Best Cars for New Drivers 2025

In fact, some vehicles are flat-out a bad call for new drivers getting behind the wheel for the first time.

There are a few important things to consider when shopping around for your first car, which is exactly what we'll be covering today with a quick look at what separates good cars for new drivers from the bad and provide you with a list of ten of our favourites.

What Makes a Good Car for New Drivers?

• Affordability: this applies to both the initial purchase price and ongoing costs like maintenance and insurance

• Safety: a must for everyone, but especially new car drivers, best indicated by build quality and strong ANCAP safety ratings

• Fuel Efficiency: a fuel-efficient vehicle is a must for any new driver, lessening the sting of your fuel bills that balloon out over time

• Size & Ease of Driving: smaller cars are the easiest to get your bearings behind the wheel, remaining easy to park and navigate in the urban jungle, giving you a grasp of the basics that you can scale up into larger vehicles.

• Visibility: a clear view over your surroundings adds confidence behind the wheel and avoids those silly - and costly - little errors while parking

• Practicality: enough space to accommodate your friends or a weekend’s worth of bags, sports gear or camping equipment so you're ready for everything

• Safety Tech: active safety tech like AEB, rear cross-traffic alerts and blind-spot monitoring makes a huge difference, particularly for city buyers

• Warranty & Servicing: a long warranty can help to save you thousands down the line, while capped-price servicing can also help you outline a clear budget ahead of time.

10 of the Best Cars for New Drivers 2025

Toyota Yaris Cross

The Toyota Yaris Cross is a pint-sized SUV with some of the market's best fuel efficiency, user-friendly road manners and affordable capped-price servicing that ticks many, if not all the important boxes for new car buyers.

In fact, many of Toyota's cars are actually great options for new drivers, especially the pint-sized Yaris, Corolla and the C-HR.

• Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol + electric motor hybrid

• Fuel Economy: 3.8L per 100km

• Boot Space: 390L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2021)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited kilometre (up to seven years for driveline)

BYD Dolphin

While electric vehicles have previously been price-prohibitive for new drivers, the BYD Dolphin's sharp pricing means you can get behind the wheel of a small electric hatch and soak up those cheap running costs without breaking the bank.

• Battery Size: 60.5kWh

• Energy Efficiency: 15.9kWh per 100km

• Range: 427km

• Boot Space: 345L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2023)

• Warranty: Six-year vehicle warranty, eight-year battery warranty

Mazda CX-3

The CX-3 remains one of the best-selling offerings in the light SUV segment and stands as a wonderful option for new drivers thanks to its smooth on-road manners, that willing little four-cylinder engine and stylish interior design.

• Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol

• Fuel Economy: 6.3L per 100km

• Boot Space: 264L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Expired five-star

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited kilometre

Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona not only looks stylish, it offers great on-road handling and user-friendly proportions that make it a great little starter SUV package that oozes personality, with the option of a fuel-efficient hybrid to sweeten the deal.

• Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol

• Fuel Economy: 6.6L per 100km

• Boot Space: 407L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Four-star (tested 2023)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited kilometre

Kia Picanto

The Picanto stands out from the crowd as one of the most well-mannered packages with a surprisingly eager nature behind the wheel, while its tiny wheelbase makes it easy to park and super fuel-efficient.

• Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol

• Fuel Economy: 5.4L - 6.0L per 100km (manual vs auto)

• Boot Space: 255L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Expired four-star

• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited kilometre

MG ZS

The latest-generation ZS is a massively improved package overall, with better handling on the road, a revamped styling package inside, a heap of new safety tech, a ten-year warranty and the option of a fuel-efficient hybrid option makes it impossible to ignore for new drivers.

• Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol

• Fuel Economy: 6.7L per 100km

• Boot Space: 443L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Four-star (tested 2024)

• Warranty: Ten-year/250,000 kilometre

Toyota Corolla Cross

The Corolla Cross is a peach of an SUV, offering a heap more practicality than its Yaris-Cross sibling while remaining extremely easy to pilot around town and benefitting from outstanding fuel economy figures and affordable servicing that makes it cheap to run in the long term.

• Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol + electric motor hybrid

• Fuel Economy: 4.3L per 100km

• Boot Space: 414 - 425L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited kilometre (up to seven years for driveline)

Suzuki Swift

The Suzuki Swift is almost synonymous with first-time drivers, with the pint-sized hatchback offering even better fuel economy figures in its latest form thanks to a mild-hybrid powertrain, more equipment and a notable safety equipment upgrade to keep it competitive in the space.

• Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder + 12-volt mild-hybrid

• Fuel Economy: 3.9 - 4.0L per 100km

• Boot Space: 265L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: One-star (tested 2024)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited kilometre

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is one of the leading small cars on the market, available in both a hatchback and sedan package, both of which provide outstanding on-road handling and a lovely interior design that makes user-friendly driving look and feel great.

• Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol

• Fuel Economy: 5.9L per 100km

• Boot Space: 295 - 450L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2019)

• Warranty: Five-year/unlimited kilometre

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro

The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro gives small SUV buyers a seriously generous slice of value, outdoing the competition when it comes to equipment levels, warranty coverage and sharp pricing that make it a must-have on any small SUV shortlist.

• Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol

• Fuel Economy: 7.3L per 100km

• Boot Space: 380L

• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2023)

• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited kilometre

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FAQ: Should a new driver buy new or used?

Used cars often make the most sense financially - depreciation hits hardest in the first few years, so buying a two-to-five-year-old car can save thousands. That said, new cars bring peace of mind with warranties and the latest safety tech.

FAQ: Are small cars always better for beginners?

Compact hatchbacks are easier to manoeuvre and park, but small SUVs are becoming popular first-car choices thanks to their higher driving position and added practicality.

FAQ: How important is fuel efficiency?

A: Very - especially for younger drivers on tight budgets. A frugal car helps keep running costs predictable and manageable.

FAQ: Do first cars need advanced safety tech?

A: It’s not essential, but they’re highly recommended. Features like autonomous emergency braking, reversing cameras, and blind-spot monitoring can make a real difference to a new driver's confidence and safety, though these are offered in more recent and pricier vehicles that may be beyond a reasonable budget.

FAQ: Is manual or automatic better for a first car?

Automatics are easier to learn in and less stressful in traffic. Manuals can be cheaper and offer more control - plus they keep more options open if the driver ever wants to switch vehicles. Learning to drive with a manual transmission also gives you a deeper understanding of some driving fundamentals.

FAQ: Should new drivers consider electric vehicles?

A: EVs can be great for city-based learners thanks to their simplicity and low running costs, making them a great option for new drivers and first-car buyers alike, though higher upfront price and charging access can limit your options.