What Are Good First Cars? Finding the right vehicle for a new driver involves balancing safety, reliability, and affordability. At cars.edu.vn, we understand this and have compiled a detailed guide to help you choose wisely, ensuring a smooth and secure start to your driving journey. This guide will cover various safe starter cars and affordable first cars.
1. Understanding the Needs of First-Time Car Owners
Choosing a first car is a significant milestone, packed with excitement and a touch of apprehension. New drivers have unique needs and concerns, making this decision different from any other car purchase. Here’s what to consider:
- Safety First: Prioritize safety features like airbags, ABS, and electronic stability control.
- Reliability is Key: Opt for models with a proven track record to minimize unexpected repairs.
- Budget Matters: Consider not just the purchase price, but also insurance, maintenance, and fuel costs.
- Ease of Handling: Select a car that’s easy to maneuver and park, especially in urban environments.
- Technology: Look for user-friendly infotainment systems and driver assistance features.
2. Safety Considerations for Novice Drivers
Safety is paramount when selecting a first car. Here are the key safety features and ratings to consider:
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IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Ratings: Look for vehicles with “Good” ratings in crash tests, including moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraints. The driver-side small overlap front test is also crucial. You can explore their ratings on the IIHS website.
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NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Star Ratings: Aim for vehicles with 4 or 5-star overall safety ratings. Check ratings on the NHTSA website.
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Advanced Safety Features:
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Helps prevent or mitigate collisions.
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW): Alerts the driver if the vehicle drifts out of its lane.
- Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM): Warns the driver of vehicles in their blind spots.
- Rearview Camera: Essential for safe reversing and parking.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC): Helps maintain control during skidding.
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Vehicle Weight: Opt for a car that weighs over 2,750 pounds for better crash protection.
Example: The Toyota Corolla consistently receives high safety ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA, making it a reliable choice for a first car.
3. Reliability: Choosing a Car That Lasts
Reliability is crucial for new drivers, as unexpected breakdowns can be stressful and costly. Here’s how to assess a car’s reliability:
- Consumer Reports Reliability Scores: Check Consumer Reports for reliability ratings based on owner surveys. Aim for vehicles with above-average scores (4 or 5 out of 5).
- Maintenance Records: Review the car’s maintenance history to ensure it has been properly maintained.
- Common Problems: Research common issues for the specific make and model you’re considering. Websites like RepairPal can provide valuable insights.
- Warranty: Consider purchasing a car with a good warranty to cover potential repairs.
Example: Honda and Toyota are renowned for their reliability, making models like the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry excellent choices.
4. Affordability: Balancing Cost and Value
Affordability is a major factor for first-time car buyers. Here’s how to manage costs effectively:
- Purchase Price: Set a budget and stick to it. Consider both new and used options.
- Insurance Costs: Get insurance quotes for different models before making a decision. Some cars are cheaper to insure than others.
- Fuel Efficiency: Choose a car with good gas mileage to save on fuel costs. Hybrids and small cars are often the most fuel-efficient.
- Maintenance Costs: Research the average maintenance costs for the car you’re considering. Some brands and models are more expensive to maintain than others.
- Depreciation: Be aware of how quickly the car is likely to depreciate. Some cars hold their value better than others.
Example: The Toyota Prius is not only reliable and safe but also fuel-efficient, making it an economical choice for new drivers.
5. New vs. Used: Which is the Better Option?
Deciding between a new and used car depends on your budget and priorities. Here’s a comparison:
| Feature | New Cars | Used Cars |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher initial cost, lower long-term maintenance costs (typically) | Lower initial cost, potentially higher maintenance costs |
| Reliability | Newest safety and technology features, full warranty | Can be reliable if properly maintained, but may lack the latest safety features and warranty might be limited |
| Depreciation | Depreciates quickly in the first few years | Slower depreciation |
| Financing | Easier to finance, often with lower interest rates | May be harder to finance, potentially higher interest rates |
| Customization | Can be customized with desired features and options | Limited to available inventory |
Recommendation: A slightly used car (2-3 years old) can offer a good balance between affordability and reliability.
6. Best Choices – Used Cars
These used cars offer a combination of safety, reliability, and affordability, making them ideal for first-time car owners. All listed vehicles have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds and earn good ratings from IIHS in the original moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the driver-side small overlap test. If rated by NHTSA, they earn 4 or 5 stars overall. In addition, Best Choice vehicles have standard automatic emergency braking systems that earn an advanced or superior rating from IIHS in the original vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test.
All recommended vehicles have above-average reliability scores from CR (4 or 5 out of 5) for the majority of model years listed and CR emergency handling scores greater than or equal to 3 out of 5. They also have dry braking distances (going from 60 mph to zero) of 145 feet or less.
Prices, provided by Kelley Blue Book and rounded to the nearest $100, are average U.S. values from April 19, 2024, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year. The estimates are based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical mileage and private party purchase.
