Best Used Cars For First Time Drivers In 2018

Ford For most young people and their parents, buying a first car is a major step.
One great option is to look at cars that are used, which can often be had for a fraction of the price of new versions, go to detailingproshop. We came up with 15 used automobiles we believe are the very best for the youthful car buyer on a budget.
To make our list, we concentrated on automobiles that are available on the industry today for under $15,000. We looked for ones that are reliable, fun to drive, comfortable, attractive, economical, functional, and first and foremost, safe.
For safety, we checked out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) average front overlap crash test ratings for the cars we selected.
Prices are based on present costs on Autotrader.com and reflect the lowest cost we think a decent example may price.

1998-2005 Lexus IS300

Starting price: $6,500 and up IIHS crash test rating: Great Why buy itWhen launched in 1998, the IS300 was assumed to be Lexus' response to the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes' C-Class. While it has not been able to overtake its German competitors, the IS300 still manages to offer Lexus brand cache, and build quality in an affordable yet stylish package. For drivers that have to haul more things, the IS300 even offers a Sportcross wagon big enough to fit most mountain bicycles or other sports equipments. Though the BMW 3-Series was and still is the best compact sports sedan on the market, the baby Lexus made the record over its Bavarian counterpart mainly because of concerns about possibly costly repair costs and suspicious electric gremlins which have been known to plague older BMWs.

2012-Present Ford Focus

Starting price: $9,000 and up IIHS crash test evaluation: Good Why buy it: Since its inception in 1998, the Focus was a star performer for Ford. But for year, Ford's US and European branch sold different cars beneath the "Focus" title -- with the European version much better received. For 2012, the next generation Ford unified the version and finally gave the US Focus clients the European automobile they'd been waiting for. Power for Focus comes from a 2.0 liter 160 horsepower inline four cylinder engine. Individuals searching for higher performance can opt for the critically acclaimed 252 hp Focus ST -- although even used cases of this model might be pricey.

2002-Present Honda CR-V

Starting price: $7,500 and up IIHS crash test evaluation: Great Why buy it: Since its launch in 1997, the Honda CR-V has been among the hottest selling mini-SUV's on earth. The CR-V provides an amazing blend of market, utility and Honda's unbeatable track record for reliability. Though some may find the CR-V's smallish lookup engine to be a tad underpowered, it's more than okay for most daily commutes. Honda has also included a host of fun features such as a collapsible centre console and an in-car picnic table. The CR-V has retained its own worth remarkably well, therefore finding a well-preserved example might require a cost premium.

2005-2014 Ford Mustang

Starting price: $6,000 and up IIHS crash test rating: Great Why buy it: When Ford introduced the fifth-generation Mustang at 2005, it reinvigorated a muscle car market which was effectively on life support. The Mustang makes our record since it provides drivers economical access to horsepower at a elegant package with styling which withstands the test of time. Accessible, with both V-6 and V-8 options, the suggested version is the mid-level Mustang GT with all the 5.0 liter V-8. Though the V-6 is a little more efficient than the 5.0, the operation drop-off and lack of GT trimming go-fast goodies makes the bigger motor the optimal choice.

2005-Present Nissan Xterra

Starting price: $8,900 and up IIHS crash test evaluation: Good Why buy itNissan's second generation Xterra SUV hit the market in 2005 and lasted that the first generation model's theme of ruggedness, and simplicity with a focus on an active outdoor lifestyle. The Xterra has witnessed few major changes from the decade it's been in production and all automobiles are powered by a 4.0 liter version of Nissan's award-winning VQ-series V6 engine that produces 265 horsepower.