Best Used Entry Level Cars For New Drivers

So you’ve recently learned to drive, and now you want to get your hands on your first car, right? But you’re confused about which you should go with, as new vehicles are just too expensive for a new driver, so you’re thinking of going with a used car. 

We have covered you and compiled the best list of used cars for you, as well as their suggested price and ideal model that a new driver should choose. The majority of readers might now have a high budget for their first car, so we’ve made sure that they fall within the budget of people who used to have CD70 or CG125. 

We’ve compiled this list based on driving feasibility, spare parts availability, and resale value. We know that you might crash your car as it’s your first time behind the wheels, and you’re most likely to sell that car after becoming an experienced driver.

Suzuki Mehran (2003-2008)

Also known as “The Boss,” it’s a car that has no haters. In fact, almost all middle-class family people had Mehran as their first car on which they learned to drive. It’s Pakistan’s first universal car. Why? Suzuki Mehran is highly easy to drive and maintain, has dirt-cheap parts, easy-to-find mechanics, and spare parts that are readily available. 

It’s a straightforward car with no high-tech electronics and tech. Most of the things work manually, making it easy to diagnose and repair. Moreover, with its spare parts pricing and mechanics network, even if you crash it (which you’re most likely to do as it’s your 1st car), it’ll not cost you a kidney. 

We suggest that you start out with an old model, which is relatively cheaper and can get the job done. Usually, a 2003-2008 model could be a good choice to consider. Note that these models will be carburetor-based and not EFI, which is even good for a new driver. You might have to do regular maintenance of the carb, but it’s more manual and will be easier to manage and handle with a fuel economy of 13-17 Km/l.

Suggested Pricing: 330k-500k

Suzuki Khyber

Khyber was also a popular car of its time. It’s a 1000cc hatchback with good cabin space and slightly better ride quality than Suzuki Mehran. The car was discontinued in 2000 and replaced by the successor Suzuki Cultus. 

Currently, if you don’t like Mehran’s cabin interior and low-powered engine, Khyber could be a great choice, even if it is cheaper than Mehran. Its AC is good, the engine is more potent than Mehran’s, and the cabin space is generous, the same as Cultus’s first generation. 

It’s also a complete manual car with very simple engineering and easy-to-find mechanics. Spare parts are also readily available, and pricing is cheaper than Cultus and a bit higher than Mehran. We suggest you go with a good-condition 1995-99 model; they can offer you a fuel economy of 12-15 Km/l.

Suggested pricing: 300k-400k

Suzuki Cultus 1st Generation

As we told you earlier, Cultus was a successor to Khyber. It’s also a hit car, with currently 2nd generation in the market. However, as you’re a newbie driver, the 1st generation will suit you. It uses a K10B 1,000cc engine and drives quality-wise. It’s better than Khyber. The interior is also better and more practical than Mehran, and the AC quality is much better than Khyber. The car is compact and suitable for new drivers. The early versions are carburetor bases with a fuel average of 12-16 Km/.

The parts pricing is fairly expensive compared to Khyber and nowhere near Mehran, but of course, everything comes at a cost. If you prefer Cultus over Mehran and Khyber, you’ll get a good interior and good ride quality, but spare parts might be a bit expensive for a person who’s shifting from CD70. We suggest you go with a 2000-2007 model if Cultus is your preference as your first car.

Suggested pricing: 450k-900k

Daihatsu Cuore

Daihatsu Cuore is another good option if you need a solid-built quality car. It’s the only compact hatchback that you can get under ten lacs in good condition. Cuore is a very compact car, even smaller than Mehran in terms of width and length. But it’s the only car in this list that comes with an automatic transmission in the stock configuration (upper variant).

However, the fuel economy of this car is compromised. We don’t know strictly for sure, but many owners claim that it does 8-11 km/l max, which is almost equal to Reborn and Rebirth. Other than that, the ride quality is way better than Cultus, and AC also works fine, and you also power windows in the top variant. We suggest you go with the 2000-2005 model.

Suggested Pricing: 500k-10,000k

Suzuki FX 

We’ve included the FX in the end because most new drivers might not prefer it. The reason is its harsh drive quality, looks, and unavailability of parts. If you don’t care about how it looks and drives and your only preference is to buy a car in which four people can fit, then the FX could be a fine option. 

It’s also really cheap to buy, starting from just 1 lac PKR, even more affordable than brand new Chinese 70cc. The fuel average is also good due to its lightweight body and thin tires, i.e., 14-18 Km/l.

Unfortunately, you won’t get any AC in this car unless you make some alterations to fit it, as it does have a blower and fan option in the cabin. And don’t expect a smooth drive and spacious interior from this car; it’s just a car that will get you from point A to B.

Suggested pricing: 100k-180k

Suzuki Alto 1st Generation

Suzuki Alto was also a great competitor of Cultus back when it was in first-generation production. Currently, it’s being produced with a 660cc engine, but the first generation was a 1000cc hatchback. It’s a nice car with good AC performance, a good stereo system, and even the option to make a power steering conversion (aftermarket alteration). 

The older models will have carburetor engines, while ending models will get you an EFI engine. However, for starters, we suggest going with a carb version as it’ll be cheaper and easy to maintain and diagnose in case of trouble. 

The fuel economy in this car is also compromised, the same as Cuore, i.e., 9-11 km/l, but drive and suspension-wise, it’s better than Mehran and Khyber. We suggest you go with the 2003-2007 model in good condition.

Suggested Pricing: 600k-950k