Best first cars
Buying your first car is both exciting and daunting – especially if you’re buying a brand new car as your first set of wheels.
Many people won’t – instead, they (or their parents or carers) will choose a used car for, say, $10,000, that may not have the same level of technology, efficiency, reliability and safety gear that a new car would.
The Picanto is currently Australia’s most affordable brand-new car, and it’s not even remotely nasty. The range spreads from the basic Picanto S manual to the sporty-looking Picanto GT manual, the latter of which has a turbocharged engine and plenty of racy body add-ons.
A facelifted version due in 2024 will see the sporty model axed, but there’ll still be a sporty-looking GT-Line model for buyers to choose, and it’ll have an automatic gearbox, which is the favoured transmission for new drivers.
Inside, the Picanto has a surprising amount of space up front, along with handy technology such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for music and podcasts.
The current-generation Picanto has a four-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out in 2017, and that rating expires at the end of 2023.
While the facelifted versions are yet to be tested, a vast array of new technology is going to be offered, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and seven airbags, as well.
All that tech will see prices rise, but you can still expect the Picanto to remain a budget-focused little runaround.
The Picanto has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and it also comes with seven years of capped-price servicing, and seven years of roadside assistance available.
The Picanto is currently Australia’s most affordable brand-new car, and it’s not even remotely nasty. The range spreads from the basic Picanto S manual to the sporty-looking Picanto GT manual, the latter of which has a turbocharged engine and plenty of racy body add-ons.
A facelifted version due in 2024 will see the sporty model axed, but there’ll still be a sporty-looking GT-Line model for buyers to choose, and it’ll have an automatic gearbox, which is the favoured transmission for new drivers.
Inside, the Picanto has a surprising amount of space up front, along with handy technology such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for music and podcasts.
The current-generation Picanto has a four-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out in 2017, and that rating expires at the end of 2023.
While the facelifted versions are yet to be tested, a vast array of new technology is going to be offered, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and seven airbags, as well.
All that tech will see prices rise, but you can still expect the Picanto to remain a budget-focused little runaround.
The Picanto has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and it also comes with seven years of capped-price servicing, and seven years of roadside assistance available.
The Volkswagen Polo is a classy first car choice.
The entry-level Polo Life model is available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG) auto, and a punchy but not overpowered three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.
Only this grade sneaks under the $30,000 threshold we’ve set, but honestly, it’s probably the pick of the range for those who want a comfortable, likeable and easy small car to live with, and it is more refined than you might expect, too.
This generation of Polo is closer to a Golf in style, size and substance than ever before, as well, and it drives more Golf-like than before, thanks to its wide footprint on the road surface and predictable driving manners.
Features include LED headlights across the range, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and a full suite of airbags including a new central inflator.
The Polo has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out in 2022, so you can rest assured it is a very safe little car.
Volkswagen backs the Polo with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and there’s a choice of pay-as-you-go maintenance, or prepaid servicing packs spanning three or five years.
The Volkswagen Polo is a classy first car choice.
The entry-level Polo Life model is available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG) auto, and a punchy but not overpowered three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.
Only this grade sneaks under the $30,000 threshold we’ve set, but honestly, it’s probably the pick of the range for those who want a comfortable, likeable and easy small car to live with, and it is more refined than you might expect, too.
This generation of Polo is closer to a Golf in style, size and substance than ever before, as well, and it drives more Golf-like than before, thanks to its wide footprint on the road surface and predictable driving manners.
Features include LED headlights across the range, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and a full suite of airbags including a new central inflator.
The Polo has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out in 2022, so you can rest assured it is a very safe little car.
Volkswagen backs the Polo with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and there’s a choice of pay-as-you-go maintenance, or prepaid servicing packs spanning three or five years.
The Suzuki Swift could be the most popular car in Australia for P-platers, based on anecdotal observations in all of the state capital cities and regional centres.
It has a smart size, a cleverly packaged interior, and reasonably decent pricing, though it’s hardly the cut-price thing it once was – back when it launched in this generation in 2017, the base model was $15,990!
Even so, you’re getting value for money here, and the standout model in the range (apart from the Sport) is the GLX Turbo auto at $28,790, which comes with a refined and punchy little 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 82kW and 160Nm, and it has a smart six-speed auto, too.
Note that the GL base model doesn’t come with the maximum five-star ANCAP rating like the rest of the range, it has a four-star score because it misses out on the advanced safety tech. Other grades – GL S Plus, GLX Turbo and Sport – all have auto emergency braking (AEB) and there’s lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available, too.
Suzuki offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, with a five-year capped-price servicing plan, too – just keep in mind that turbo models have shorter maintenance intervals, at 10,000km, while non-turbo versions are lengthier at 15,000km between workshop visits.
The Suzuki Swift could be the most popular car in Australia for P-platers, based on anecdotal observations in all of the state capital cities and regional centres.
