best first car 2023

Picking the best first car in 2023 is less “dream machine” and more “won’t drain your wallet at the servo or the mechanic.”

Shortlist sensible heroes like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 2/3, Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato and Suzuki Swift—cheap to run, easy to park, and blessedly common for parts and servicing.

Look for 5‑star ANCAP (2018+), autonomous emergency braking, and a reverse camera; your insurance bill and bumper will thank you.

Budget-wise, good used examples typically sit around $12k–$20k, while new small hatches are roughly $25k–$35k in Australia.

Test a few, buy the tidiest, lowest‑km one with a full service history, then spend the leftover on lessons in parallel parking—ideally not outside your examiner’s driveway.

Ready to browse? Tradingpost has plenty of learner‑friendly listings without the eyebrow‑raising dealer markups.