What car should a new driver buy?

By Roger Houghton

The traffic congestion in South Africa means that it is not easy for a newly-licenced driver to build self-confidence and gain experience if that person is driving a large car or SUV, which can also be difficult to park. Therefore, it is preferable to start driving in a smaller, entry-level model. If you plan to move to a larger model soon then it will be best to buy a popular model that sells significant volume, so it will be easy to dispose of it when the time comes to buy a larger model.

Another tip, also driven by the traffic jams that at are a way of life for most motorists in South Africa these days, is to buy a car with automatic transmission. This means the new driver does not have to worry about being in the correct gear or putting the gearshift lever into neutral at a traffic light, so concentration can be kept fully on the traffic around him or her.
There are, fortunately, several budget-friendly cars with the option of automatic transmission or continuously variable transmission (CVT), which can also be driven economically.

Since new drivers need the safest cars they can possibly afford, entry-level cars such as the Renault Sandero, Toyota Etios, and Volkswagen Polo Vivo are recommended. These fared well in the frontal impact crash test, done locally by GlobalNCAP and the AA for their #SaferCarsforAfrica campaign. Given their price point, these entry-level offerings are not offered with an automatic transmission, however.