Do you remember the safety of your car? How to find out here, what should you know
When your car faces a recall, almost all repairs are free.
- Prices for new vehicles remain high, but new car buyers still have options.
- Luxury used cars also offer options including important safety features.
Buying your first vehicle is a challenge.
Costs can be a big focus and there’s nothing to trade in, so most new cars these days could carry sticker shocks as a standard feature. According to the Kelley Blue Book, the average trading price for the new vehicle reached a whopping $48,699 in April.
But there are good options that come practically under that price.
In 2025, AutoTrader executive editor Brian Moody broke what is considered the perfect vehicle for first-time buyers. Autotrader has a list of the best cars for recent college graduates. He also provided first-time buyers with some thoughts about used cars, but I’ll explain it later.
A little bit of Moody’s new car pick for first buyers in 2025 and his reasoning (pricing is taken from the brand website):
Honda Civic
Comparatively speaking, for newer cars, the Civic is cheaper. Even the base model has a well-designed interior with high quality materials. It looks good and enjoyable, but I don’t feel it’s “cheap.” The base LX (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility) starts at $24,250 instead of destination. The Sports Touring Hybrid comes with a starting price of $31,950.
Hyundai Elantra
A highly convincing powertrain guarantee – 10 years/100,000 miles – is one of the reasons to consider Elantra. It also has a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Bureau. Base SE starts at $22,125 without counting freight charges. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available with base trim.
anytime K4
It’s a fun car to drive, and there’s also a push button start. Additionally, the base trim also has other features, such as a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The base LX (including wireless Apple CarPlay) starts at $21,990 excluding destinations.
Mazda CX-30
Mazda has raised the game and became a premium car maker. The company offers excellent performance and may be considered an Audi of a working man. The CX-30 has a lovely interior. The outside is cool and has a turbo-charged engine. There’s also more than the usual trim level selection with eight products. Base 2.5s trim (including Apple Carplay and Android Auto Integration) starts at $25,195 and does not include destinations.
Nissan Kick
This subcompact SUV has plenty to offer to anyone looking for the latest. It is full of great design details and the color choice is fantastic. No one will mistake it for a Cadillac, but for $24,000 you get a very great SUV that’s hard to beat with price and features. You will also get the Nissan Safety Shield 360 with many safety features. Base S trims (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are only available on other trims) do not include destinations and start at $21,830.
Call these top 5 moodies. He also proposed the Toyota Prius, Nissan Rogue, Chianiro and the Volkswagen Jetta.
He also let out a special cry for Ford Maverick.
As a track, that may sound like an unusual choice for the first buyer list, but Moody said he recommends a lot for Maverick. While it may not be perfect for people who live in the middle of the city, this compact pickup offers an option suitable for those who like pickup trucks and are not the price tag that usually comes with it. The 4½-foot bed is “sufficient to be useful.” It starts at $28,145 minus mission charges.
If a new car is too expensive, then used cars are still an option. Some used cars have price tags that can make your eyes water, but Moody proposed luxury models seven to 11 years ago.
These are vehicles available for less than $10,000.
However, saving money should not be the only concern.
“The idea of you getting a $1,500 car to your child, you got it because you’re going to teach them the value of the dollar, that’s what our parents did, but if you really look closely, you had minimal safety features and progress from the 1960s to around 2000,” he said.
The past 25-30 years have brought many advances in vehicle safety, he said. Moody said in 2008 he bought his own child to Saab for under $10,000.
“There’s no excuse to go to the first car that doesn’t have basic safety features,” he said.
Eric D. Lawrence: Please contact elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Send a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
