Skoda Fabia
It’s the second time the brilliant Skoda Fabia has been awarded the Best First Car trophy. With many manufacturers departing this area of the market in favour of more profitable, more popular SUVs, it’s great to see Skoda’s still committed to offering a small car that ticks all the boxes.
We love how practical the Fabia is, with enough space to perform double duty as a small family car if needed. We like the practical engine range too – our preferred option is the 1.0-litre turbocharged lump with 95hp, but the entry-level 80hp engine is great for town driving or if you’re just starting out driving and don’t want anything too punchy.
Add to that excellent value – the monthly payments on a Fabia are lower than many of its cheaper rivals thanks to great residuals and decent finance terms – and a model range that doesn’t punish you for choosing a lower model, and we reckon the Fabia’s the best choice for the discerning buyer looking for their first new car.
Read our full Skoda Fabia review
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Based on a 43-year-old male the Skoda Fabia would cost £408.54 to insure.
*Insurance quotes are from mustard.co.uk and are based on a 43-year-old, employed married male living in Stowmarket with nine-years’ NCD and no claims or convictions. Insurance quotes will vary depending on individual circumstances.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Renault Clio
The already-stylish Renault Clio has been recently facelifted, giving it a new look in line with Renault’s latest models. It’s available with two engines – either a perky 90hp petrol that’s great for new drivers, or a powerful and very efficient 1.6-litre hybrid setup. If you’d like something approaching an electric car but don’t have the ability to run an EV, this could be a useful halfway house.
Regardless of which engine you choose, you get a tidy-handling small car with a massive boot and a really high-quality, comfortable interior. Plenty of equipment and very favourable finance terms cement this near the top of the small car class.
Read our full Renault Clio review
Hyundai i10
City cars are dying out even faster than superminis these days – we reckon the Hyundai i10 is one of just six on sale. The good news is that it’s a cracker. Great to drive, hugely spacious for such a small car and very well-equipped, it might be expensive in terms of pounds per inch – but it’s proof good things can come in small packages.
The high-tech Hyundai comes with plenty of driver assistance and infotainment tech, as well as a range of super-efficient petrol engines. It doesn’t just have to be confined to the city either, and we’d very happily undergo a long journey in an i10. Until Kia launches its facelifted Picanto this is unquestionably the best first car in a city-sized package on the market.
Read our full Hyundai i10 review
