Is It a Good First Car?

The same model can span a 25-group insurance range depending on trim, so "is it a good first car" only has a real answer once you know which one. We've checked the models new drivers actually cross-shop, so you know before you fall for one on the forecourt.

• Is a Fiat 500 a Good First Car?

  The Fiat 500 stays in a tight, low insurance band across most of its range, unusually consistent for a first car, though smaller inside than most rivals.

• Is a Ford Fiesta a Good First Car?

  The Ford Fiesta spans insurance group 2 to 28. The ordinary 1.0 to 1.25 petrol versions make a sensible first car; the ST-Line and turbo versions do not.

• Is a Honda Jazz a Good First Car?

  The Honda Jazz has no cheap-insurance entry point, group 13 and up across the board, but the i-MMD hybrid returns up to 113 mpg combined.

• Is a Hyundai i10 a Good First Car?

  The Hyundai i10 stays cheap to insure across nearly every trim, backed by a strong warranty and one of the lowest typical purchase prices in its class.

• Is a Hyundai i20 a Good First Car?

  The Hyundai i20 spans insurance group 4 to 27. Ordinary 1.0-1.2 petrol S Air and SE trims make a sensible first car; turbocharged N Line trims do not.

• Is a Kia Picanto a Good First Car?

  The Kia Picanto stays in a tight, low insurance band across its range, with one of the longest warranties of any first car on the market.

• Is a MINI a Good First Car?

  MINI hatchback insurance runs group 12 to 30 or higher. There is no cheap-insurance version: even the mildest trim starts well above most rivals' floor.

• Is a Nissan Micra a Good First Car?

  The Nissan Micra spans insurance group 1 to 12. Ordinary 1.0-1.2 petrol Visia and Acenta trims make a sensible, easy-to-insure first car.

• Is a Renault Clio a Good First Car?

  The Renault Clio spans insurance group 3 to 16 and is one of the few first cars here with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Ordinary petrol trims stay low-group.

• Is a Toyota Yaris a Good First Car?

  The Toyota Yaris insures cheaply across most trims and has one of the best reliability records around; the Hybrid costs a little more but saves on fuel.

• Is a Toyota Aygo a Good First Car?

  The Toyota Aygo and Aygo X stay cheap to insure across the range, a rare first car where the newer, better-equipped trim doesn't cost more to cover.

• Is a Vauxhall Corsa a Good First Car?

  The Vauxhall Corsa spans insurance group 2 to 28. Ordinary 1.2 petrol Design, SRi and Griffin trims make a sensible first car; GS Line and Turbo do not.

• Is a Volkswagen Polo a Good First Car?

  The Volkswagen Polo spans insurance group 1 to 32. The ordinary 1.0 TSI sits low; the GTI jumps to the top of the scale, four times the cost to insure.

• Is a Volkswagen Up! a Good First Car?

  The Volkswagen Up! is cheap to insure and run, but scores only 3-star Euro NCAP, lower than most first cars on this site. Weigh both before choosing.