7 popular cars that are great for young drivers

If you’re a new driver, then you’re probably facing the exciting prospect of buying your first car.

Young drivers have a very different set of requirements when it comes to cars, then say families or retirees. For the most part, you need to be price conscious. It needs to be reliable. You don’t want a gas guzzler that’s going to cost you hundreds of dollars a week. It also can’t be too expensive to insure and keep on the road. And finally, it needs to be easy to park because you’re going to be using it a lot.

Here’s our pick of 7 popular cars that are great for young drivers.

Mazda2

If you look around any inner city street, you’re more than likely to see a number of Mazda2s and Mazda3s.

The Mazda2 is an incredibly popular car with all drivers, for its size, fuel economy and most of all its looks – it really is a stylish car.

A new Mazda2 is likely going to cost $15,000 however if you are in the market for a second-hand car, then you shouldn’t have much trouble finding one under $10,000.

Kia Rio

Another small car, the Kia Rio is also extremely popular, very reliable and a great inner city vehicle.

It’s really fuel efficient and easy to park. It comes in a range of models to suit any budget and if you’re looking to spend a little more for a bit more power then you might consider the Rio S.

Again for a new Kia Rio, you’re looking at spending $15,000, however, some of the older model you’ll be able to find closer to $5000, although the style has slightly changed over the years.

Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Yaris is quickly becoming one of the most popular small cars on the roads today. If you visit Bondi or Manly then chances are, every second car is likely to be a Yaris.

And for good reason – they’re small – coming in either 2-door or 4-door. Making them easy to park and economical to run.

And best of all they are a really stylish small car. They come in around $15000 for a new model, however, they hold their value well in the second-hand market due to how popular they are at the moment.

Ford Fiesta

For a similar price to both the Kia Rio and the Mazda2, the Ford Fiesta is growing in popularity.

It comes with a range of great features including USB/iPod and Bluetooth connectivity with voice control and cruise control. Another great feature is the rear parking sensors which come as a part of the more recent models.

Suzuki Swift

The Suzuki Swift has the look of a microcar, but don’t be fooled, it’s got far more to it than meets the eye.

For a new car, a Swift is really good value and a great option for a first car. With its small size, the Swift is both easy to park and boasts great fuel economy. And best of all it’s only marginally more expensive than a tiny microcar.

Toyota Corolla Ascent

The Toyota Corolla Ascent is actually the most popular car on the planet – so it’s not just for young drivers. However, it has a range of features that young drivers will love, including optional brake assist and EBD.

The one drawback is that it does look like your classic rental car if you buy a white one – probably one of the reasons that it’s so popular. But given the fact that it’s incredibly reliable, stylish and quite powerful – makes it a great choice for young drivers.

Ford Falcon

Ok – you’re a young guy and you want a cheap car with plenty of power. Why not go for a classic Ford Falcon Sedan.

For a second-hand model you can easily pick one up for under $10,000 and it features more power than you will likely ever need and is great for getting out on the open road and just driving. In terms of value for money, reliability and power, you probably can’t go past a Falcon.

However, if you need to fit into those tight inner city parking bays, you might want to reconsider.

Get a great deal

Remember before you buy any new or used car – do your research. And take into account the price you’re likely to pay for car insurance.

If you’re a young driver, you might be looking at paying upwards of $2000 per year just to get insurance. So be sure to factor that into your buying decision. And also make sure you compare different insurance companies to get the very best deal you can.