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The safest cars for young drivers under $30,000 in Australia

Buying a new car is an exciting yet arduous process – more so when it's your first time jumping through the hoops.


While key factors such as style, performance and price are usually top of mind, given that novice drivers are over-represented in fatal crashes – due to a combination of inexperience and older, cheaper and less safe cars – safety should also make the list of priorities.

While not everyone can afford a new car, we encourage everyone to buy the safest and newest car they can afford.

If you do happen to be cashed up – or getting help from the bank of mum and dad – here is a list of the safest new cars for young drivers for less than $30,000.

In order for cars to make our list, they must score eight out of 10 or higher, as judged by How safe is your car. They are also expected to have a five-star ANCAP safety rating and finally, cost less than $30,000 drive-away.

 

Here are our 10 picks:

 

Skoda Kamiq – 8/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

Front braking assist with city emergency brake, lane-keep assist, ABS, rain braking system, multi-collision braking, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, rear manoeuvre braking assist, driver fatigue detection, and seven airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars (tested 2019)

Skoda Kamiq 85TSI price:

$27,990 (drive-away)

 

Volkswagen Polo – 8/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

Electronic brake-pressure distribution, ABS, brake assist, driver fatigue detection, front brake assist with city emergency brake and pedestrian monitoring functions, rear-view camera, and six airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars (tested 2017)

Volkswagen Polo 70TSI Trendline DSG price:

$22,990 (drive-away)

 

Kia Cerato – 8/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

Emergency stop signal, ABS, front parking sensors, reverse parking sensors, rear-view camera, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, AEB with forward collision warning and car avoidance system, and six airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Four stars (tested 2019)

Kia Cerato S Automatic price:

$24,990 (drive-away)

 

Mazda 2 – 9/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

Blind-spot monitoring, ABS, emergency brake assist, electric brake force distribution, emergency stop signal, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, smart city brake support (forward and reverse), reversing camera, and six airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars (tested 2015)

Mazda 2 GT hatch price:

$28,485 (drive-away)

 

Volkswagen T-Cross – 9/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

AEB, ABS, multi-collision brake, brake assist, blind-spot monitor, rear traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, distance warning display, driver fatigue detection, front brake assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring and manoeuvre braking, front and rear optical parking cameras, front and rear parking sensors, and six airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars (tested 2019)

Volkswagen T-Cross 85TSI Life price:

$29,990 (drive-away, offer ends 31 March 2021)

 

Hyundai i30 – 9/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

Brake assist, ABS, emergency stop signal, rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, driver attention warning, forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, high-beam assist, lane following assist, lane-keep assist, and six airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars (tested 2017)

Hyundai i30 auto price:

$27,490 (drive-away)

 

MG HS – 9/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

Electronic brake force distribution, ABS, emergency brake assist, intelligent speed-limit assist, forward collision warning, lane assist system, traffic jam assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, and six airbags.

ANCAP Safety Rating:

Five stars (tested 2019)

MG HS Core price:

$29,990 (drive-away)

 

Toyota Yaris – 10/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

ABS, brake assist, reversing camera, emergency brake signal, lane-keep assist, pre-collision alert with pedestrian and daylight cyclist detection, road sign assist, intersection turn assist, lane departure assist, and eight airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars

Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport auto price:

$27,473 (drive-away)

 

Toyota Corolla – 10/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, reversing camera, pre-collision alert with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, lane departure alert, lane-keep assist, road sign assist, and eight airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars (tested 2018)

Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport price:

$29,314 (drive-away)

 

Hyundai Kona – 10/10

 

Drive

Safety features:

ABS, brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, downhill brake control, rear-view camera, driver attention warning, lane-keep assist, front collision-avoidance assist, and six airbags.

ANCAP safety rating:

Five stars (tested 2017)

Hyundai Kona Go price:

$26,990 (drive-away on a runout deal)

Emma Notarfrancesco

Emma has been on our television screens for over a decade. Most of her time in the industry has been spent at racetracks reporting at major motorsport events in Australia - from TCR and Superbikes to Porsche Sprint Challenge and Supercars. Emma has also hosted various MotoGP and F1 events interviewing the likes of Daniel Ricciardo and Jack Miller. Having previously presented on an automotive show, she made her move to the Drive family in 2020. Fiercely proud of her Italian heritage, Emma is a coffee loving, stylish-black wearing resident of Melbourne.

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