6.1 Small Cars
| Small Cars | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla (sedan or hatchback) | Sedan — 2017 or newer; hatchback — 2019 | $10,600 |
| Toyota Prius (Toyota Prius) | 2017 or newer | $13,800 |
| Mazda 3 (sedan or hatchback) | 2021-22 | $16,400 |
| Toyota Prius Prime (Toyota Prius Prime) | 2017 or newer | $17,000 |
| Honda Civic (sedan or hatchback) | 2021 or newer | $17,600 |
6.2 Midsize Cars
| Midsize Cars | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry (Toyota Camry) | 2018 or newer | $9,600 |
| Volvo S60 (Volvo S60) | 2017, 2021 | $10,200 |
| Volvo V60 (Volvo V60) | 2017,2021 | $12,300 |
| Subaru Legacy (Subaru Legacy) | 2019 | $14,700 |
| Hyundai Sonata (Hyundai Sonata) | 2021 | $17,200 |
| Honda Accord sedan (Honda Accord sedan) | 2020 | $19,200 |
6.3 Large Car
| Large Car | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Avalon (Toyota Avalon) | 2017 or newer | $14,400 |
6.4 Small SUVs
| Small SUVs | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Equinox (Chevrolet Equinox ) | 2020, 2023 | $13,800 |
| Kia Sportage (Kia Sportage ) | 2020 or newer | $14,400 |
| Toyota RAV4 (Toyota RAV4) | 2017 or newer | $14,700 |
| Hyundai Tucson (Hyundai Tucson) | 2020 or newer | $14,900 |
| GMC Terrain (GMC Terrain) | 2020, 2023 | $16,100 |
| Mazda CX-5 (Mazda CX-5) | 2021-23 | $17,600 |
| Lexus UX (Lexus UX) | 2019-21 | $18,100 |
| Honda CR-V (Honda CR-V) | 2020 or newer | $18,700 |
| Nissan Rogue (Nissan Rogue) | 2021 | $19,000 |
| Subaru Forester (Subaru Forester) | 2021 or newer | $19,000 |
| Mazda CX-30 (Mazda CX-30) | 2022 or newer | $19,900 |
6.5 Midsize SUVs
| Midsize SUVs | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC60 (Volvo XC60) | 2017 | $12,100 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe (Hyundai Santa Fe) | 2019, 2020, 2023 | $15,200 |
| Toyota Highlander (Toyota Highlander) | 2017 or newer | $15,700 |
| Nissan Murano (Nissan Murano) | 2019, 2020 | $15,900 |
| Ford Edge (Ford Edge ) | 2020 or newer | $16,700 |
| Lexus NX (Lexus NX) | 2018-21 | $17,100 |
| Infiniti QX60 (Infiniti QX60) | 2019 | $17,800 |
| Mazda CX-9 (Mazda CX-9) | 2020, 2022 | $18,800 |
6.6 Minivan
| Minivan | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna (Toyota Sienna) | 2018-20 | $19,100 |
7. Good Choices – Used Cars
These used cars also provide a good balance of safety, reliability, and affordability. All listed vehicles have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds and earn good ratings from IIHS in the original moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the driver-side small overlap test. If rated by NHTSA, they earn 4 or 5 stars overall.
In addition, all recommended vehicles have above-average reliability scores from CR (4 or 5 out of 5) for the majority of model years listed and CR emergency handling scores greater than or equal to 3 out of 5. They also have dry braking distances (going from 60 mph to zero) of 145 feet or less.
Prices, provided by Kelley Blue Book and rounded to the nearest $100, are average U.S. values from April 19, 2024, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year. The estimates are based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical mileage and private party purchase.
Some listed models include a “built after” date. This applies when a manufacturer makes changes to improve safety in the middle of a model year. Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured can be found on the certification label typically affixed to the driver door or near it.
7.1 Small Cars
| Small Cars | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda 3 (sedan or hatchback) | 2014-17; built after October 2013 | $5,800 |
| Ford C-Max Hybrid (Ford C-Max Hybrid) | 2015-16 | $7,100 |
| Honda Civic sedan (Honda Civic sedan) | 2014 | $7,900 |
| Toyota Prius (Toyota Prius) | 2014-16; built after November 2013 | $9,400 |
| Subaru Impreza (sedan and wagon) | 2019-20 | $13,200 |
7.2 Midsize Cars
| Midsize Cars | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda 6 (Mazda 6) | 2015-17 | $8,400 |
| Toyota Camry (Toyota Camry) | 2014-17; built after December 2013 | $9,000 |
| Toyota Prius v (Toyota Prius v) | 2015-17 | $10,200 |
| Honda Accord (coupe or sedan) | 2015-17 | $10,500 |
| Subaru Legacy (Subaru Legacy) | 2017-18 | $11,600 |
| BMW 3 series (BMW 3 series) | 2018 | $13,800 |
7.3 Large Car
| Large Car | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Avalon (Toyota Avalon) | 2015-16 | $12,600 |
7.4 Small SUVs
| Small SUVs | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 (Mazda CX-5) | 2016 | $10,100 |
| Hyundai Kona (Hyundai Kona) | 2018-19 | $11,000 |
| Honda CR-V (Honda CR-V) | 2015-19 | $11,400 |
| Chevrolet Equinox (Chevrolet Equinox) | 2018-19 | $11,600 |
| Honda HR-V (Honda HR-V) | 2017-22; built after March 2017 | $11,600 |
| Toyota RAV4 (Toyota RAV4) | 2015-16; built after November 2014 | $12,000 |
| GMC Terrain (GMC Terrain) | 2018-19 | $12,700 |
7.5 Midsize SUVs
| Midsize SUVs | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Murano (Nissan Murano) | 2016 | $9,900 |
| Toyota Highlander (Toyota Highlander) | 2014-16 | $11,700 |
| Lexus NX (Lexus NX) | 2015-17 | $12,100 |
| Acura RDX (Acura RDX) | 2016 | $13,500 |
| Mazda CX-9 (Mazda CX-9) | 2018 | $14,200 |
7.6 Minivans
| Minivans | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna (Toyota Sienna) | 2016-17 | $12,600 |
| Honda Odyssey (Honda Odyssey) | 2017 | $14,400 |
8. Recommended New Vehicles
For those preferring a new car, these models offer the latest safety features and technology. All listed vehicles are winners of the 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award and come with standard vehicle-to-vehicle automatic emergency braking.
