2022 Top 10 Best P-plater Friendly Cars

By Alexi Falson
Updated on 18 Oct 2022 First published 15 Dec 2020
image for 2022 Top 10 Best P-plater Friendly Cars Getting your P plates is a massive moment in both the lives of the young driver and their parents.

Choosing the perfect P-plate friendly car is a delicate balancing act for all Australian families, tossing up between something that looks and feels exciting, but is safe for the driver and passengers.

It’s also important to consider things like running costs, fuel efficiency figures, insurance costs and the ownership program when shopping around for a P-plate friendly car, so with that in mind, let’s take a look at ten of the best options on the market.

Kia Picanto

kia picanto p-plate friendly car

If affordable asking prices and peace of mind from a long ownership program are atop your priority list for a P-plate friendly car, the Kia Picanto is well worth a closer look.

The Picanto range is priced from just $15,990 for the entry-level Picanto S manual, which comes powered by a 1.25-litre four-cylinder engine producing 62kW of power and 122Nm of torque and returns fuel economy figures of just 5.0L/100km.

The Picanto has been awarded a four-star ANCAP safety rating and offers buyers an 8.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, cruise control and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard.

Best of all, the Picanto comes backed by a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty that gives buyers long-term confidence, and a seven-year capped price servicing package that helps to control ownership costs over time.

Mazda 3

mazda 3 p-plate friendly car

The Mazda 3 is one of the best P-plate friendly cars in Australia, offering buyers a stylish, safe and well-equipped package that is a heap of fun to drive.

The Mazda 3 range kicks off from $27,040 for both sedan and hatchback variants, giving buyers some added variety, both of which come powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol producing 114kW of power and 200Nm of torque, and sip 6.1L per 100km.

The Mazda 3 comes generously equipped with LED headlights, 16-inch alloys, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, a head-up display and 8.8-inch infotainment system, atop a generous amount of safety equipment - all backed by a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Toyota Corolla Hybrid

toyota corolla hybrid p-plate friendly car

The Toyota Corolla has become almost a rite of passage for P-plate drivers thanks to its affordable price tag, user-friendly nature and robust safety features that make it a great option for young drivers.

To make things even better, Toyota has updated the Corolla range with hybrid engines available across every model grade, including the entry-level Corolla Ascent for both its hatchback and sedan variants.

Fuel economy for the standard Corolla stands at 6.0L/100km, and drops to just 4.2L/100km for the Corolla hybrid, making it a great option for budget-conscious young drivers.

The Corolla has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating and receives AEB braking, lane-departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera as standard.

MG ZS

mg zs p-plate friendly car

For drivers looking for a great value pick and P-plate friendly SUV, the MG ZS range offers a seriously impressive list of features for the money.

The MG ZS Excite is priced at just $22,990 drive-away, and comes powered by a modest little 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 84kW of power and 150Nm of torque, with fuel economy figures standing at 7.1L/100km.

Standard equipment for the ZS Excite includes 17-inch alloys, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay.

Mitsubishi ASX

mitsubishi asx p-plate friendly car

On a similar note, Mitsubishi’s ASX, is a great value pick for P-platers looking for a compact SUV package that offers a decent amount of space and practicality.

The base model comes powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 110kW of power and 197Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed manual or CVT automatic that is relatively fuel-efficient at 7.6L/100km.

Where the ASX really excels, though, is the ten-year warranty coverage - when serviced within Mitsubishi’s network - and the five-star ANCAP safety rating that makes it a confidence-inspiring first car for a P-plate driver.

Hyundai i30

hyundai i30 p-plate friendly car

While the Hyundai i30 is a much more mature car than it used to be, thanks to the affordable price tag, it remains an excellent P-plate friendly car to own, insure and maintain.

The i30 is available in both a hatchback and sedan, offering buyers a heap of variety within the line-up that uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol producing 120kW/203Nm in the base model, with a six-speed manual and automatic on offer.

The hatchback has an impressive amount of space for rear passengers and a boot totalling 395L, while the sedan packs a 474L boot which is great for weekend adventures.

Both have been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and come fitted with autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warnings, lane-keep and lane-trace assist, making the i30 a heavy-hitter in terms of safety equipment.

Volkswagen Polo

volkswagen polo p-plate friendly car

Volkswagen’s smallest car, the Polo, has very much proved itself as a capable city car and very appropriate option for P-plate drivers.

Prices for the latest VW Polo stand at $25,250, which comes powered by a spirited little 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder that produces 70kW of power and 175Nm of torque, which is paired with a five-speed manual transmission.

Fuel economy figures for the VW Polo stand at 5.4L/100km on a combined cycle, with luggage space in the boot rated at 351L making for a surprisingly practical small package.

The Volkswagen Polo has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, and comes fitted with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assistance, front & rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard.

Toyota Yaris

toyota yaris p-plate friendly car

The Toyota Yaris is absolute proof that small hatchbacks have a heap of personality to offer drivers, and comes fitted with a heap of comfort, entertainment and safety technologies to sweeten the deal.

The Yaris range kicks off from $23,740 for the entry-level Ascent Sport variant, which is fitted with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol producing 88kW of power and 145Nm while returning fuel economy figures of just 4.9L per 100km.

Better yet, Toyota has a hybrid engine option for the Yaris that drops fuel economy figures to just 3.3L/100km, making for one of the most fuel-efficient P-plate friendly cars you’ll find on the market today.

The Toyota Yaris has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and packs AEB braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warnings and emergency steering assist as standard.

MG MG3

mg mg3 p-plate friendly car

For buyers in the market for a cheap and charming P-plate friendly car, it’s difficult to walk past the value proposition on offer in the latest MG MG3.

The MG3 lineup kicks off from $18,990 drive-away for the entry-level MG3 Core, which comes powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW/150Nm, paired with an automatic transmission that helps to return fuel economy figures of 6.7L per 100km.

For the money, the MG3 is one of the best-equipped packages for P-plate drivers, with features like 15-inch alloys, LED daytime running lamps, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, rear-view camera and 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay fitted as standard.

Kia Rio

kia rio p-plate friendly car

Last but by no means least, the Kia Rio is a very impressive P-plate friendly car which kicks off from $19,690 here in Australia.

The base model Kia Rio S comes powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder producing 74kW of power and 133Nm of torque, with fuel economy figures standing at 5.6L per 100km on a combined cycle.

Standard equipment for the base model includes a set of 15-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, a rear-view camera with parking sensors and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Best of all, the Rio receives Kia’s outstanding seven-year, unlimited KM warranty and a five-star ANCAP safety rating that makes it an ideal candidate for a P-plate friendly car.

Request a Quote

If our list of the best P-plate friendly cars in Australia has sparked your imagination, click here to get a quick and hassle-free quote on your dream car, or to speak with one of our car buying experts.

AF

Alexi Falson

Alexi is an automotive journalist and road tester hailing from Byron Bay. He has an affection for both cars and motorbikes, a great admiration for the simplicity of old-school engineering, and a fascination of new technology making its way to modern cars. When he's not road testing, you'll find him surfing, hiking or helping people find their dream cars.

Have any questions? Call us on 1300 719 925

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