​ Question: I’m looking at a new car for my daughter when she passes her test in a few weeks, but I know the insurance can be really expensive. What cars would you recommend that will cost the lowest for insurance?

Our experts reply: Getting insurance for younger people – especially as new drivers – can be excessively expensive. But as it is a legal requirement it’s something that just has to be done. Every car in the UK market belongs in one of 50 car insurance groups: the lower the number, the cheaper the cost.

The grouping takes into account the value of the car when new against an estimate of its current value, its performance, as well as possible repair costs, the cost of replacement parts and the level of security features. There are some obvious ones to look at – the Nissan Micra, the new Fiat Panda, the Renault Twingo and the Hyundai i10 to name a few. But bearing in mind all that a model can offer, here are our three to seriously consider.

The Ford Ka+

Ford's KA+ seems a very complete city car proposition, with five doors, an efficient little 1.2-litre petrol engine and some clever interior features. There's just one body style and one five-speed manual gearbox to keep things simple, but you can go for the plusher 'Zetec' version with at the top of the range the 'Black' and 'White' 'Zetec Colour Edition' variants.

Upgrading to 'Zetec' trim gets you a few more niceties – things like 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a DAB radio with SYNC media compatibility. And with Emergency Assistance, you’ll have that little extra peace of mind when your daughter’s out on her own.

The VW up!

The up! is a real proper Volkswagen – just a smaller one. It’s frugal, fun, clever and competitively priced, making it a key model to consider. Any city car stands or falls on its ongoing costs and here, the up! looks to have all its bases covered.

You should look at the BlueMotion Technology model which features low rolling resistance tyres, a battery regeneration system and a stop start system that cuts the engine when you don't need it in traffic or at the lights. As a result, it can return an impressive 68.9mpg on the combined cycle and emit just 96g/km of carbon dioxide. Even the 1.0 TSI will give you a tax-friendly 102g/km CO2 reading. Nice on the wallet, or purse.

Seat Mii

Bearing in mind that the SEAT Mii is a stablemate of VW’s up! you might wonder why we’re focusing on it too. Well it ticks all the important city car boxes and when lined up against the up! and the Skoda version of the same design, it means your choice will focus on the value proposition on offer.

This SEAT's chirpy three cylinder 1.0-litre petrol powerplant suits it perfectly, just as it should: a cheeky, fun performer and a little bit vocal. All part of the driving experience. Ultimately, it'll come down to personal preference of course: your Mii always should reflect the driver’s personality, so as it’s your daughter, give it some thought before you choose the wrapping paper.