2024 Hyundai Elantra – 7.7/10
The Hyundai Elantra has been a great bargain for a decade, but now it packs the looks and performance to match. The stylish and refined sedan is offered with a traditional gas engine or hybrid starting at just over $20,000, right in the first-time car buyer’s sweet spot. It gets high marks for handling and its warranty is one of the best on the market. It’s also safe, with lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic assist as standard.
2024 Chevrolet Trax – 7.6/10
The Chevrolet Trax has been redesigned for the 2024 model year with a new look that borrows from the larger Blazer SUV, among others. It comes with a 1.2-liter engine that returns excellent gas mileage (32 miles per gallon on the highway) but still manages to have engaging handling and decent acceleration. The compact Trax has room for five people with clever storage solutions in the doors and rear. An 8-inch center console touchscreen is standard, and an 11-inch version is optional.
2024 Honda Civic – 7.6/10
The 2024 Honda Civic is a great choice for first-time buyers who want a sedan that’s reliable, efficient, and fun to drive. The Civic has a sleek and sporty design, with room for people inside and a large trunk for cargo. It is offered in sedan and hatchback body styles with a range of power options. The most expensive model has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a solid 158 horsepower and returns 38 miles per gallon on the highway. The Civic starts at $21,700 and comes with a 60,000-mile warranty.
2024 Ford Maverick – 7.5/10
The 2024 Ford Maverick is a compact pickup truck that offers versatility, efficiency and affordability for first-time car buyers. Ford offers it with two powertrain options: a hybrid that delivers up to 42 mpg in the city and a turbocharged gas engine that can tow up to 4,000 pounds. The Maverick also features a spacious cabin with smart storage solutions and a flexible bed with multiple harnesses and outlets. It comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a suite of safety features.
2024 Kia ​​Seltos – 7.4/10
The compact Kia Seltos SUV comes with either front- or all-wheel drive, offering first-time buyers snow country capabilities not typically found at the lower end of the cost spectrum. The two-row Seltos are efficient and comfortable. A 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster with an 8-inch central display is standard. A larger cluster and touchscreen are optional and pair well with interior trim options like a sunroof and ventilated seats without breaking the bank.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek – 7.3/10
The Subaru Crosstrek is for first-time car buyers who want to have fun with their car. The Crosstrek is a compact crossover that combines the practicality of a hatchback with the capability of an SUV. It has a spacious interior, a large cargo area and a standard all-wheel drive system that inspires confidence. It starts at less than $25,000 and comes with adaptive cruise control, lane focus, blind spot detection and wireless smartphone integration technology.
2024 Subaru Impreza – 7.2/10
The 2024 Subaru Impreza small hatchback offers first-time new car buyers a balance of performance, efficiency and safety. The Impreza has standard all-wheel drive, which enhances stability in all weather conditions. The Impreza features a spacious cabin, a user-friendly infotainment system, and a host of safety and driver assistance technologies for less than $20,000. The Impreza doesn’t come as a hybrid, but still returns 34 miles per gallon with its 2.0-litre petrol engine, which is surprisingly sharp.
2025 Toyota Camry – 7.2/10
The 2025 Toyota Camry combines comfort, performance, efficiency and safety, making it a logical choice for first-time new car buyers with a little more money to spend. His spacious interior bats are above average, giving more bang for the buck. Both offer a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen and wireless smartphone integration. The Camry also has safety and driver assistance technologies including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer – 7.2/10
For the first-time new car buyer, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer comes in five trim levels, from the sporty RS to the adventurous ACTIV, with different features and options to suit different lifestyles. The Trailblazer also has a choice of two gasoline engines, the most efficient of which gets up to 33 miles per gallon on the highway. It seats up to five passengers and has a standard 7-inch infotainment touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
2024 Buick Envista – 7.1/10
The compact Buick Envista SUV takes styling cues from the company’s Wildcat concept, impressing first-time new car buyers with chrome accents, LED lights and a sleek silhouette. It comes with an efficient engine and automatic transmission, as well as folding second-row seats. This allows loads over 7 feet long to be moved diagonally. The panoramic digital touchscreen is the focal point of the cabin. Lane keeping, cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency braking are standard.