In addition, all vehicles have average or better reliability, based on CR’s member surveys; average or better scores from CR’s emergency handling tests; and dry braking distances of less than 140 feet from 60 mph in CR’s brake tests. They also receive a rating of good or better from CR for ease of use of their controls.
Prices, rounded to the nearest $100, reflect Kelley Blue Book New Car Fair Purchase Prices as of April 19, 2024, for the least expensive trim level.
8.1 Small Cars
| Small Cars | Price |
|---|---|
| Subaru Impreza (Subaru Impreza) | $23,400 |
| Mazda 3 (sedan or hatchback) | $24,300 |
| Toyota Prius (Toyota Prius) | $28,300 |
| Toyota Prius Prime (Toyota Prius Prime) | $33,600 |
8.2 Midsize Cars
| Midsize Cars | Price |
|---|---|
| Toyota Camry (Toyota Camry) | $26,900 |
| Honda Accord (Honda Accord) | $28,200 |
| Subaru Outback (Subaru Outback) | $29,300 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Hyundai Ioniq 6) except dual-motor | $37,700 |
8.3 Small SUVs
| Small SUVs | Price |
|---|---|
| Mazda CX-30 (Mazda CX-30) | $25,700 |
| Kia Sportage (Kia Sportage) | $27,300 |
| Hyundai Tucson (Hyundai Tucson) | $27,800 |
| Honda CR-V (Honda CR-V) | $29,700 |
| Mazda CX-50 (Mazda CX-50 built after August 2023 | $31,200 |
| Lexus UX (Lexus UX) | $35,300 |
8.4 Midsize SUVs
| Midsize SUVs | Price |
|---|---|
| Subaru Ascent (Subaru Ascent) | $35,000 |
| Kia Telluride (Kia Telluride) | $36,300 |
| Hyundai Palisade (Hyundai Palisade) | $37,000 |
| Honda Pilot (Honda Pilot) | $37,200 |
| Mazda CX-90 (Mazda CX-90) | $38,800 |
| Lexus NX (Lexus NX) | $39,600 |
8.5 Minivan
| Minivan | Price |
|---|---|
| Honda Odyssey (Honda Odyssey) | $38,200 |
8.6 Pickup
| Pickup | Price |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Cruz (Hyundai Santa Cruz) | $27,500 |
9. Essential Features to Look For
When choosing a first car, certain features can enhance safety and convenience:
- Automatic Transmission: Easier for new drivers to learn and operate.
- Power Steering: Provides effortless maneuverability, especially at low speeds.
- Air Conditioning: Ensures a comfortable driving experience in all weather conditions.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Allows for hands-free calling and audio streaming.
- USB Ports: Keeps devices charged on the go.
10. Tips for Test Driving and Inspection
Before making a final decision, always test drive the car and have it inspected by a trusted mechanic:
- Test Drive:
- Drive in various conditions (city streets, highways) to assess handling and performance.
- Check for blind spots and visibility issues.
- Test all features and controls to ensure they work properly.
- Inspection:
- Have a mechanic inspect the car for mechanical issues, such as engine problems, brake wear, and suspension damage.
- Check for rust and corrosion, especially in areas prone to salt exposure.
- Review the car’s history report to check for accidents, title issues, and odometer discrepancies.
- Negotiation:
- Research the car’s market value to negotiate a fair price.
- Be prepared to walk away if the seller is unwilling to negotiate.
- Consider financing options and compare interest rates from different lenders.
11. Insurance Considerations
Insurance costs can significantly impact the overall affordability of a first car. Here’s what to consider:
- Get Quotes: Obtain insurance quotes from multiple providers before buying a car.
- Coverage Types: Understand the different types of coverage, such as liability, collision, and comprehensive.
- Deductibles: Choose a deductible that you can afford to pay out-of-pocket.
- Discounts: Inquire about potential discounts for students, safe drivers, and anti-theft devices.
- Safety Features: Cars with advanced safety features may qualify for lower insurance rates.
Tip: Adding a new driver to an existing family policy can often result in lower premiums than purchasing a separate policy
