The best cars for first-time drivers on a variety of budgets

Buying your first car is one of the most exciting prospects in the world of motoring. It’s a chance to grab a slice of freedom and the ability to go anywhere you’d like. It’s something that thousands of people go through each year, in fact.

But which car do you pick for your first one? We’ve taken a look at the used cars for sale online, and selected some of the best options for a variety of different cash budgets - so let’s dive in and take a look.

Up to £1,500 - SEAT Ibiza

We reckon that £1,500 represents a reasonable first-time car budget. It’s a price which should net you a reliable car without breaking the bank entirely.

It will be tricky to find a car less than £1500 than is less than 10 years old, however, if you strike lucky in your search, at this price point, we’d opt for a SEAT Ibiza, which stands out against competitors thanks to its great styling and good interior.

Though new drivers might be tempted by the 1.4-litre variant, we’d advise the 1.2-litre version instead as it’ll be cheaper to run and cheaper to insure, too.

Used SEAT Cars

Up to £3,500 - Volkswagen Polo

Push the budget up to £3,500 and it could net you a classy Volkswagen Polo. At this price you’ll be able to get the keys to a 2010 version, bringing smart looks and an efficient yet punchy 1.2-litre petrol engine.

Though just 59bhp isn’t going to bring the most invigorating performance, it does mean that the Polo will return more than 50mpg. It also puts it in Group 3 insurance, so premiums shouldn’t stretch the finances too much.

Used Volkswagen Cars

Up to £5,000 - Mini One

Move up to £5,000 and you could get your hands on a classy second-hand Mini One. A common sight on the UK’s roads, the Mini is popular for many reasons; it is great to drive and good-looking too, while it’s interior is smartly made and comfortable too.

We’d avoid the more powerful Cooper variant of the 2010 model we’re looking at and instead opt for the One.

Up to £7,500 - Fiat 500

Got a bit more cash to spend? A £7,500 budget is more than enough to net a very clean example of the retro-styled Fiat 500. In fact, this is enough to get the keys to a later 2017 model with low mileage.

In addition, the 500’s 1.2-litre turbocharged engine will be both cheap to run and ensure that it’s not going to cost the earth to insure, either.

Up to £10,000 - Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Now a £10,000 budget for a first-time car is certainly extensive, but if you are looking to spend that sort of money then the Mercedes A-Class is a great option.

We reckon that the 1.5-litre diesel-powered A180 is a smart choice as despite being quite large in capacity it produces just 109bhp, which should help it to return decent fuel economy.

Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases, potentially one of the most expensive too, that you are going to make in your entire life, and for that reason, you may wish to look into other car finance options, rather than just buying a car outright.

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