Learning to drive is a rite of passage for young people in the UK. It's the closest we have to a proper coming-of-age ceremony in Britain, with the progression from green licence to pink often bringing new levels of independence for a young driver. The addition of a car makes the world a smaller, but more exciting place.
Traditionally the best first cars have been second hand models. A decent used car can be picked up for a few hundred quid, and the conventional wisdom has always been to put your teenager in a battered old banger because a new driver is more likely to dent it.
However, with the availability of cheap new cars and the prolifieration of leasing deals, it's becoming increasingly common for parents to furnish their teenagers with brand new cars, instead of cheap old ones. Here are our pick of the ten best new cars for young drivers.
10. Renault Twingo, £9,875
The Twingo is a fantastic little car – easy to drive, spacious, safe, quirky and all-round fun. But it's not the cheapest car to buy or lease, and frankly isn't the most practical either. Odd dynamics on country roads mean that this is an urban runabout rather than something you'd want to go to uni and back in. Your daughter will think it's cute, but try to steer her towards something like...
