Skip advert
Advertisement
Best cars & vans

Ford Fiesta - best first cars for new drivers

The Ford Fiesta is Britain's best-selling car, and makes the perfect first set of wheels

Ford Fiesta Trend - front tracking

The Ford Fiesta is the best-selling car in the country and has been for a long time - and naturally it's still a fine choice for anybody looking to buy or even finance their first car. 

Not only is it easy to drive, and great fun, too, the Fiesta scores well with its raft of safety tech. This includes the clever MyKey system, which allows parents to restrict the maximum speed of the car, the stereo volume when their children are behind the wheel and set a seatbelt reminder. It also features seven airbags and ESP, plus optional autobrake.

Young drivers will be wowed by the technology the interior offers, including SYNC voice activation, while Titanium models upwards get air-conditioning. The Fiesta's larger dimensions mean they can also carry friends in comfort, and the three-door comes with a 292-litre boot, that expands to 1,093-litres with the seats down.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Diesel models return the lowest fuel consumption, but the cheaper 1.0-litre, 99bhp EcoBoost petrol versions return up to 50.4mpg and only drop to 48.7mpg for the 138bhp version. Go for a lower-powered Fiesta, and it’ll sit in a competitive insurance group, too, while the huge Ford dealer network makes it easy to keep up with the service intervals and get any problems resolved.

Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2021

  1. Volkswagen up!/Skoda Citigo/SEAT Mii
  2. Kia Picanto
  3. Ford Fiesta
  4. SEAT Ibiza
  5. Hyundai i10
  6. Volkswagen Polo
  7. Toyota Aygo/Peugeot 108/Citroen C1
  8. Skoda Fabia
  9. Dacia Sandero
  10. Vauxhall Corsa
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

City Car of the Year 2026: Kia Picanto
Kia Picanto - City Car of the Year

City Car of the Year 2026: Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto is the 2026 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with the Leapmotor T03 and Toyota Aygo X commended
Awards
1 Jul 2026
Used Ford Fiesta (Mk7 2017-2023) buyers guide: a solid second-hand supermini
Ford Fiesta Mk7 - front 3/4

Used Ford Fiesta (Mk7 2017-2023) buyers guide: a solid second-hand supermini

From £4,000 Britain’s favourite supermini still makes a lot of sense, thanks to a wide range of powertrains and specs to suit all tastes
Used car tests
27 Jun 2026
Car Hunter: cars under £200 a month that'll be peanuts to insure
Car Hunter - £200 lease deals header

Car Hunter: cars under £200 a month that'll be peanuts to insure

Our Car Hunter has a budget for £200 per month and is looking for a car that’s cheap to insure
Features
6 Jun 2026
Kia Picanto review
Kia Picanto - front tracking

Kia Picanto review

The little Kia Picanto boasts plenty of kit and offers a grown-up drive to go with its sporty looks
In-depth reviews
4 Jun 2026

Most Popular

New BMW X5 revealed: luxury SUV gets electric iX5 option for the first time
BMW iX5 - front

New BMW X5 revealed: luxury SUV gets electric iX5 option for the first time

The ultimate do-it-all BMW is now available with an array of powertrain options, including an iX5 with up to 525 miles of BEV range
News
30 Jun 2026
New Car Awards 2026: the winners
New Car Awards 2026 header

New Car Awards 2026: the winners

All the winners and highly commended cars at the 2026 Auto Express New Car Awards.
Awards
1 Jul 2026
Car of the Year 2026: Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf - Auto Express Car of the Year

Car of the Year 2026: Nissan Leaf

The all-new Nissan Leaf is the Auto Express Car of the Year for 2026
Awards
1 Jul 2026