Getting your first car is supposed to be one of life’s great milestones

Freedom, independence, the smell of cheap air fresheners hanging from the mirror. Unfortunately, thanks to the state of the world, it now usually involves handing over a small fortune for something that’s already had three previous owners, at least one questionable crash repair, and a smell that never quite goes away.

So what do you want from a first car? Not something fast. Not something flash. No, you want cheap insurance, good mileage, five doors because your mates will whinge otherwise, and something reliable enough that you’re not spending every Saturday afternoon waiting for the RAC to find you in a layby. Safety’s a bonus. If it’s vaguely enjoyable to drive, that’s even better.

Everyone bangs on about the same old stuﬀ—Fiesta, Corsa, Yaris—but what about the ones nobody mentions? Here are a few underrated gems you should actually be looking at instead of blindly buying the first knackered Vauxhall you see on Facebook Marketplace.

Ford Fusion

You’ve probably forgotten the Fusion even exists, and frankly so had Ford. It’s basically a bloated Fiesta on stilts, but for a new driver, it’s near perfect. You get five doors as standard, visibility better than most modern SUVs, a driving position that doesn’t feel like you’re sitting on the

floor, and insurance groups so low they’re practically underground. Engines are unexciting— mainly 1.4 petrols or the 1.6 diesel if you really hate yourself—but they sip fuel and refuse to die.

Suzuki Swift (2005–2010)

Everyone loves a Swift Sport, but the regular Swift from this era is the real unsung hero. It’s light, nippy, fantastically cheap to run, and somehow manages to feel a little bit special without bankrupting you on insurance. Five doors were available, it’s small enough to park with your eyes closed, and you can still pick up clean ones for less than the price of a new iPhone. Proper old-school Japanese reliability, too. It’ll survive anything you throw at it, including your first year of driving.

Honda Jazz (2002–2008)

Yes, it’s the oﬃcial car of older people. Yes, it looks like a trainer left out in the sun too long. But the Mk1 Jazz is, objectively, brilliant. The rear seats do a clever folding trick called Magic Seats, so you can fit half your worldly possessions in the back if needed. 1.2 or 1.4 engines are both

indestructible. It’ll do 50mpg without trying, insurance is about as low as you’ll find, and nothing—nothing—is more reliable for the money. You won’t win any style points, but you also won’t be phoning your parents at 2am when it refuses to start.

Toyota Urban Cruiser (2009–2014)

One for those who fancy something slightly diﬀerent. The Urban Cruiser is like a shrunken SUV built on Yaris bits, which means it’s tough, economical, and about as interesting to drive as a breadstick—but that’s precisely what you want when you’re still learning how to parallel park

without using the force. There’s a 1.3 petrol and a 1.4 diesel, both good on fuel, and crucially, it comes with five doors, decent safety ratings, and the mechanical reliability of a Swiss watch. Nobody remembers it exists, which means prices are weirdly low.

Mazda2 (2007–2015)

The second-generation Mazda2 is what happens when a manufacturer makes a small car and doesn’t overthink it. Light, agile, pretty handsome in a modest sort of way, and built with the same tough simplicity that made early MX-5s survive decades of abuse. The 1.3 petrol is the one to get. It’s cheap to insure, does over 45mpg, and despite looking tiny, there’s actually proper space inside. Find one that hasn’t been modified to death and you’ve got a cracking first car for buttons.

Getting your first car doesn’t need to be about chasing something cool. It doesn’t need to be fast. It needs to start every morning, survive a few inevitable parking bumps, and not cost so much to fuel that you have to sell a kidney. Forget buying the obvious names at stupid money just because some bloke on TikTok said they were “a vibe.” Buy something sensible, underrated, and secretly brilliant. Then spend the money you save on actually going places.

This image was generated using ChatGPT

Max Taylor

Motoring Journalist and Presenter

Max Taylor is a motoring journalist and presenter focused on cars, culture, and everything in between. His work blends insight with a conversational, often humorous tone that keeps readers engaged. Max’s writing covers everything from modern EVs and new releases to classic metal and motorsport commentary. His full portfolio can be found on Medium at medium.com/@maxtayloroncars, and additional information is available via his website. He also creates content on YouTube. Links Below –