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Compare the best cars for teenagers

High quality cars for teenagers from rated and reviewed dealers

Rated 4.6/5 from 49,181 reviews
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Best cars for teenagers of 2024

Nothing is more liberating for a young adult than their first car – and nothing worries parents of young adults more than their first car. This paradox is key to selecting the right car for a teenager who has just passed their test.

Teens will want something cool, with a stylish design, lots of tech and cheap to run: parents will want something that is safe, to protect their child if they’re involved in a collision. We’ve assessed all the cars that match these various criteria and selected the best cars for teenagers.

Hyundai i10

1. Hyundai i10

8/10
Hyundai i10 review
Peugeot 208

2. Peugeot 208

8/10
Peugeot 208 review
Dacia Sandero

3. Dacia Sandero

8/10
Dacia Sandero review
Volkswagen Polo

4. Volkswagen Polo

8/10
Volkswagen Polo review
Renault Zoe

5. Renault Zoe

8/10
Renault Zoe review
Battery range up to 245 miles
MINI 3-Door Hatch

6. Mini 3-Door Hatch

7/10
MINI 3-Door Hatch review
Toyota Aygo X

7. Toyota Aygo X

7/10
Toyota Aygo X review
Vauxhall Corsa

8. Vauxhall Corsa

7/10
Vauxhall Corsa review
Skoda Fabia

9. Skoda Fabia

9/10
Skoda Fabia review
Suzuki Ignis

10. Suzuki Ignis

7/10
Suzuki Ignis review

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Advice about cars for teenagers

Cars for teenagers FAQs

This is a relatively easy question to answer, because the Dacia Sandero is one of the cheapest cars you can buy – and you get a lot of car for the money. The entry-level model comes with remote central locking, air con and Bluetooth, but if you spend a little more and get one of the better-specced versions, there’s an infotainment system with a neat touchscreen. It’s also cheap to insure and economical, if you choose the 1.0-litre petrol engine.

No single model is the cheapest to insure, but if you choose a car that falls in Group 1 for insurance, you won’t go far wrong. For example, the Kia Picanto or even the Volkswagen Polo with the 1.0-litre petrol engine are both Group 1 cars, so they’ll be among the cheapest to insure.

Insurance premiums are calculated on the basis of a range of factors, including where you live, your occupation and the age of the driver. Because drivers under the age of 24 are statistically the most risky drivers, a 17-year-old is not going to find cheap insurance and will probably be quoted for annual premiums in the thousands of pounds, rather than hundreds.

The best advice is to shop around – a lot! – and see what the price comparison websites quote, while fitting a black box tracking device to prove you’re driving safely will also cut premiums.

The best way to find the safest car for a new driver is to look at the ratings handed out by Euro NCAP, which is responsible for testing cars that go on sale to the public. A five-star rating is best, offering the most protection in the event of a collision. 

From our list, the models with the best safety ratings are the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo, both of which have a five-star rating.