Get a quote

Top Cars To Learn To Drive In

Words by
August 15, 2014
Share this:

Overwhelmed by the choice of cars? Adrian Flux runs through the 5 best cars to learn to drive in.

So you’re learning to drive? Congratulations! We could have written a blog on safety tips or how to pass your test but we thought the 6 best cars to learn in was much more fun and practical. To be honest, a few of these were always going to be high on the list but we thought, “what the hell?”. So here we go, Adrian Flux’s Top 6 Cars to learn to drive in:

Ford Fiesta – Winner

Britain’s favourite car and it’s easy to see why. Updated with technological advances and some amazingly economical models, the Fiesta has to be on everybody’s list of best cars for learners.

Performance is good no matter which engine you go for. The 99bhp Ecoboost is fantastic and will help to keep running costs down. However, the diesel engines can be a little noisy so do bear this in mind.

ford-fiesta-4

The handling on the Fiesta is brilliant, quick on its feet and responsive and it rides better than any of the other cars on this list. It’s a cheap car to run and extremely fuel-efficient but its resale value isn’t great.

The cabin is comfortable and spacious, whilst trim ranges from cheap and cheerful to luxury or sporty depending on the model.

Our Winner: Whichever model you choose, it’s a great car that beats all the other contenders.

Good for:

  • Driving
  • Cheap to run

Bad for:

  • Some models are a little cheap inside
  • Not the cheapest option

Renault Clio

The Clio has been popular with learners for many years thanks to fairly low pricing, decent running costs and attractive styling. The new Clio is a stylish car, which is one of the main reasons it makes it into this list. Any learner is going to want to pass their test just to get out on the road in this little beauty.

The Clio comes only as a 5-door model making it roomy and spacious for when you pass your test and are being used as a taxi. The interior does feel a little cheap and plasticky but it is a cheap car so you can’t expect luxury.

The Clio is an easy little car to drive; steering, pedals, and gear change are all light and smooth although the brake pedal is a bit spongy. The Clio offers decent visibility and is easy to park.

Good for:

  • Style
  • Visibility

Bad for:

  • Cheap interior
  • Brakes

Citroen C1

The 1st generation C1 was cheap, lightweight, fun, and easy to drive. The new C1 is definitely still reasonably priced and easy to drive. It’s a similar size to the last incarnation making it ideal for learners and especially for parking.

The steering is very light and great for driving around town though the soft suspension can make it a little bumpy. This is made up for though by its reliability. The C1, Aygo and 108 all share the same chassis, engine, gearbox, and electrics. And as Toyota have done a lot of the development, it’s safe to say that it shouldn’t break down anytime soon.

A big plus for learners is that it’s in the cheapest insurance bracket!

Running costs are good thanks to the small engine, which still delivers plenty of power as long as you go for the 1.2ltr option. All in all, it’s a great little car that is king of the urban roads.

Good for:

  • Driving
  • Reliability

Bad for:

  • Practicality
  • Suspension

Volkswagen Polo

VW have an enviable reputation when it comes to building cars and the Polo doesn’t disappoint. However, it’s higher price tag does limit the number of learners who’ll be able to afford it.

The styling is fairly unattractive, remaining relatively unchanged over time, but the build quality more than makes up for this flaw. The steering is responsive and light, whilst the gears and pedals are smooth and slick.

vw

The flat rear makes reverse parking easier than some of the alternatives and the light clutch helps with parallel parking if you’re still struggling with clutch control.

It’s a great car to learn to drive in, but the rear window doesn’t offer great visibility and the price could be a deal breaker for some.

Good for:

  • Steering
  • Parking

Bad for:

  • Price
  • Rear visibility

Fiat 500

It’s been around quite a while now but it still wins plaudits for its styling. The 500 is a funky little car and attractively priced, it stands out from its rivals and has a lovely colour coded cabin.

It’s not all good news though. The clutch isn’t the best making stalling a frequent possibility. Once you get going however, the steering is a little too light and the pedals are crammed together in a small footwell.

fiat-500-yellow

Manoeuvring is simple thanks to the small turning circle but visibility is poor thanks to a small rear window and poorly designed wing mirrors. The 500’s a good car but it will take some getting used to and isn’t to be recommended to nervous learners.

Good for:

  • Gears
  • Turning

Bad for:

  • Cramped pedals
  • Rear visibility

Vauxhall Corsa

The car of choice for BSM but not our first choice. It’s an easy car to drive though and offers a comfortable cabin with easy to manoeuvre seats, mirrors, and steering wheel.

It’s tricky to stall as the clutch uses a system that increases the revs slightly as you lift it. Visibility is good once you’re moving, and the steering is pretty good too but it is less agile than the Fiesta.

The engine is quiet and comes in a variety of choices so choose carefully. Braking is good and reliable but the ride can be boring. It’s a good little car but there are better options out there.

Good for:

  • Smooth ride
  • Handling

Bad for:

  • Poor spec.
  • Dull to drive

What now?

We hope this blog has given you some ideas about which car you’d like to learn to drive in. The good thing about many of these smaller, lower powered, cars is that they are both affordable to run and cheap to insure.

The next step is to find out how much your favourite will cost to insure, so call one of our friendly staff on 0800 309 8590 who’ll guide you through the process.

Adrian Flux offers a massive range of insurance policies to suit any car you can think of, and we welcome learner drivers.




Related Articles

Get a free insurance quote for your vehicle

Get a Free Quote