Safest small cars for new drivers

By Ané Theron

You may think you're ready to take on the world's roads now that you have your driver's license, but in reality, you've only just begun your driving life, and this is why your first car should be as safe as possible. Let's take a look at what cars you should consider.

The most important qualities your new car should possess are ABS brakes and as many airbags as possible. We also recommend brake assist (which helps you brake harder when needed) and stability or traction control. This helps you stay in control of your vehicle and can prevent a serious accident.

Here is a list of the safest, most affordable and most reliable new cars for those who are new to the driving thing. I've listed my favourite new starter cars, from the lowest to the highest in price. For the purpose of this article, I've mostly listed their safety equipment rather than their convenience features. For more info on their individual specification levels and the latest prices, please visit their respective websites.

1 The safest, most affordable starter car is the Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GA. It has ABS, EBD, and 2 airbags. The safest and best (your dad's) money can buy at this price. (50kW, 90Nm)

2 The entry-level Hyundai Grand i10 1.0 Motion MT  is the roomiest in its class for rear passengers. It boasts 2 airbags, ABS and EBD. (48kW, 94Nm) (You can read more about the 1.25 Glide derivative here, but bear in mind that this is the flagship model at R 204 900.) . Also consider the well-equipped Kia Picanto 1.0MT Street with ABS and 2 airbags (R154 495), but it's nowhere near as spacious as the Grand i10.

3 The fun-to-drive Suzuki Swift 1.2 GA was recently launched, and now also offers a slightly larger boot than before. It has ABS, EBD, BA (brake assist) and 2 airbags. If you need sedan-like boot space, the Suzuki Dzire 1.2 GA (R 161 900) is the next-best thing. (61kW, 113Nm)

4 The Nissan Micra Active 1.2 Visia  is big on space, boasts good fuel economy, and is an all-round value package, but a radio and Bluetooth are optional items. It has 2 airbags, ABS and EBD. (56kW, 104Nm)

5 The facelifted Toyota Aygo 1.0  All new Aygo models offer ABS and EBD, Brake Assist and vehicle stability control (VSC). It's well-priced and will keep its value. The Aygo 1.0 has four airbags, and from a safety & reliability perspective, it's a great buy (53 kW, 93 Nm).

6 The Renault Sandero 66kW Turbo Expression is spacious for its price, but its safety features are its biggest selling point. It has ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist, traction control and 2 airbags. It's also ultra-light on fuel. A star buy! (66kW, 135Nm)

7 The Volkswagen Take Up!  is equipped with everything that the above-mentioned Sandero has, but has additional curtain airbags that stretch all the way to the back to keep rear passengers safe.  Excellent value for money. The VW badge should ensure good resale value too. (55kW, 95Nm)

8 The bigger Toyota Etios Xi has ABS, EBD, 2 airbags, and a four-star NCAP safety rating. It has the best performance output of the cars on this list and a very spacious boot. (66kW, 132Nm)

9 The Honda Brio Amaze Sedan is the Brio's brother with a bigger behind. Its safety equipment comprises 2 airbags, and ABS with EBD. (65kW, 109Nm)

10 You can always count on the Volkswagen Polo Vivo Hatch 1.4 Trendline to last a lifetime and to hold its value. This Vivo has ABS, EBD and 2 airbags, but traction control is optional. (55kW, 130Nm) Read our launch report here.

* Strapped for cash (like most of us), and considering a used car?

Enquire at the dealerships about demo models of these cars listed above - this way you will get an almost-new car at a used car's price.

The following cars have proven their worth as reliable and safe second-hand buys for young drivers:

Toyota Yaris, VW Polo, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, Renault Duster, Renault Clio, Honda Jazz, Suzuki Jimny, Ford Figo, Ford Fiesta, Daihatsu Terios, Fiat Tipo, Opel Adam, Opel Corsa, Fiat 500, Chevrolet Spark, Suzuki Ciaz, Suzuki Ignis, Suzuki Baleno, Suzuki SX4, Hyundai i20, Hyundai Getz, Hyundai Atos. (The Fiat 500 and Opel Adam are the priciest cars here, but also have the highest level of safety equipment.)

Bear in mind that Opel and Fiat's parts and servicing (along with Mazda) may not be as inexpensive as the rest. Daihatsu's parts are also becoming harder to find.

*Please note that the cars in the photos shown aren't entry-level derivatives and that prices may have increased since the articles were published.