Best Cars for First-Time Drivers 2016
Recommended for First-Time Drivers
It's hard to beat the Prius c's combined fuel economy of 50 mpg in EPA ratings for its $20,000 starting price. That's 10 mpg better than any similarly priced compact gasoline-only sedan. Add in the c's hatchback usability and the baby Prius drives a hard bargain for first-time drivers who will be driving a lot and want to minimize spending party money at the pump.
Recommended for First-Time Drivers
Available as a sedan or hatchback, the Sonic's aggressive exterior and unique interior styling stand out in a class of cars that otherwise look similar. Inside, the Sonic has a motorcycle-inspired gauge cluster that floats above the dashboard with a digital speedometer and an analog tachometer. The Sonic's ride quality is one of its defining characteristics with a smooth, sophisticated ride suited for those long hauls back and forth to college.
Best Car for First-Time Drivers
The Impreza is a home run for first-time drivers. Not only does the Impreza have stellar crash-test ratings, but it provides foul-weather confidence with its standard all-wheel-drive. The Impreza starts at less than $20,000 and also provides plenty of cargo room in its hatchback form. Let's not forget its fuel economy of 28/37/31 mpg city/highway/combined with the continuously variable automatic transmission. Also available is the EyeSight collision avoidance system, with autonomous braking on higher trim levels. Forget home run, the Impreza is a grand slam for first-time buyers.
Recommended for First-Time Drivers
The Mazda3 is a must for the first-time driver with a flair for the sporty. Mazda's compact sedan and hatchback don't just look sporty, but are legitimately fun to drive in the grand scheme of fun-to-drive cars, and not just "for the class." For this car, fun to drive doesn't mean inefficient, thanks to highway fuel economy ratings of up to 39 mpg with the automatic transmission.
Best Deal for First-Time Drivers
Budget-friendly doesn't begin to describe the features and room you get for the money with the Versa Note hatchback. One of the most notable features is Nissan's Around View Monitor that shows a top-down 360-degree view of the car, which makes parallel parking or squeezing into a tight spot a breeze. The Versa Note's backseat is massive for the class, with the kind of room typically found in a larger class of cars. That $20,000 gets you a fully loaded Versa Note with navigation, heated seats, USB input, Around View Monitor, Bluetooth, smart keyless access and more.
Recommended for First-Time Drivers
There's fun to drive, and then there's the go-kart levels of fun to drive that the Hardtop delivers along with style in exceeding quantities both inside and out. We're not even talking about the Cooper S here, but the base Cooper trim level with a punchy 1.5-liter three-cylinder rated at a top 40 mpg highway with a manual transmission.
Recommended for First-Time Drivers
It's hard to beat the space efficiency of the Fit. The low cargo floor and tall roofline give the little hatchback SUV-like cargo versatility that could likely fit an entire small dorm room inside. Plus there's Honda's Magic Seat, which allows the second-row seats to flip up and provide the full distance from the floor to the roof for tall cargo items. Sealing the deal is fuel economy of up to 41 mpg on the highway with the continuously variable automatic transmission.
Recommended for First-Time Drivers
The Elantra is a practical, value-laden compact sedan that's easy on the eyes with its swoopy styling and uniquely styled interior. Most parents and first-time car shoppers will be looking at safety ratings, fuel economy and value, and the Elantra hits those marks as an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, up to 38 mpg and some pampering features, such as the available rear heated seats and Pandora internet radio integration.
Recommended for First-Time Drivers
Roominess is king in the Jetta, with a backseat that's limo-sized compared with other sedans in the segment. The optional turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder is both quick and fuel efficient with 37 mpg on the highway and 170 horsepower, so you can carpool and still have guts to get down the road. The Jetta is also one of the few, like the Impreza, with optional forward collision warning with autonomous braking and earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus designation.