi GT-line fall in higher insurance bands. Overall, we feel the Kia Picanto is a good all-rounder, reliable and attractively priced, making it an excellent car for new or young drivers. The sporty looks particularly give it a youthful appeal. In particular, the Kia Picanto 1.0 1 5dr with 66bhp is an ideal first car. As standard, this car has 14" steel wheels with black cloth upholstery, a 2-speaker audio system, Bluetooth and a 3.8" monochrome audio display. Plus, with 110g/km CO2 and offering up to 58.9 mpg, this small car has good fuel economy. Lastly, with its compact dimensions and nimble handling, the Picanto is well-suited for navigating urban landscapes and tight parking spaces, making it an ideal companion for new drivers.

For information on the Kia Picanto, take a look at our Kia Picanto lease deals.

SEAT Ibiza

The SEAT Ibiza is a stylish hatchback, sized slightly below the SEAT Leon. It emerges as an enticing option for those seeking a first car that seamlessly combines sporty flair with practicality. Renowned for its dynamic design and agile performance, the Ibiza delivers an engaging driving experience that appeals to younger drivers. Over the years, this SEAT has become known for its good reliability and great value for money, making it an ideal first car. In particular, the SEAT Ibiza SE 1.0 MPI 80PS is priced from £17,755 and this comes with cruise control, 15" alloy wheels, hill hold assist and air conditioning, just to mention a few. It also offers a comfortable drive, as well as a decent boot space for its class. New drivers will find the SEAT Ibiza both easy to drive and fun. Plus, with insurance as low as group 3 for some models, this could be great for new or young drivers looking for a cheap insurance car. Safety features are also a highlight, with advanced technologies and robust construction contributing to the Ibiza's reputation for safety. Despite strong competition from the likes of the Volkswagen Polo and Vauxhall Corsa, this SEAT model remains a popular lease option.

If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, take a look at our SEAT Ibiza lease deals.

Toyota Aygo

First launched in 2005, the Toyota Aygo is a compact city car. This Toyota car is smaller in size than the Kia Picanto and is limited by its 168-litre boot. That said, the Toyota Aygo is more fuel efficient and offers great styling and comfort. The Aygo’s claimed WLTP rated fuel economy ranges between 53.3 to 57.6 mpg which is rather good. Also, low insurance grouping and excellent reliability make this Toyota is a popular lease car for new or young drivers. Thanks to its compact size, the Toyota Aygo is particularly great for driving in tight space and regularly driving around town. As well, new drivers will find the Aygo is agile and offers a smooth ride, making it a great first car. In terms of aesthetics, the Toyota Aygo boasts a distinctive and youthful design, making it stand out on the road. The inclusion of modern infotainment features and connectivity options adds a touch of convenience and tech-savvy appeal. 

For more information, view our Toyota Aygo lease deals.

Ford Fiesta

If you would prefer a Ford as your first car, then the Ford Fiesta is a great option for new drivers. In the 70's, the Ford Fiesta was introduced as the automaker’s first supermini. Over the years, it has won many awards and has a strong reputation as a reliable and affordable car. New drivers will find the Ford Fiesta is an easy car to drive with low running costs. The latest Fiesta is available with mild hybrid technology, helping to increase fuel economy, as well as lower emissions which is better for the environment. Plus, with insurance as low as group 2 for some models, this could be a great low insurance car. Available as either three or five-door form, this Ford car is spacious upfront, although rivals like the VW Polo offer more rear passenger space. For sportier styling, you might consider leasing the Ford Fiesta ST-Line, although insurance grouping will be higher. Furthermore, the Ford Fiesta has a decent 311-litres boot capacity for a supermini, although several rivals have bigger boots, for example the SEAT Ibiza.

If you’re looking to know more about this ideal first car, check out Ford Fiesta lease deals.

