Best Cars for Teens and Graduates

Ask any teenager what they want for a car and their answers would be totally or if not, different than their parents’.

Some of the most asked questions for first-time-buyers would be the car’s reliability, fuel-efficiency and other useful stats of the car.

Generally, teens and graduates would probably be more concerned with the looks and design of the car, its size (preferably small and easy on fuel), room for friends (no two-seaters), performance (its speed), accessorizability (add-ons to look cooler and go faster) and lastly its cost. To be fair, as a graduate myself, I’d probably consider these factors too before buying a car.

What parents want is more towards the steadfastness of their child or children’s automotive welfare. They place importance in safety, economy, reliability, sensibility and lastly, insurance cost.

So with both parties’ wants taken into account, we can summarize the best cars for teens and graduates.


Most Popular of All

The Honda Civic is the favorite car for both teenagers and parents. The Civic is small but easily holds four people; economical to buy; and operate extremely reliable; has nice styling and performance; and ranks very high on safety ratings. For those who want to customize its looks or performance, there are hundreds of companies who offer products and parts for the Civic. Insurance costs are relatively low for the Civic, even for teenage drivers. Basing its price in dollars, it’d be rather expensive for us but considering its prestige and credibility, it only comes in at $ 14,500.


The Rest

The Toyota Scion is full of standard features, and optional features, that appeal to teens, is relatively inexpensive, and has a good-performing and fuel-efficient engine. It also has some great safety options such as side air bags. Although not outstanding performers, and ride comfort is lacking, these are typical Toyota high-quality vehicles at base prices that start at about $12,500.

Honda Fit: This small 4-door hatchback is a winning combination of Honda’s reliability, comfort, interior space, features, and safety equipment — and a whopping 34 miles per gallon of fuel on the highway. It's a fun car that will also haul a teenager's stuff — and lots of it. It is also relatively cheap to insure and maintain.

Toyota Corolla: This Toyota vehicle shares many of the characteristics of the Honda Civic and is a favorite among teenagers as both a new and used vehicle. It's reliable, with good performance, has plenty of room inside, and there are many options from after-market companies for styling and performance improvements. Buyers of this vehicle should consider getting the stability control option when available. It's one of the most effective safety features being offered on cars today. The Corolla is priced at about $13,700 for base models. If the Corolla is not quite large enough, look at the Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in America for the last few years.

Nissan Sentra: This is a sensible car for teens, having many of the attributes of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, only a little less style. It's comfortable, but with a harsh ride and little room in the rear seat. However, it gets good fuel mileage, is reliable, enjoys relatively low insurance rates, and is priced at about $12,700. Used models can be found at good prices.

Mitsubishi Lancer: This is a very popular vehicle with teens, especially the turbo-charged Evolution, although it might not be the first choice of parents. It's stylish and looks cool, besides being a super performer. There are lots of add-ons and custom equipment for this vehicle. It even has its own magazine aimed at young drivers of this vehicle. Watch out for reliability problems and higher insurance costs. The Lancer starts at about $14,300 for the basic model.

Ford Focus: This is a fun and sporty car that teenagers like. It has a firm but comfortable ride and a number of engine options. Interior material quality appears cheap but functional. There are no less than 12 different variations of this model that should allow almost any teen to be satisfied. Prices start at about $13,300 for base models. It may not be as reliable as a comparably priced Honda or Toyota.

Mazda 3: This vehicle is an excellent small car with good interior space, good performance, and good quality. It comes in both a hatchback and sedan and starts at about $13,700. New models are very stylish and youth-oriented. Prices for used Mazdas are very reasonable.


When Cost is not a Big Factor

BMW 3-Series: This is one of the most popular of all sporty luxury cars, for a good reason. It is fun to drive, is a great performer, and fuel economy is good — and it looks good, like any other BMWs. It's available as a coupe, sedan, or a convertible. Used models are available for good prices.

Mercedes C-Class: This is a popular small sports sedan with young people who like a car that's fun to drive and gives an aura of luxury and class. It's comfortable, roomy, and handles well on the street, or highway. It also enjoys a good safety rating and is relatively economical to own.
Acura TL: This car is consistently rated very high as having the best blend of all characteristics that one would want in a car. It mixes luxury features with comfort, performance, handling, and sportiness. It's one of the most reliable models on the road.

Audi A4: This vehicle is available as a sedan and convertible. It is luxurious and stylish with excellent driving characteristics. A wide range of features, options, and transmission choices are available. Crash-test results are impressive. Reliability is average.

Lexus IS: It's a Lexus with all the quality and luxury that Lexus offers, but it's not the Lexus that grandfather drives. It is a small safe sports sedan that has the performance, looks, and comfort that young people enjoy.


Where to Find Good Used Cars, Cheap

Teens often can only afford inexpensive ("cheap") cars due to limited funds. An excellent source of used cars online is UsedCars.com a well-respected used car buying service website. You can search their listings by price and area code, as well as make, model, mileage, and other criteria. Prices are already discounted but you can probably do better with a little bargaining. ; )