Best First Cars for New Drivers in 2024

The best first cars are rarely the same from person to person. After all, some people don't buy a car until they're starting a family. Others buy a car during college. Some lucky teens get a car bought for them when they turn 16.

The bottom line is that your needs, concerns, and what makes a good first car for you will change as your life does. In this article, we'll look at some of the common firsts all of us face and detail what makes for the best first car in each situation. The 10 vehicles we'll look at as options for good first cars include:

Chevrolet Equinox

First on our list for the best first car is the Chevy Equinox. The 2023 LS base model will cost you about $26,600. The Equinox ranks on our list of good starter cars for several reasons, including the fact that it comes in either all-wheel-drive (AWD) or front-wheel-drive (FWD). Other great features include multiple airbags, lane-division sensors, automatic braking, and pre-collision warning systems. The most recent Equinox model-year also earns a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Equinox isn't too bad on gas, either. Its combined gas mileage rating is 26 MPG. The Equinox also earns a title as one of our best starter cars thanks to certain models' optional impressive tech like the touchscreen infotainment, surround-view camera, and Apple CarPlay. In terms of warranties, you can opt for the limited version, which covers three years or 36,000 miles, or the powertrain version, which covers five years or 60,000 miles.

Ford Fusion Hybrid

Next on our list of the best starter cars is the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which was discontinued after the 2020 model year. The latest models of Fusion Hybrids are priced well below $20,000, which helps them make our list of the best first cars in terms of affordability. 

The Fusion Hybrid also gets an NHTSA five-star safety ranking. Just a few safety features the vehicle comes with include standard automated emergency braking, standard lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control

A FWD Fusion Hybrid stands out as one of our recommended good starter cars thanks to the gas/electric powertrain that delivers a combined fuel economy of 42 MPG. Warranty options are the same as the Equinox's, with three years or 36,000 miles as the limited option, or five years or 60,000 miles as the powertrain option. 

The Fusion also comes with impressive tech, including alerts that sound if a driver seems drowsy. Fusions also come with Ford's SYNC infotainment system and Apple CarPlay. Android Auto and Amazon Alexa smartphone apps are also available. 

Honda Civic

Third on our list of the best first cars is the Honda Civic. A 2023 model runs at about $24,650, still making a newer Civic an affordable option for many drivers. The Civic has developed a reputation over time as being quite dependable, making it a common option found on many "best starter cars" lists. The reputation is well deserved, too, considering the 2023 Civic has a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.

Just a few safety features of the 2023 Civic include standard automated emergency braking, standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and standard adaptive cruise control. A recent-model Civic comes with a limited warranty option for three years or 36,000 miles or the powertrain warranty option for five years or 60,000 miles. 

In addition, complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for up to two years or 24,000 miles. And with a combined fuel economy of 31 MPG, it's not hard at all to see why the Civic could rank on just about anyone's list of good starter cars.

Honda Fit

Next on our list of the best starter cars is the Honda Fit, which was discontinued after the 2020 model-year. Many models of Fit can be found for under $20,000, making it a highly affordable option for a good starter car. 

The Fit also earns a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. Just a few key safety features include available automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

Unlike the Civic, the Fit doesn't come with complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage. However, It offers a limited warranty of three years or 36,000 miles or a powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles. Most Fit models earn a highway fuel economy rating of 36 MPG. Affordable, safe, and environmentally friendly, the Honda Fit clearly is a great choice for the best first car.

Honda Ridgeline

At the halfway point on our list of the best starter cars is the Honda Ridgeline. The recent 2023 model-year runs at about $40,175, so it's certainly one of the pricier options for the best first car on our list. 

The price can be worth it for many drivers, though, considering the Ridgeline also earns an NHTSA five-star safety rating. Just a few key safety features of the 2023 Ridgeline are standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and standard adaptive cruise control.

The Ridgeline is also noteworthy when considering good starter cars thanks to its complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage for up to two years or 24,000 miles. The limited warranty option covers three years or 36,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles. 

But with a combined fuel economy rating of just 21 MPG, it's not the most fuel-efficient vehicle on our list. Still, the Ridgeline has a lot to offer.

