Small automatic car with electric handbrake

Goudy

This is something nearly every new driver faces.

The cars driving instructors use are generally new, with all the latest tech and are generally easy to drive and live with and unless you are willing to spend that sort of money, chances are your first car won't have anywhere near that sort of tech.

I have no doubt you will find a reasonable petrol automatic "first car" but the electronic handbrake will be an issue in your price range for the type of car required. Like a lot of car tech, these things tended to be fitted to high end models to start with before filtering down the food chain later on.

I would think you might have to water down some expectations. With an auto you don't normally struggle with hill starts. Yes in a manual you would normally have to balance the throttle and clutch and releasing the handbrake to get off up a hill, but most auto's will creep so it's not usually a problem (except with automated manual gearbox cars) it's just a matter of moving your foot off the brake pedal to the accelerator.

I think as long as it creeps like a proper auto she'll be fine, even if she fails to pull it on when she gets out, you have to put in it park and they usually have a parking pawl on the gearbox, locking up the gearbox so it won't roll away. (something I used extensively last week in a rental as I am no longer used to pulling a lever, much to the amusement of my Mrs).

I might be inclined to look out for some other tech useful to a new driver rather than the electronic handbrake to be honest.

Lane keep assist, reversing sensors or camera, blind spot monitoring, speed limiter, EBD/ brake assist might keep her out of more trouble than an electronic handbrake.