It depends on how much you're spending - if it's a brand-new or nearly new car, we'd recommend a Hyundai i10, which tops our list of best cars for new drivers (see link below). If you're going a bit older/cheaper, try the VW up!/Skoda CitiGo/Seat Mii. They're all essentially the same car with different badging and light styling changes. They're great for first-time drivers, because they're easy to drive and have excellent visibility. They're also cheap to insure, generally, but be aware that the insurance groups can vary a little. We'd always recommend getting a quote for a potential purchase before committing.

www.honestjohn.co.uk/guides/best-first-car/