Mirror, signal and manoeuvre into one of the best cars to teach learner drivers in
“When I touch the dashboard, apply the brakes and bring the car to a swift stop”. If that sounds like something you say on a regular basis, chances are you spend a lot of time on suburban streets with nervous teenagers. In which case, congratulations on having much more patience and less risk aversion than the average person.
Driving instructors have a unique set of car requirements. They need to be able to cope with running for lots of hours every day, while taking the punishment of botched gearchanges and frequent kerb strikes. They need to be comfortable for long days in the saddle, easy to drive and economical enough that you’re not spending all your spare time and money at an Esso garage. Good visibility is important to make sure the learner driver can see all around them. Oh, and if the worst happens, you’ll want your car to protect you and your students.
Best cars for driving instructors
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Ford Puma
- Honda Jazz
- Toyota Aygo X
- Toyota Yaris
- Renault Clio
- Volkswagen Polo
- Hyundai i10
- Skoda Fabia
- Kia Soul EV
Vauxhall Corsa
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 4 stars/ 84% (2019)
Fuel economy: 52-70mpg
The most abundant element in the universe isn’t hydrogen; it’s actually the Vauxhall Corsa. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to trim levels, colours and engines, with a popular 1.2-litre petrol engine being joined by an electric model and a diesel engine – although the latter is quite rare. Hunt one out and you’ll get up to 70mpg on lessons when you’re not kangarooing the whole time. The petrols can manage over 50mpg and are better for frequent short journeys, while the electric Corsa offers the smoothness of an automatic with more than 200 miles of range.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Ford Puma
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 4 stars/ 75% (2022)
Fuel economy: 48-50mpg
With the Ford Fiesta consigned to the history books, the Ford Puma is the obvious next step. It’s slightly taller than the Fiesta, giving your students a good view of the road ahead, and a little bigger. A huge boot means it’s ideal if you’re also going to be using your car for family duties. But it’s still fun to drive and easy to park, with reversing sensors fitted as standard.
Shop used Ford Puma cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Ford Puma review
Honda Jazz
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 5 stars/ 87% (2022)
Fuel economy: 58-63mpg
No sixth-former will feel cool driving a Honda Jazz, but it’s a top learner driver choice. Visibility around the front end is far better than the majority of other modern cars, and its hybrid engine is at its most efficient around town. The Jazz’s interior is simple to use and logical – just what a young driver needs – and it’s really smooth and quiet on the move. The latest Jazz is only available with an automatic gearbox, so won’t be suitable for students wanting to take the manual driving test.
Shop used Honda Jazz cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Honda Jazz review
Toyota Aygo X
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 4 stars/ 78% (2022)
Fuel economy: 55-59mpg
Toyota has kept in the city car game with the SUV-styled Aygo X. It somehow manages to be even sharper looking than the old Aygo, and better equipped – a reversing camera is standard, which should help inexperienced drivers get into a bay without taking another car’s paint with them. The Aygo X isn’t a fast car by any metric, but it offers cheap running costs and cheap insurance.
Shop used Toyota Aygo X cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Toyota Aygo X review
Toyota Yaris
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 5 stars/ 86% (2020)
Fuel economy: 57-69mpg
The latest Toyota Yaris only comes with a hybrid engine and an automatic gearbox, and it's at its most economical when driving slowly around suburban streets. Pick an entry-level Icon model and you'll achieve almost 70mpg – very handy if fuel costs rise again. The Yaris is easy to park and easy to reverse around a corner, thanks to light steering and a standard-fit reversing camera. Add in a long warranty and Toyota's impeccable reputation for reliability and the Yaris is a car that should give you years of stress-free lessons – well, until one of your students does something to raise your heart rate!
Shop used Toyota Yaris cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Toyota Yaris review
Renault Clio
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 5 stars/ 96% (2019)
Fuel economy: 53-67mpg
The Renault Clio is one of our favourite small cars, and it's an ideal choice for student drivers. Behind its stylish design, there's a well-built interior with plenty of tech – but it's easy to use, importantly – and a big boot for a car this size. You can choose between a conventional 1.0-litre petrol engine that's capable of over 50mpg, or a hybrid that's more expensive to buy but more economical too. We'd recommend the hybrid if you can stretch to it – the transition between petrol and electric is seamless, and it'll be at its most efficient in stop-start traffic. You'll need the 1.0 if you want a manual gearbox, however.
Shop used Renault Clio cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Renault Clio review
Volkswagen Polo
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 5 stars/ 94% (2022)
Fuel economy: 51-59mpg
The Volkswagen Polo is our top choice for new drivers, thanks to its solid feel, seriously impressive safety score and low running costs. All its petrol engines manage more than 50mpg, while examples with the least powerful engine sit in the lowest insurance group. Of course, all these qualities are good for driving instructors too, and new drivers that take our advice and buy a Polo will feel instantly at home behind the wheel.
Shop used Volkswagen Polo cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our VW Polo review
Hyundai i10
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 3 stars/ 69% (2020)
Fuel economy: 50-55mpg
We've just named the Hyundai i10 as the best car for new drivers, and by extension it's a top choice for drivers who are still learning. It's small and easy to park, yet feels grown up enough to comfortably tackle faster roads. And there's a surprising amount of space inside the i10, too. For you, the i10 is cheap to buy and cheap to run – not only in terms of its fuel economy, but its simple non-turbocharged engines promise to be reliable. Manual or automatic gearboxes are available. The icing on the cake is Hyundai's five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, which still covers driving instructors and other professional drivers – some brands don't.
Shop used Hyundai i10 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Hyundai i10 review
Skoda Fabia
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: 5 stars/ 81% (2021)
Fuel economy: 50-55mpg
Whether you opt for the latest-generation Fabia or plump for the previous-generation car, you’ll get a smart, spacious supermini that’s reassuringly easy to drive. Durable materials and Polo underpinnings set it up well, and few instructors will miss the Fabia’s discontinued diesel engines because the petrols are fairly punchy and very economical. The Fabia is affordably priced and cheap to run, and offers good visibility all-round.
Shop used Skoda Fabia cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Skoda Fabia review
Kia Soul EV
Euro NCAP rating/ adult protection score: N/A
Fuel economy: 4.3 miles per kWh
We won’t lie, this is a left-field choice. But if you’re switching to an electric car for your next learner hack, the Kia Soul EV ticks a lot of boxes. Bigger-battery cars manage almost 300 miles between charges, so have plenty of range even if your whole day involves motorway driving. Its boxy shape means visibility is great, and the silent electric powertrain means you won’t be misheard at crucial times. And its looks mean you’ll stand out, so it’s a great moving billboard for your services.
