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Best Cars for 17-Year-Olds 2024
Passing your driving test as a teen is one of the biggest milestones of your young life. Being able to drive gives you a different sense of freedom that you may not have felt by the age of 17.
Even if finally being able to drive is an exciting prospect, it can also be stressful to find that
first new car.
Factors such as reasonable pricing, optimal performance, and safety must be considered when scouting for your first ever ride, with many options to consider that fall under those categories.
That’s what we’re here to do today, with this article outlining some of the best cars for 17-year-olds.
Best Cars for 17-Year-Olds
1. Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen have given us some of the most Iconic cars in European motoring history.
Car models like the VW Golf, Passat, and the Beetle has heightened the interest of car buyers in recent times.
The most practical Volkswagen model for teens is their
Polo, a hatchback car released by VW in 1975.
Critics and experts has heaped praise on the VW Polo for decades now – the German hatchback was named ‘World Urban Car of the Year’ in 2018, as well as their most prestigious award of ‘World Car of the Year’ back in 2010.
The cheapest variant of Polo arrives with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, offering power outputs of 80 PS.
An affordable small car that is both practical and reliable, Volkswagen’s Polo is a fantastic option for 17-year-olds looking for that perfect first car.
2. Vauxhall Corsa
A staple in British motoring,
Vauxhall are solidified as both the oldest and most popular UK car brand.
Given their historic run as a top car brand in Europe, Vauxhall has had many car models catering to various customer segments, with their iconic Corsa leading the way for drivers both old and young.
The
Vauxhall Corsa is the UK’s most successful super-mini of all time, for good reason.
When speaking on cars that offer great value for money, the Corsa is right up there with the best. It was named ‘Value Car of the Year’ at the UK Motor Awards in 2021, to show one example of the Vauxhall car getting its flowers from industry experts.
The latest rendition of Corsa is available as either a petrol or hybrid option, as well as the new Corsa-e, an all-electric version of the Vauxhall car.
Due to price alone, we recommend the petrol or hybrid variant of the Corsa, with the small vehicle being synonymous with being a fantastic option for a first time driver.
3. Ford Fiesta
American car manufacturers
Ford has seen great success within the UK and across the world for that matter.
They target many customer bases through their vast car model line-up, including
SUV enthusiasts,
EV buyers,
performance vehicle lovers, and more.
A best-seller here in the UK is their Fiesta, a small hatchback car that was introduced by Ford back in 1976.
Even though the
Ford Fiesta was discontinued in July of 2023, the Fiesta is still a great option for 17-year-olds looking for a reliable and fun-to-drive first car.
It’s a great used car option – so much so that CarBuyer named the Fiesta ‘Best Used Car of the Year’ in 2022. Considering the vehicle is only available as a used car now, this furthers the notion of it being a solid pick for teens.
We all miss the Fiesta being a presence in the motoring industry, but the car is still driving strong on our roads today, offering 17-year-olds practicality and solid performance capabilities.
4. Fiat 500
Fiat have been around since the 19th century, so naturally, their manufacturing expertise have carried over all the way to the 2020s.
For 70+ years, the
Fiat 500 has been one of the cheapest and most famous small cars out there, making it one of our top picks for 17-year-old drivers.
The 500 is Fiat’s top-selling car model in their illustrious history, with a big factor of its success being its great selling points for young drivers.
Former ‘Used Small Car of the Year’ according to Car Dealer, the Fiat 500 is a cheap option that provides both unique styling and solid fuel efficiency.
Out of all the cars out available today, fewer come close to being known for suitability for younger drivers, making the Fiat 500 a safe bet for 17-year-old motorists.
5. Dacia Sandero
For years
Dacia has specialised in the production of efficient, reliable family cars.
The Romanian car brand always offer great value in the vehicles they sell, with their Sandero arguably topping that list.
With the
Dacia Sandero arriving at a stupidly good price of £13,795, the hatchback car is by far the cheapest option amongst the cars on this list (brand new car price).
You might think the pricing of this vehicle automatically equates to an unreliable and poor performing car, but don’t let the price points deceive you. For both performance and interior space, you can make an argument that the Sandero might be the strongest out of all the cars discussed here today.
For the price alone, the Sandero has to be considered for young drivers, but given that the Dacia model has nice styling, spacious interior, and solid performance levels, the Sandero is an overlooked car for young drivers out there.
6. Citroen C1
Citroen have been manufacturing vehicles for just over 100 years, giving us some of the most iconic small cars in the motoring industry since.
Practicality has always been a strong point of Citroen, which is shown through their ever-popular C1.
Much like the Ford Fiesta, the
Citroen C1 was recently discontinued in 2022, meaning that the small hatchback is only available to purchase as a used car.
However, if you opt for a used Citroen C1, you will be getting a safe drive that is cheap to run and buy.
A small engine power output of 68hp gives the small city car a nice balance in performance, making it an easy car to drive for new, young drivers.
All in all, the C1 is a safe bet for drivers the age of 17.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the cars on this list are some of the cheaper, yet more reliable cars you can attain at that reasonable price for a 17-year-old driver.
None of these cars say luxury when advertised by the manufacturers, however, a first car is typically a bit more on the safer side in terms of driving capabilities.
Please note that these car models are not the only viable cars for 17-year-olds available today, with many options being accessible for young drivers everywhere.