If money was no object, we'd all be driving premium hatchbacks or compact premium SUVs as our first cars. Who wouldn't want to cut their driving teeth on something safe, ultra-stylish, and reliable?
Sadly, our economy is in a bit of a fix, and students or new drivers are not exactly spoilt for choice, since most new cars are way over budget for those who are entering the brave new world of motoring.
Here at AutoTrader, we are very careful when it comes to recommending cars for new drivers. We tend to stick to the better-known brands that won't give new drivers trouble, or that won't cost the earth to fix if something should go wrong. You also don't want to struggle to find parts. You should also take a look at the latest list of cars that are the cheapest to service and repair in SA, compliments of the 2020 AA Kinsey Report. This report walks you through every market segment.
Over the years, we've written a ton of content about new and used cars that are safe and suitable for students, young drivers, and inexperienced car-buying folk in general. If you're hunting for a new or used car but don't know where to begin, this is a good place to start!
Buying new? These are the cars you should be considering
Of course, we are aware of the fact that the term 'affordable' is relative, but these cars offer good value for money and are aimed at the more budget-orientated segment of the market, although there are a few that are slightly pricier, like the 2008 and T-Cross. We've arranged them all in alphabetical order:
Citroën: C3 and C3 Aircross
Fiat: 500, 500X, Tipo
Ford: Figo, Fiesta, EcoSport
GWM: H2, Jolion
Honda: Amaze, Ballade, BR-V, Fit
Hyundai: Atos, Grand i10, i20, Venue
Kia: Pegas, Picanto, Rio, Sonet
Mahindra: XUV300 (Very safe!)
Mazda: Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda CX-3
Mitsubishi: Xpander
Nissan: Magnite, Almera, Micra
Opel: Corsa, Crossland X
Peugeot: 108, 208, 2008
Renault: Sandero, Triber, Duster (Also Kiger, but build- and drive quality are not fantastic)
Suzuki: Celerio, Swift, Baleno, Ciaz, Dzire, Ignis, Jimny, Vitara Brezza
Toyota: Agya, Corolla Quest, Starlet, Urban Cruiser
Volkswagen: Polo Vivo, Polo, T-Cross
Remember that all of these new cars can also be found in our used car section, where some of the listed examples have less than 100 km on the clock!
Buying used? Check out these vehicles that have proven their worth
Here are some cost-effective used cars you should be looking at, although some of them have now been discontinued. Again, they've been filtered alphabetically according to the manufacturer. (The cars from the new-vehicle section above have not been included, but feel free to look for used models of those on AutoTrader, too.)
You'll see some premium products here, because some of these cars just don't retain their value very well. Be careful of expensive servicing and parts, though.
You should also be wary of high-mileage cars that will cause you (or your parents) financial headaches. Yet again, it all depends on your budget.
Our technical expert, Martin Pretorius, has written a very informative article which you should read before starting your search, namely the Most reliable used cars to suit your budget (2019).
Please bear in mind that prices have since increased but were correct when the article was written and published.
Audi: A1, A3
BMW: 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series
Citroën: Cactus, C4 Aircross
Fiat: Punto, Panda
Hyundai: i10, ix35, i30, Accent, Elantra, Kona, Tucson
Honda: Jazz, Civic, BR-V, HR-V
Kia: Sportage
Mitsubishi: ASX, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Nissan: Qashqai, X-Trail
Opel: Astra, Meriva, Mokka
Renault: Kadjar
Suzuki: Jimny, Vitara
Toyota: Aygo, Etios, Yaris, Corolla, RAV4
Volkswagen: Up!, Golf, Golf SV, Jetta, Tiguan
Volvo: V40, S60
Recommended reading if you're searching for more affordable used cars for new drivers:
Top 5 coolest used cars for students (2020)
Safest small cars for new drivers (2018)
Best new cars for students (2018)
Top 3 most inexpensive used cars for students (2018)
10 best cars for new drivers (2015)
Why are there so many entry-level cars that don't make the list?
When looking at small cars, I always ask myself, if I were to buy this car for my daughter, would I still sleep soundly at night? If the answer is 'no', I won't recommend it to anyone else either. The entry-level cars omitted are vehicles that have questionable structural integrity and safety credentials. Other journalists may disagree with me, but when it's your own child inside that car, it changes your perspective somewhat.