Hyundai Venue

The Hyundai Venue ranks on our list of best starter cars in part thanks to its starting price of less than $19,000 for most models. The recent 2024 model, however, starts at just $21,000, making even the newest version highly affordable and a great choice for the best first car for many drivers. 

While the Hyundai Venue only earns a four-star safety score, it still comes with several important safety features. Some key standard safety features of the 2024 Venue include forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention monitor.

The Venue is a great choice for good starter cars thanks in part to its extended complimentary maintenance coverage of up to three years or 36,000 miles. Its other warranties are longer than most, too, with the limited warranty covering five years or 60,000 miles and the powertrain warranty covering up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. 

Its combined fuel economy ranges from 30-32 MPG, making it an efficient option. With all the money you save on the starting sticker price and gas, plus the longer-than-average complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage, the Hyundai Venue is an overall highly affordable pick for a first car.

Mazda CX-3

Next on our list of the best starter cars is the Mazda CX-3, which was discontinued after the 2021 model-year. The 2021 CX-3 runs at just under $22,000. It's a safe option when it comes to good starter cars, having earned a five-star safety score from the NHTSA. Just a few of the CX-3's key safety features include standard automated emergency braking, available lane-departure warning, and available adaptive cruise control.

Though the CX-3 doesn't offer complimentary scheduled maintenance, it's still an option to consider for a possible best first car. The limited warranty covers three years or up to 36,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty covers five years or up to 60,000 miles. Its highway fuel economy rating runs between 32-34 MPG. Affordability and efficiency make the CX-3 a vehicle not to be overlooked.

Subaru Impreza

While the newer 2024 Subaru Impreza starts at just over $24,000, if you buy just one model-year older, the 2023 version will cost you just over $20,000. The Impreza makes our list of best starter cars thanks in part to its many safety features. 

Just a few key safety features of the 2024 model include standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and available automatic emergency steering. However, it doesn't yet have an official safety rating from the NHTSA.

The Impreza doesn't offer complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage but don't discount it as an option for a best first car. The vehicle still comes with the limited warranty option for three years or 36,000 miles or the powertrain warranty option for five years or 60,000 miles. 

The Impreza also makes our list of good starter cars thanks to its fuel economy ratings. The 2024 Impreza's combined fuel economy rating is 29-30 MPG, and it gets an average of 33-34 MPG on the highway.

Toyota Corolla

A 2024 model Toyota Corolla will only cost you about $23,000. Pretty much any year of the Corolla can be considered as an option for a best first car, however. 

The 2022 model, for example, earns a five-star safety score from the NHTSA. A few key standard safety features of the 2024 model include forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

The Corolla is also a great option for the best starter cars thanks to its complimentary maintenance coverage of up to two years or 25,000 miles. The limited warranty option covers three years or 36,000 miles, while the powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles. 

Hybrid Corolla components have warranty coverage for up to eight years or 100,000 miles. Make sure not to skip the Toyota Corolla when looking into choices for good starter cars.

Toyota Sienna

A new 2024 Toyota Sienna starts at $39,000, so it's not the most affordable option on our list of best starter cars. However, the Sienna could still be a great choice for the best first car for many drivers for a number of reasons, including its combined fuel economy rating of 35 MPG. There's also enough room for eight inside the Sienna, making it an ideal vehicle for carpooling.

The NHTSA hasn't given many models of the Sienna an official safety rating. However, the 2024 model Sienna has many standard safety features, including automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. 

The 2024 Sienna also comes with complimentary maintenance coverage for two years or up to 25,000 miles and hybrid-component warranties of up to eight years or 100,000 miles. The limited warranty option covers three years or 36,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty covers up to five years or 60,000 miles. The Toyota Sienna overall is a top contender to round out our list of 10 good starter cars.

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The Bottom Line on Buying a First Car

Whether you're choosing your first car as a student or an adult, protecting your investment with the right car insurance policy is key. You'll get more coverage for your money by shopping around or by asking a local independent insurance agent to do the shopping for you. Trusted Choice independent insurance agents often get the best deal because they're able to shop around for quotes from multiple providers. Better yet, they're local and know the market where you live.

Getting a new car and the right insurance to go with it is a process that will change as you get older. Keep the right considerations in mind, and it's easier than ever to ensure you do it right. And when you need coverage for your next new car, your independent insurance agent can help you then, too.