Skoda

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.

If you're looking at environmentally-friendly through the lens of fuel consumption, then cars like the Volkswagen Polo (which uses 5.0 litres of fuel per 100km), Toyota Yaris (4.9L/100km) and Suzuki Swift (4.8L/100km) top the list. If you wanted something a little taller, it might be worth looking at a compact SUV, like a Volkswagen T-Cross (5.4L/100km) or Skoda Kamiq (5.0L/100km).

Buying a new car is the second-most expensive purchase most of us will ever make, behind the family home. A recent survey by Australian consumer site Canstar Blue found that Aussies spend, on average, $40,128 on a new car and then hold onto that new car for around six years.

In June, we highlighted four model lines that were continuing to perform despite the market downturn. Since that piece went live, the market has ebbed and flowed. Whilst some segments were stimulated by tax incentives, others were held back by stock shortages, production issues, and delayed new product launches. As of the end of year, it has begun to show signs of recovery. 2020, to the surprise of many, ended on a high, with sales in December up 13.5 per cent versus the same time last year.