Best used cars for young drivers

Looking for a used car? We can help you look for one that’s right for you – read our list of the best used cars for young drivers on the road today.

The Best Used Cars for Young Drivers in Australia

Starting nice and close to home, these cars are some of the best picks for young drivers making their start on Australian roads.

1. Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander takes the top spot locally with a total score of 81.98. Despite a mid-range price tag of AU$28,200, it boasts strong sentiment and a high number of online searches (834,000), reflecting its reputation as a solid all-rounder.

2. Mazda 3

In second place is the Mazda 3, with a score of 80.23 and great affordability at AU$18,300. Despite the positive sentiment only outperforming the negative sentiment by 5%, this model has reasonably high search volume online, showing that it is a popular car in online search.

3. Kia Cerato

Another vehicle that performed well in affordability was the Kia Cerato, whose AU$19,000 average price helped it to land in third place. With a positive sentiment of 25% compared to 0% negative sentiment, this car scored a total of 79.14 and is another strong option for young drivers to consider.

4. Kia Sportage

Taking fourth spot in Australia is the Kia Sportage, with a total score of 76.82. This model has a reasonably high search volume (834,000) and an average used price of AU$21,600, contributing to it performing well overall in the index.

5. Toyota Corolla

Rounding out the top 5 is a popular Australian vehicle, the Toyota Corolla. Its high search volume (877,500) shows that smaller models remain popular with Australians. With an average used price of AU$26,800, the Toyota Corolla finished with a score of 72.43.

The Best Used Cars for Young Drivers Globally

Looking further afield, here’s how the results change when considering a more global perspective.

1. Honda Civic

With the highest Google search volume of any car on our global list – ranking at over 54 million searches per year, the Honda Civic is the top of our list for young drivers. With an average price of AU$18,100, it’s one of the most affordable used cars too, and a good option for anyone looking to get started as a driver.

While 14% of comments online are negative – more than the 10% of positive comments – the widespread appeal of the Civic and its low price make it a great choice for younger drivers. With an index score of 82.02 out of 100, it takes the gold medal on our rankings.

2. Volkswagen Golf

In second place is the Volkswagen Golf, which averages a price of AU$26,100 used. With 42 million annual searches by Googlers, and 7% of comments being positive, it’s a car with widespread popularity according to our findings. Its index score of 74.78 makes it one of the best overall choices for younger drivers, especially when buying used for a lower price.

3. Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage takes the third spot with an average price of AU$21,600 used. With 40 million annual searches and 14% of comments being positive, this model is also popular among young drivers. It scores an index of 74.67, making it a strong contender for younger drivers on a budget who want an affordable yet reliable car.

4. Suzuki Swift

Drivers seeking a bargain will be drawn to the Suzuki Swift’s low price, as its average cost of AU$16,800 makes it the cheapest option in our top 10. Positive comments online are 4% more common than negative responses, and its search volume of 25 million shows that the Swift is a popular vehicle. All in all, it receives a total index score of 70.30.

5. Toyota Corolla

In fifth place, we have the Toyota Corolla, with an average price of AU$26,800. It ranks highly with 42 million annual searches but has a slightly higher negative sentiment of 10%. The Corolla earns a total index score of 69.60, making it a reliable choice for young drivers looking for affordability and reliability.

6. Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 ranks sixth with an average price of AU$18,300. It has a search volume of 28 million queries annually and a 12% positive sentiment. Its total index score of 68.74 makes it a great choice for young drivers, offering a good balance of affordability and reliability.

7. Mazda CX-5

With 11% of online sentiment involving positive comments and an annual search volume of 29 million Google queries, the Mazda CX-5 ranks as a popular model that could be suitable for young drivers. While its AU$27,900 price point ranks it as a more expensive option on our list, it still earns a total index score of 67.26 and takes seventh place.

8. Toyota RAV4

While SUVs might not be an immediate choice for young drivers, the Toyota RAV4 is a popular model with 35 million annual searches and is more affordable than similar makes. The car’s AU$35,400 price point makes it the most expensive car in our top 10, but compared to other SUVs on the market the RAV4 is a more friendly choice as an entry level vehicle. It scores 64.76 on our index, making it a viable pick for young drivers.

9. Toyota Camry

While the Camry’s online sentiment is mixed with 6% positive and 6% negative mentions, its overall reliability and high search volume highlight its strong presence in the used car market. With a total index score of 60.58, it remains a solid option for young drivers looking for a dependable and affordable vehicle.

10. Hyundai i30

The Hyundai i30’s sentiment is evenly matched, with 10% of its online mentions being both positive and negative. However, with an average price of AU$21,800 and a yearly search volume of 18 million queries, it remains a strong choice for younger drivers. With a final score of 60.53, it earns a respectable tenth place, completing our top 10.

Methodology

This dataset contains 2 rankings, one ranks 30 car models in Australia & the other ranks 30 car models worldwide, based on how good they are when second-hand for young drivers. The car models featured are from the AIR 2024 top sold used car models & popular car models amongst young drivers.

To achieve our ranking, four different factors were considered:

• Average price (lower is better) – The average price of each used car model, using the first 3 pages of each car model on autotrader.com.au, rounded to the nearest hundred.
• Positive sentiment (higher is better) – The percentage of social media mentions of each car model, that are positive, according to Brandwatch between 20 Mar 24 – 19 Mar 25. [Weighted 0.5x]
• Negative Sentiment (lower is better) – The percentage of mentions of each car model, that are negative, according to Brandwatch between 20 Mar 24 – 19 Mar 25. [Weighted 0.5x]
• Search Volume (higher is better) – The number of searches made on Google for each car model between Mar 24 – Feb 25, according to Google Keyword Planner.

Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised, to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given. The normalised values were then summed and multiplied, to give each car model a total score out of 100. The car models were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.

All data & exchange rates are correct as of 02/05/2025. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided. Exchange rates used: 1 AUD = 0.63 USD. 

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