TOP 5 CARS FOR LEARNER DRIVERS

For many of us, our first car was a banger and the buying criteria were that it was cheap, it had tax and MoT, it was halfway insurable and it looked as if it would get you home without chugging its coolant onto the hard shoulder. The combination of the scrappage scheme and an increasing focus on safety has meant that dirt cheap cars are no longer the preferred option for new drivers. What's more, a modern car is now so efficient that an old clunker often makes no financial sense purely in terms of fuel consumption. Here's where I'd be looking if I was shopping for a vehicle for a learner driver.

5 Vauxhall Corsa

This is the vehicle chosen by more driving schools than any other, so thousands of driving instructors surely can't be wrong. With a solid feel, low cost of body parts in the case of a minor scrape, a relatively high seating position and low insurance, starting at Group 1 for the Expression 1.0 EcoFLEX, the Corsa makes all kinds of sense. Couple that with a EuroNCAP 5 star rating for occupants and you have a vehicle that even the most ham-fisted of drivers should be able to handle. Of all our top five contenders, this feels the most substantial vehicle and the one most capable of handling longer journeys. With a combined fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg, it's certainly not going to break the bank when it comes to fuel bills.

4 Ford Ka



Around £1,500 cheaper than the Corsa is Ford's Ka. At 69bhp, its 1.2-litre engine offers a little more pep than the heavyweight Corsa's 1.0-litre unit and this will be the choice for the keener driver who is looking for something that offers some entertainment behind the wheel. Its combined economy figure of 55.4mpg is typical for the class. If there was one car in this list that has the ability to get a young driver falling in love with driving, it's certainly the Ka. Though there's only a three-door bodystyle on offer, there's an airy feel inside with an abundance of headroom for front seat occupants and the boot too is of a useful size for a citycar but 224 litres won't go that far after a major supermarket splurge. Fold the rear seats and 747 litres is available. Fun, practical and at Group 2, easily insurable, the Ka is an appealing option.



3 Chevrolet Spark



The Spark might not be too familiar with British buyers but it ticks all the boxes for a new driver. Powered by a 1.0-litre 68bhp engine and falling into insurance group 1, the Spark is good looking and, with its micro-MPV silhouette, the most p...