As a parent there is one priority when it comes to the vehicle for your child.... The safest damn car out there for the money. Daughter got herself the last of the 2004 (old shape) astra cdx sedan, 6 airbags,
abs, t/c, eauropean safety, so all the safety aspects taken care of. leather, alloys, heated seats great fuel economy and goes ok for a four banger.
AS one of the people I've spoken to said when I told him what car my daughter decided on... glad you didn't get a getz or any of that hyundai crap, the amount of bodies I've had to cut out of them shows they don't handle collisions well..... the astra holds up well in that regard.