Compare the Best Cars for Teenagers in 2024 (2024)

For the last decade or so, successive generations of the Hyundai i10 have impressed buyers – and rightly so, because this is a fabulously good-value package of style, equipment, on-road manners and practicality. It’s great to drive, especially around town, and (apart from the entry-level trim) has all the equipment a young driver will appreciate, including an infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and reversing camera to help avoid all those new-driver bumps and scrapes.

A little French flair goes a long way in making a small car desirable – which is why the Peugeot 208 is such a winner with style-conscious teens. The exterior styling is youthfully funky, looking good from whatever angle you look at it, and the cabin is just as appealing, with a modern design and materials that are impressive for a small car. The small steering wheel might feel a little odd for new drivers, so it’s worth test driving before buying.

When it comes to cars that offer real value for money, you have to go a long way to beat the Dacia Sandero. Among the cheapest new cars on the market and based on Renault engineering, the Sandero is surprisingly well-equipped, as long as you don’t opt for the base trim version (which is very basic). From mid-spec versions upwards, the Sandero comes with LED headlights, remote central locking and a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration. It’s not the most stylish small car, but you get plenty of interior space to compensate for that.

The Volkswagen Polo has been a popular first car for decades, largely because it’s such a good all-rounder. The design is classic, but stylish, there’s lots of space in the comfortable, high-quality cabin and there’s lots of useful equipment on offer. It feels solid, if unexciting, on the road, but versions with the 1.0-litre petrol engine are economical and have low insurance premiums.

For teens who won’t countenance contributing to climate change with a petrol or diesel car, the Renault Zoe is here to help them with their carbon footprint. This small French EV is good value for money and cheap to run – especially when you factor in the cost of electricity compared to fossil fuels – and can travel 240 miles on a single charge. It also charges quickly: you have to pay extra for the fast-charging option, but for young people in a hurry, it’s pretty much a necessity.

For style-conscious teenagers, the Mini Hatch is probably top of the shortlist for a first car, especially as it still exudes a retro cool and there are so many personalisation options for a young driver to make their mark on the car. It’s great to drive, with accurate steering that inspires confidence and it has the engineering pedigree of parent company BMW. Throw into the mix a great infotainment system and you have a great package for a young driver.

Many young drivers, like their older counterparts, will like the idea of driving an SUV, but large cars aren’t necessarily a good idea for new drivers finding their feet/wheels. However, there are quite a few small SUVs now on sale, with the Toyota Aygo X offering the rugged looks of an off-roader alongside the practicality of a smaller urban runabout. Toyota also have a reputation for reliability, which is comforting for new drivers, while there’s lots of useful equipment onboard too.

The Vauxhall Corsa is a popular car for young drivers, as many of them learned in one at their local driving school. But the Corsa is also one of the UK’s best-selling cars, with a wide range of engines (including an all-electric version), lots of equipment and a big boot, for those teens who have to lug a lot of stuff around. And with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part of the infotainment system, it’s a real contender for young drivers.

Thanks to the platform-sharing of Volkswagen Group brands, the Skoda Fabia shares most of its underpinnings with the likes of the VW Polo and Seat Ibiza. Like other models in the Skoda line-up, though, the Fabia seems to find more space from the way the body is designed, making it more practical than its relatives. This means that the Fabia has a spacious interior, with room for four adults and a bigger boot than other cars in the class, while there are also clever touches such as an ice scraper stored in the fuel filler flap.

The Suzuki Ignis is certainly a car that a teen looking to stand out from the crowd will want to consider. Its cute-but-rugged styling make this small SUV a car that will turn heads and earn some street cred (do teenagers still say that?). For a small car, it’s surprisingly spacious inside, with room for four adults: the cabin materials are a bit plasticky, but that does mean they’ll withstand whatever teen life can throw at them. Mild hybrid engine tech will help keep running costs down and there are four-wheel driver versions to help get out of muddy festival car parks.