CarGurus Reveals the Best Cars for First-Time Drivers

• Survey of 1,000 first-time drivers identifies key criteria for the ideal first car
• CarGurus study names Toyota Aygo as the top recommended car for new drivers
• Others included on the top 10 list are the Peugeot 108/Citroen C1, Kia Picanto, and Hyundai i10
• Budget (30%), cost to insure (27%), and mileage (24%) identified as top priorities by consumers when looking for their first car
• CarGurus’ First-Time Buyer Guide provides practical purchasing advice for all budgets

The best car for first-time drivers is the Toyota Aygo, according to research.

To uncover the top priorities of today’s new drivers, CarGurus - a leading automotive marketplace in the U.K. - surveyed 1,000 motorists who passed their driving test in the past three years. Respondents identified what they’d want from their inaugural motor, with low price at the top of the list of most important criteria, according to 30% of those surveyed.

With budget top of mind, the majority of those polled said they would prefer to stay under £8,000 for their first car.

Insurance cost is next among top priorities (27%), followed by the number of miles on the clock (24%), and fuel consumption (24%).

Reliability is also important (22%), as are factors like MOT history (19%), service history (18%), and vehicle age (18%). When asked about the top preferred extra features, drivers noted Bluetooth connectivity (45%), parking sensors (44%), and parking cameras (41%) as the most important.

When choosing between types of gearboxes, the majority (57%) would opt for an automatic option. The study also revealed that new drivers would opt for a petrol-powered car (46%), followed by electric (19%), diesel (19%), and hybrid (16%).

In terms of body style and size, new drivers have a preference for SUVs (21%) and hatchbacks (20%) and primarily prefer vehicles that seat four (37%) to five (52%) people.

New drivers, on average, would be willing to insure their car for a maximum of £1,100 and they would expect to travel an average of 70 miles a week in their vehicle. For those paying for their first car on finance, the average a driver would be willing to pay per month is £371.

The top five most desired brands include Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, and Ford.

Taking driver feedback into account, CarGurus has named the Aygo as the number one recommended choice for new drivers, consistently faring well in many priority areas outlined by surveyed drivers.

According to CarGurus, the Toyota Aygo excelled thanks to reliability, as the Japanese brand makes some of the most dependable cars on the market.

The Aygo’s affordability is another key factor. According to CarGurus Instant Market Value data, buyers should be able to purchase a six-year-old petrol-engined Aygo with an automatic gearbox within the budget specified by survey participants.

The 71bhp 1.0-litre petrol-engined Aygo returns a very competitive 64mpg when paired with the X-Shift automatic gearbox, making fuel costs affordable.

As insurance groupings stand between six and nine for an Aygo of this spec, this low classification means that premiums should be realistic for new drivers - around £1,500.

In addition, for buyers looking for extra peace of mind, Toyota’s Warranty can be extended by a year or 10,000 miles when the car is serviced according to schedule at an authorised Toyota dealer, up to a maximum age of ten years or 100,000 miles.

With feedback from new drivers in mind, CarGurus has created a First-Time Buyer Guide to provide consumers with a host of information and practical purchasing advice for all budgets.

Other notable models that made CarGurus’ top 10 list for first-time drivers include the Peugeot 108/Citroen C1 (2014-2021) which are mechanically identical to the Aygo but finished second best because they aren't eligible for an extended warranty.

The Kia Picanto (2011-2016) and Hyundai i10 (2014-2019) also came highly recommended for their low running costs and affordable purchase prices.

For those who prefer an automatic gearbox, CarGurus rates the four-speed unit that's used in the Picanto and i10 as one of the better systems available in a car of this size.

For buyers specifically looking to begin their motoring life with an EV, CarGurus recommends the Renault Zoe (2013-2019) and Kia Soul EV Mk1 (2014-2019) for being two of the best value used EVs on the market. First-time drivers should note that these models are likely to be more expensive to insure than the recommended petrol cars, and the Renault might also require a monthly battery lease on top of the car's purchase price.

Chris Knapman, Editorial Director for CarGurus, said: “While no car ticked every single requirement set out by respondents to our survey, the Toyota Aygo is the model that comes closest. Built between 2014 and 2021, the second-generation Aygo is affordable to buy and run, roomy enough to carry four people, and should prove to be extremely reliable if properly maintained.

“To complement this recommendation, we have created a comprehensive first-car buying guide on CarGurus.co.uk, which blends our survey results with expert advice, and also contains details of nine other recommended models to consider. While none can quite match the Aygo, there is still a selection of models – both petrol and electric – that make for great first-time buys based on the criteria identified in our data.”

NUMBER ONE CAR FOR FIRST-TIME CAR BUYERS BASED ON REQUIREMENTS OF NEW DRIVERS:
• Toyota Aygo (2014-2021)

RUNNERS UP (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER):
• Peugeot 108/Citroen C1 (2014-2021)
• Kia Picanto (2011-2016)
• Hyundai i10 (2014-2019)
• Nissan Micra (2017-2022)
• Volkswagen Up (2012-2023)
• Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
• Renault Clio (2013-2018)
• Renault Zoe (2013-2019) - electric
• Kia Soul EV Mk1 (2014-2019) - electric

About CarGurus, Inc.
CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG) is a multinational online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles. The CarGurus platform gives consumers the confidence to purchase and/or sell a vehicle, and it gives dealerships the power to accurately price, effectively market, and quickly sell vehicles, all with a nationwide reach. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms, and data analytics to bring trust, transparency, and competitive pricing to the automotive shopping experience.

CarGurus operates online marketplaces under the CarGurus brand in the U.K., Canada, and U.S., where it is the most visited automotive shopping site.* The CarGurus network of brands also includes PistonHeads, the largest online motoring community in the U.K. **; Autolist, a U.S.-based online marketplace; and CarOffer, a digital wholesale marketplace serving the U.S.

To learn more about CarGurus in the U.K., visit CarGurus.co.uk, and for more information about PistonHeads, visit PistonHeads.com.

CarGurus® is a registered trademark of CarGurus, Inc., and CarOffer® is a registered trademark of CarOffer, LLC. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

*Similarweb: Traffic Insights, Q4 2023, U.S.
** Similarweb: Traffic Insights, Q4 2023, U.K.