Rides of passage

Choosing a new car can be daunting, but here are six machines that prove beginners have a great choice of what’s out there ranging from the normal to the quirky and super-efficient, all without breaking the bank.

Hyundai Veloster 1.6 MPI Manual

Price: S$100,999*

Engine: 1,591cc inline four

Power/Torque: 130bhp/158Nm

0-100kmh: 11.5s

Top speed: 190kmh

Efficiency: 6.2L/100km, 149g/km

The Koreans used to be known for cheap and cheerful cars, but times are very different, as an offering such as this one shows. The Veloster is Hyundai’s under-rated sporty hatchback with a scarab-like design that’s reflective of a brand with lots of confidence. It also provides a great reason for learners to take a manual car licence — the manual Veloster is quicker, less thirsty and a whole lot more fun to drive than its automatic counterpart, and it’s S$2,000 cheaper, too. That’s enough for a set of sick-looking rims.

Honda HR-V S

Price: S$108,999*

Engine: 1,497cc inline four

Power/Torque: 120bhp/145Nm

0-100kmh: 11.1s

Top speed: 179kmh

Efficiency: 6.5L/100km, 155g/km

Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are as fashionable now as big beards and dual-tone lipstick, with the added benefit of making you appear cool, too. Honda’s HR-V has all the hallmarks of a trendy soft-roader: A coupe-inspired design, a tall stance, and large wheels. But it also has plenty of practicality: A reasonably powerful engine, lots of passenger and cargo space, plus clever folding seats. A revised model, made in Japan and with increased power, efficiency and more standard equipment, will be launched by distributor Kah Motor soon.

Kia Carens Diesel EX

Price: S$107,999*

Engine: 1,685cc, inline four, turbodiesel

Power/Torque: 139bhp/340Nm

0-100kmh: 11.3s

Top speed: 189kmh

Efficiency: 5.2L/100km, 135g/km

If the Veloster shows the fun side of Korea, then the Kia Carens Diesel proves it still knows how to make a very useful, affordable car. One of the few seven-seat multi-purpose vehicles priced below S$120,000, the Carens has tall windows that deliver lots of headroom but also make parking easier. The diesel engine is grunty and very frugal, although it isn’t the smoothest around. Still, the ability to pack seven souls onboard or lots of cargo will endear you to friends who will find it far superior to taking the bus, no matter what the image.

Mitsubishi Lancer

Price: S$88,999*

Engine: 1,590cc, inline four

Power/Torque: 117bhp/154Nm

0-100kmh: 13.6s

Top speed: 180kmh

Efficiency: 7.3L/100km, 171g/km

If ever there was an example of an ever-living, unchanging, regular sedan, the Mitsubishi Lancer is it. While rival nameplates still exist (Toyota’s Corolla Altis, the Subaru Impreza), they’ve changed significantly, while the Lancer is still the same car, underneath, that it was nine years ago. While some might see it as dated, with the Lancer, you get the least expensive Japanese sedan around and it’s a thoroughly known commodity with absolutely no surprises whatsoever.

Toyota Prius C

Price: S$105,888*

Engine: 1,497cc inline 4, petrol hybrid

Power/Torque: 99bhp/111Nm

0-100kmh: 10.4s

Top speed: 170kmh

Efficiency: 3.9/100km, 90g/km

Most small, inexpensive cars are light and by proxy, relatively fuel-efficient. But they don’t come more fuel-efficient than the Prius C — unless you’re driving the new, larger Prius hatchback. The Prius C doesn’t have much space, but it can fit four adults, and it also doesn’t have much pace, but what it does have is a ridiculously low fuel consumption. Drive it accordingly and you could visit your petrol station once a month, leaving more time and cash for better things.

Volkswagen Polo 1.2

Price: S$93,800*

Engine: 1,197cc, inline 4, turbocharged

Power/Torque: 89bhp/160Nm

0-100kmh: 10.8s

Top speed: 184kmh

Efficiency: 4.7L/100km, 171g/km

Like the Prius C, the Volkswagen Polo is typical of the small hatchback genre: Compact, easy to drive and park. It also fits a family on short distances and sips fuel. The difference is the Polo has a relatively brawny turbocharged engine with 160Nm of torque, so it’s quicker on its feet than competing Japanese or Korean hatches. It’s also the least expensive German hatch you can buy right now.

*Prices correct as of press time