It has a smart size, a cleverly packaged interior, and reasonably decent pricing, though it’s hardly the cut-price thing it once was – back when it launched in this generation in 2017, the base model was $15,990!
Even so, you’re getting value for money here, and the standout model in the range (apart from the Sport) is the GLX Turbo auto at $28,790, which comes with a refined and punchy little 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing 82kW and 160Nm, and it has a smart six-speed auto, too.
Note that the GL base model doesn’t come with the maximum five-star ANCAP rating like the rest of the range, it has a four-star score because it misses out on the advanced safety tech. Other grades – GL S Plus, GLX Turbo and Sport – all have auto emergency braking (AEB) and there’s lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available, too.
Suzuki offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, with a five-year capped-price servicing plan, too – just keep in mind that turbo models have shorter maintenance intervals, at 10,000km, while non-turbo versions are lengthier at 15,000km between workshop visits.
The MG 3 is the only car on this list without an ANCAP safety rating, which will immediately rule it out for some people.
Plus the fact it doesn’t come with any of the advanced safety technology features that you might expect in today’s marketplace could also play into your considerations. So, there’s no auto emergency braking (AEB), or lane keeping tech, or adaptive cruise control. However, it does have six airbags fitted, with dual front, front side and full-length curtain coverage, and a reversing camera, too.
This car isn’t the newest on the list, and it has been around for quite some time. Even so, it does have a decent interior, with a touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay (and sat nav in two of the three grades) and a digital speedometer standing out as highlights.
It’s also roomy for its size, looks pretty tidy from the outside, and has a pretty honest little non-turbo 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW of power and 150Nm… but it’s mated to a four-speed auto.
The low buy-in price and the fact the MG 3 is backed by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty could be enough to get you through the door to check one out, and there’s also a seven-year capped-price servicing plan with affordable maintenance.
Hard to fault for the asking price
Non-existent safety rating
The MG 3 is the only car on this list without an ANCAP safety rating, which will immediately rule it out for some people.
Plus the fact it doesn’t come with any of the advanced safety technology features that you might expect in today’s marketplace could also play into your considerations. So, there’s no auto emergency braking (AEB), or lane keeping tech, or adaptive cruise control. However, it does have six airbags fitted, with dual front, front side and full-length curtain coverage, and a reversing camera, too.
This car isn’t the newest on the list, and it has been around for quite some time. Even so, it does have a decent interior, with a touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay (and sat nav in two of the three grades) and a digital speedometer standing out as highlights.
It’s also roomy for its size, looks pretty tidy from the outside, and has a pretty honest little non-turbo 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW of power and 150Nm… but it’s mated to a four-speed auto.
The low buy-in price and the fact the MG 3 is backed by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty could be enough to get you through the door to check one out, and there’s also a seven-year capped-price servicing plan with affordable maintenance.
The Mazda 2 has just been facelifted, and the new-look model might have seen some tech improvements, but it is still, essentially, the same car that went on sale in Australia in 2015. And unlike all the others on this list, it's available as a hatchback, or as a much more practical sedan, if that suits you better.
The brand has kept things fresh, though, and the Mazda 2 range comes equipped with safety specs including autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, and six airbags. Higher grade models get adaptive cruise control and even a surround-view camera, too.
But – and it’s a big BUT – the Mazda 2 doesn’t have an applicable ANCAP rating anymore, since, it has expired after testing was conducted in 2015.
Inside it still has the same 7.0-inch media screen, at least now with wireless Apple CarPlay (and wired Android Auto), but still controlled by a centre dial. It might be a good deterrent for you not to want to be distracted by your phone.
Powering the Mazda 2 is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder non-turbo engine with 81kW/142Nm for versions with the six-speed automatic, while the six-speed manual model has 82kW/144Nm.
Mazda offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty in Australia, and servicing for the Mazda 2 is affordable and is required every 12 months/15,000km.
The Mazda 2 has just been facelifted, and the new-look model might have seen some tech improvements, but it is still, essentially, the same car that went on sale in Australia in 2015. And unlike all the others on this list, it's available as a hatchback, or as a much more practical sedan, if that suits you better.
The brand has kept things fresh, though, and the Mazda 2 range comes equipped with safety specs including autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, and six airbags. Higher grade models get adaptive cruise control and even a surround-view camera, too.
But – and it’s a big BUT – the Mazda 2 doesn’t have an applicable ANCAP rating anymore, since, it has expired after testing was conducted in 2015.
Inside it still has the same 7.0-inch media screen, at least now with wireless Apple CarPlay (and wired Android Auto), but still controlled by a centre dial. It might be a good deterrent for you not to want to be distracted by your phone.
Powering the Mazda 2 is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder non-turbo engine with 81kW/142Nm for versions with the six-speed automatic, while the six-speed manual model has 82kW/144Nm.
Mazda offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty in Australia, and servicing for the Mazda 2 is affordable and is required every 12 months/15,000km.