Driving experts share the best used cars for new motorists, all priced under £5,000

As the used car market continues to boom, two motoring YouTubers have shared their pick of the best models for new drivers, priced from just £1,000.

08:58, Thu, May 30, 2024 | UPDATED: 09:00, Thu, May 30, 2024

White Suzuki Alto displayed at the Tokyo Auto Show

The YouTubers suggested three compact and economical models for new motorists (Image: Getty)

Two automotive personalities have taken to YouTube to recommend three economical and affordable used models that are perfect for new drivers.

Adam Morris and Jim Hull are presenters on the YouTube channel ReDriven and regularly create videos recommending the best and worst vehicles to buy.

In a recent video, the Australian car fanatics shared three models that are ideal for cheap first cars, stating the Suzuki Alto is easy to drive and affordable to run.

Adam explained: "The first pick for us is the Suzuki Alto, a pretty basic small car. It's got a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine so it's not the most powerful thing out there but it's very economical."

Jim added: "They're super reliable too. There's less of them around [compared to rivals] so we don't see a lot of them, but the ones that we do get in the workshop are almost always fine, there's very rarely a problem."

Three quarter view of red Suzuki Alto on an A-road

The Suzuki Alto may not be particularly stylish, but features an economical 1.0-litre engine (Image: Getty)

Built between 2008 and 2014, buyers can get behind the wheel of a high-mileage example for around £1,000 and cleaner, higher specification alternatives from around £2,000.

Whilst the Alto's styling is not as attractive as some other city cars, the 998cc engine is incredibly economical, averaging 65 miles per gallon.

In particular, Adam and Jim recommended that buyers try to find a 2013 or 2014 example, which had improved safety features and better levels of standard equipment.

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Dark blue Mazda2 driving along a country road

Many Mazda2s were fitted with a 1.5-litre engine, making it incredibly fun to drive (Image: Getty)

Later in the video, Adam and Jim suggested that motorists interested in a first car that is fun to drive consider the second-generation Mazda2.

Adam advised: "On the flip side [of the Alto], as far as power goes, there's the Mazda2, [built] from 2008 to 2014. It's got a 1.5-litre engine so it's going to be a little more fun to drive. In fact, Mazda's tagline for the longest time was 'Zoom Zoom', and this is a pretty enjoyable little car to drive.

Jim continued: "Again, they are super reliable; we hardly ever see any real issues with them. The engine mounts occasionally need work but there's rarely a problem."

White Hyundai i20 drives along dual carriageway

The Hyundai i20 offers plenty of space, and most examples have plenty of luxurious features (Image: Getty)

Finally, the two YouTubers recommended the Hyundai i20 for motorists who want some additional space and an impressive level of standard equipment.

Adam added: "Then there's the Hyundai i20 from 2014 to 2015. It has six airbags, loads of tech, loads of features. This is a car that was designed to attract buyers away from Toyota and Mazda, so Hyundai were throwing features at it."

Jim explained: "I think it's a standout too. We do see plenty of these [in the workshop] because they are so popular, and, in a budget car, you want that. You might need to do a repair on the cheap, and you're going to be able to get more parts available second-hand."