Top 10 Cars For Students and Young Drivers

The king of the supermini segment. Often replicated, but rarely surpassed. The Up! exists as the SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but VW were keen to make sure that even though they emulated their Up! through their other brands, the VW was still the one to buy. It’s got a smart interior, premium materials and a really intuitive infotainment system. The biggest selling point has got be its tardis-like cabin. The up! Uses every inch of space it is given, and the 250litre boot is only just short of best in class, but you can get the most out of every litre.

I bet you were expecting a Clio, weren’t you? Times have changed, or are currently changing. Previously, young drivers would have the option of a hatchback and a hatchback only. Not necessarily anymore. The Captur from Renault is a good example of a small SUV which can be managed by young drivers. First off, it’s no bigger than a regular hatchback in terms of the tarmac it covers. The Captur is taller, though, and safer, and more practical and more comfortable. It is a bit more expensive though, with prices around the £15,000 mark, but you can get 3 years at 0% APR with 2 years of free servicing too. It’s an outside bet that’s certainly worth considering.

Is a car on finance achievable within a student's budget? Probably not, but with a little help from a part time job, or the bank of Mum and Dad, a FIAT 500 at just £179 per month is hardly the most extravagant of purchases. At the very least, it will mean less money spent on train fares to and from university. Similarly, it could mean fewer trips up and down the country for mum, dad and a bootful of clothes, cutlery and countertop appliances. A small price to pay…

The i10 has been enjoying a solid period of sales in the UK, and their 5-year warranty continues to be one of their biggest selling points. Hyundai is keen to make sure buyers are given the peace of mind they need. This is also true for the safety kit provided. Get ready for a load of acronyms… LDWS, FCWS, TPMS, HAC and SBL. Lane Departure Warning System to keep young drivers attention on the road. Front Collision Warning System to prevent rear-ending another road user. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System so you know if one of your tyres is losing air. Hill-stat Assist Control, to assist on tricky hill starts without destroying the clutch and Static Bending Lights, so the bends ahead are as illuminated as possible. All of the above is available on the i10 because safety is key with inexperienced road users.

Nissan probably should have dropped the Micra name for this latest model, because it’s picked up a few negative connotations over the years as it has been as seen as a car for the elderly. Nissan have been bold. This new Micra is for people of all ages, from teenagers to pensioners, the Micra is now a very attractive, stylish and comfortable car. Again, it’s not particularly quick, but it doesn’t need to be. The car has some really cool exterior styling as well as a cushioned and soft interior.

The C1 is an option for young drivers that just makes sense. The car is low-powered and economical and (if bought on PCP) comes with Citroen's ‘SimplyDrive’ offer. This means that on a 3 year finance deal you get 3 years insurance, 3 years of servicing, 3 years roadside assistance, 3 years of tax, 3 years of warranty and the option to waiver 6 months of payments, just in case your financial situation changes and you can’t make the payments. That’s rather comprehensive...

Ok, I’m a bit biased because my first car was a Corsa and I loved it. It was actually my mum’s car and we shared but that didn’t sound as cool, so I just pretended it was mine. I had a lot of great memories in that Corsa and this new model is just as good. Sharp handling, excitable petrol engines, youthful looks, the Corsa has it all. What’s also worth noting is their optional insurance coverage via the InGenie telematics ‘black box.’ This isn’t like every other black box though, there’s no curfew or parental rules to abide by, the box will just monitor acceleration, speed, braking and cornering. If you drive well then you’ll be offered a discount every 3 months.

The Sandero makes a lot of sense as a first car. For instance, it’s cheap as chips at just £5,995. Secondly, it’s very easy to drive and park, thirdly (arguably most importantly) it’s very difficult to break. The Sandero is a bit of a battle tank. You can’t curb the alloys if it doesn’t have alloys. A lot of the exterior is plastic, so minor prangs in tight car parks aren’t going to be the end of the world. It’s almost like driving with stabilisers. Lastly, the Sandero is available with a 0.9litre tCe engine which is genuinely enjoyable to drive, albeit rather slow, and it shouldn’t be too hard to insure. 

The Picanto is a car that a lot of teenagers will be keen for. The KIA brand has been given a huge facelift and the Picanto is now a very cool car, especially when specced well. Obviously, the Picanto is small enough to be used for daily errands and is super easy to drive, but the perks don’t stop there. KIA are currently offering one year's free insurance (which includes unlimited refuelling cover, just in case) but this offer ends on the 30th of September, so it might be wise to get involved sooner rather than later.

The Ibiza is a sporty alternative to the VW Polo. With sharper lines and a more sleek profile, the Ibiza is certainly a car that young drivers will be proud to show off to their friends, and thanks to a solid selection of small engines, the Ibiza isn’t too powerful and SEAT are currently running an offer which includes insurance for drivers aged 18 and above. Sporty, desirable and sustainable, well done SEAT.