Volkswagen Polo

The Volkswagen Polo is highly rated in the supermini class for its low running costs and high-quality interior. As a brand, Volkswagen are known for producing both reliable and safe vehicles. GB Vehicle Leasing feel this is a great example of Volkswagen’s production at its finest. During independent crash-testing, the VW Polo achieved a Euro NCAP Safety Rating of 5 stars and scored particularly well in the adult occupancy NCAP assessment. Some people would say that the VW Polo gets overlooked due to its popular sibling, the Volkswagen Golf. However, the latest VW Polo offers a spacious interior and better drive than previous generations. Inside, the Polo boasts a well-appointed and comfortable interior, with quality materials and a user-friendly infotainment system. As for its 351-litre boot space, this is generous compared to the Ford Fiesta. Plus, typically, the Volkswagen Polo offers lower insurance groupings, making it the preferred option for young or new drivers.

If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, take a look at our Volkswagen Polo lease deals.

Hyundai i10

The latest Hyundai i10 is a small, yet comfortable first car with improved tech and an incredible new design. Ideal for city driving, the compact size of the i10 makes driving in tighter spaces easier. This is now one of the most high-tech city cars ever and comes with plenty of standard safety kit. Inside the Hyundai i10, it’s stylish with a fresh modern look. Also, it has a versatile boot capacity of 252 litres, making it one of the best in its class.This is over 50 litres bigger than the Citroen C1’s boot capacity. Available in four trim levels, the Hyundai i10 SE is the entry level trim with a 1.0 MPi Petrol engine providing 67bhp and 56.5 mpg combined. Again, for a sportier version, you might opt for leasing the Hyundai i10 N Line. This offers an upgraded interior including N Line sports seats, which particularly appeals to young drivers thanks to its sporty looks. Depending on the trim level you choose, this Hyundai's insurance grouping ranges from 4 to 10 which is great for new or young drivers.

If you’d like a little more information on this ideal first car, take a look at our Hyundai i10 lease deals.

Renault Clio

This Renault model was first launched in 1990 as a limited-edition car. Although, when it gained mass interest, the decision was made to continue production. Today, the Renault Clio is a common car for new drivers as it combines practicality, low running costs and great value for money. Compared to the Peugeot 208, the Renault Clio is noticeably cheaper to buy and has a bigger boot space. Also, this Renault car falls into as low as insurance group 3. However, insurance grouping is higher for more powerful and higher spec models. Furthermore, the Renault Clio has an excellent reputation for being a safe car to drive. During independent crash-testing, this Renault model achieved a full Euro NCAP Safety Rating of five stars, which included an impressive score of 96 per cent in its adult occupancy NCAP assessment. With tougher segment competition nowadays, the latest Renault Clio has been refined to offer greater practicality and better technology. Plus, this Renault car has a great choice of engine options including Hybrid powertrain.

If you’d like a little more information on this Renault car, take a look at our Renault Clio lease deals.

Peugeot 108

Last, but certainly not least, we've picked the Peugeot 108 as a good first car. In essence, this is the same car as the Citroen C1, with only minor differences. Both offer the same choice of engines and have a 196-litre boot space. Perfect for driving around town, the Peugeot 108 offers low running costs and has a stylish design. Like its key rival, the Volkswagen Up, you can enjoy a smooth ride in the Peugeot 108 thanks to its agile handling. In particular, new drivers will enjoy how easy to drive this car is. Inside, Peugeot have maximised the space by including useful storage areas and a fair-sized boot space. Although, it doesn’t quite match the boot capacity of the Hyundai i10. Overall, we feel the Peugeot 108 is still a great option as your first car though. Plus, Peugeot has established a strong reputation for producing well-built cars which are also reliable. Therefore, it's easy to see why new drivers might consider this as a first car.  

If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, take a look at our Peugeot 108 lease deals.

There you have it - our selection of the best cars for new drivers. From compact dimensions ideal for city driving to advanced safety technologies and modern infotainment systems, these cars embody a balance of performance, economy, and comfort. All of these have the potential to be good first cars. So, the only question really left to ask is, which first car will you opt for? If you would like to find out more about car leasing for new drivers, or our current stock cars, then get in touch today. Here at GB Vehicle Leasing we've got everything you need to start leasing your first car. Also, follow us on Facebook for more of our latest updates and stock alerts.