Our friends over at First Car have been hard at work (as always I’m sure), finding out what cars and services across the industry have been voted the best by new and young drivers. They are so good at helping young/inexperienced drivers with all things automotive! From helpful tips to passing your test, to support and advice when buying your first car. The winners have all been voted by young drivers across the UK, and there are eight separate categories that have been identified:
1. Young Drivers App of the Year
With an overload of entries for this category, this was one of the closest contested! The award here goes to the best young driver app of the year. From Theory test help to driving instructors, there is an app out there for almost everything! Here is the shortlist:
· Driving theory test 4 in 1 kit
· GoRoadie
· Marmalade young driver
· My theory test by James May
· DVSA Test Kit
· Tomtom Go Navigation
· Total Drive
· VehicleSmart
With almost 20,000 votes, the winner is… Driving Theory Test 4 in 1! With this app you can practice however many theory tests and hazard perception tests, as well as their learner plan and pass guarantee scheme boast a 97% theory pass rate!
2. Marketing Campaign of the Year
Up to 800,000 people pass their driving test each year, which in itself is bonkers to think! This then makes for a very competitive market. Here is the shortlist:
· Help2Lease – Nationwide Vehicle Contract
· RED Driving School Priority Pass Voucher
· TSO Influencer Campaign
And the obvious winner with more than half the votes in this category is… RED Driving School’s Priority Pass Programme! Thanks to the recent pandemic, there is a huge backlog of young people wanting to pass their test, so RED created this programme to help pro-active learners to hold their space in the que, and secure lessons as soon as restrictions ease… again!
3. Product of the Year
Now, this covers any product that can assist young drivers. With an endless list of products with similar designs and ideas, our First Car friends have whittled it down to 3 entries:
· Bright Angle LED Warning Triangle
· Nextbase 622GW 4K Dashcam
· Road Angel Pure
The winner in this category is… the Nextbase Dashcam, offering unparalleled images and built-in stabilisation, as well as an impressive night-vision mode and ‘Alexa’ voice control! Not only all that, but this device will help to protect your no-claims bonus and even bring down the cost of insurance.
4. Young Driver Influencer of the Year
There are plenty of social channels and content creators for driving enthusiasts, young drivers and car lovers of all types. But which one of these shortlisted channels will take the biscuit?
· Frances Noakes
· Jack Massey Welsh
· Jonny Brighton
· Joseph Kinghan
With an astonishing 75% of the votes, the winner is… Jack Massey Welsh! He always has stacks of funny content about Tesla and continues to grow his following! Well done and best of luck for the new year!
5. Most Wanted Used Car of the Year
Now the bit we have all been waiting for, the cars! We start with the most desired used cars on the market, and the shortlist is packed full of strong competition:
· Citroen DS3 (2015-2019)
· Fiat 500 (2008-2021)
· Mini Hatch (2014-2021)
· Nissan Juke (2010-2019)
· Volkswagen UP! (2011-2021)
Voted for by the young drivers of the UK, the winner is… the Mini Hatch! Yes, one of Britain’s favourites and longest serving super-mini, this little hatchback sold more than 30,000 units in 2020! Boasting timeless design and a look that is unlike any other car make, you are unlikely to find a car that best embodies a nation.
6. Most Wanted New Car of the Year
The new car shortlist is also very competitive, with all entries worthy of an award! With more than just looks to think about, here is the shortlist:
· Audi A1
· Ford Puma
· Honda-e
· Peugeot 208
· Vauxhall Corsa
With special mentions for the Corsa and Honda-e for their brilliant year, the most wanted new car winner is… the Audi A1! Yes, the tech and fancy badge are great, but the real selling point for the new super-mini is its sharp new looks from the 2018 facelift.
7. Used Car of the Year
These last 2 categories were decided by judges, as it looks for the overall quality of the cars. Arguably the most anticipated category, the used car market can be a sea of confusion for some, so hopefully this shortlist can help you sift out the rubbish:
· Hyundai i20 (2015-2020)
· Kia Picanto (2017-2021)
· Skoda Citigo (2012-2019)
· Toyota Aygo (2014-2021)
· Volkswagen UP! (2011-2021)
First of all, the highly commended awards go to the Kia Picanto and the Skoda Citigo, but the winner of the Used car of the Year is… the Hyundai i20! This car boasts outstanding reliability ratings, roomy and comfortable cabin space, and even some nice tech touches with the later models past 2018.
8. Car of the Year
The final category and the big one, which of the shortlisted candidates will be crowned the ‘First Car’ Car of the Year? Here is the candidates:
· Hyundau i10
· Nissan Micra
· Peugeot 208
· Renault Clio
· Suzuki Ignis
· Toyota Yaris
· Vauxhall Corsa
Once again, the judges for this category gave out highly commended awards to both the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Micra, but the winner is… the Renault Clio! It has been around for decades and is a familiar sight on our roads, but what did the judges love so much about this car? With enough room inside for a small family of elephants, a 5-star NCAP safety rating and stacks of driver assistance as standard! Not only that, but with MPG statistics averaging between 52 and 67mpg!
So, there you have it! If you are a new driver or are learning to drive, why not head over to https://www.firstcar.co.uk/ and have a read through some of their help sections for new drivers turning 17. Or if reading isn’t your thing, we have the wonderful YouTube to cover you! Watch videos on how to bay park, getting test ready and loads of cool car reviews! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmU2-uRfqUNwXE7WVM3Tn0g
