10 Best Cars for Young Drivers

Got a high-schooler, college student or new graduate who needs a car? We went shopping for youth-friendly wheels (no Camrys or Malibus) with a value spin. The new and used vehicles we found won’t bust your (or their) budget, and they get high marks for safety and reliability.

All these vehicles received a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (its crash tests are more extensive than government tests). And all of our picks have stability control and at least six airbags. We used Consumer Reports' used-car verdicts to help choose vehicles with above-average reliability.

Used-car prices are from Edmunds.com and assume clean condition and 12,000 miles per year. (Certified vehicles cost more because they are inspected and sold with an additional warranty.) New cars are listed with sticker price, invoice price and True Market Value from Edmunds to give you an idea of negotiating room. Five-year service costs (expected outlays for maintenance and repairs) are from Vincentric.

Be sure to read our tips for buying a new car and getting a deal on a used car in today's market before you head to the lot.

2010 Honda Civic

Dealer price: $16,966 (EX-L with Navi)
Private-party price: $15,652
Certified price: $17,827
5-year service costs: $5,713
MPG (city/hwy): 25/36

Known for reliability, Honda's Civic is a perennial pick for good value. To get the tech features we wanted, we chose the top-of-the-line EX-L with Navigation. The good news is that the three-year-old Civic costs about one-third less than the new version. Besides navigation, Bluetooth and a USB port are standard, and the Civic gets 36 miles per gallon on the highway.

2010 Kia Soul

Dealer price: $12,043 (Soul +)
Private-party price: $10,788
Certified price: $13,407
5-year service costs: $6,145
MPG (city/hwy): 24/30

With its funky looks and plentiful amenities, such as standard Bluetooth and USB, the Soul + is a bargain. It handles like a go-kart but doesn't have too much power. There's plenty of room in the back -- the Soul has 39 inches of rear legroom and 19 cubic feet of cargo space -- to give the 'rents a ride or pack up for the drive to college.

2010 Lincoln MKZ

Dealer price: $18,000
Private-party price: $16,520
Certified price: $19,273
5-year service costs: $8,114
MPG (city/hwy): 18/27

For an upscale feel that will last long past graduation, the MKZ has heated mirrors and a heated and cooled ten-way adjustable driver's seat. Plus, the MKZ features Ford's SYNC system, which includes Bluetooth, a USB port, 911 assist, turn-by-turn navigation (directions are downloaded to the vehicle, spoken to the user over the vehicle’s audio system and displayed on the radio) and real-time traffic information. Models equipped with navigation include ten gigabytes of music storage, a blind-spot warning system and a rearview camera.

2010 Scion xB

Dealer price: $12,813 (base)
Private-party price: $11,718
Certified price: $13,645
5-year service costs: $5,655
MPG (city/hwy): 22/28

This boxy hatch -- along with the rest of Scion's lineup -- was created with younger drivers in mind. Made by Toyota, it features the parent company's quality at a lower price -- with looks only a millennial could love. Oodles of interior space -- 38 inches of rear legroom and nearly 22 cubic feet of cargo space -- is complemented by a peppy engine that puts out 158 horses. Look for a model with the optional Blu Logic hands-free system -- an iPod input is included.

2010 Subaru Legacy

Dealer price: $17,972 (2.5i Limited)
Private-party price: $16,918
Certified price: $18,984
5-year service costs: $8,566
MPG (city/hwy): 23/31

Subaru prides itself on safety. Every year, its entire lineup lands on the IIHS Top Safety Pick list, and 2010 was no exception. Standard all-wheel drive delivers a sporty driving feel -- and peace of mind during bad weather. A redesign in 2010 gave the Legacy a sculpted exterior reminiscent of BMW’s 3-series, and more upscale materials inside. Bluetooth is standard on the Limited trim; models with navigation add a USB connection and a rearview camera.

2013 Kia Sportage

Sticker price: $22,000 (LX)
Invoice price: $21,085
Edmunds TMV: $21,197
5-year service costs: $2,473
MPG (city/hwy): 21/30

Kia's compact crossover offers a higher seat than sedans, which gives drivers a better view of the road. Hill assist control allows easier starts on the steepest slopes (it holds the car in place for the second or two it takes to move your foot from the brake to the gas), and direct-injection technology helps the Sportage achieve 30 mpg on the highway. Bluetooth and USB are standard, and you can add a rearview camera for $1,500.

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Sticker price: $21,195 (ES)
Invoice price: $20,335
Edmunds TMV: $20,290
5-year service costs: $2,646
MPG (city/hwy): 25/31

Mitsubishi's small SUV has scored high for reliability for years. Plus, the IIHS just gave the Outlander Sport a Top Safety Pick + award, meaning that it passed the new small-overlap crash test that simulates hitting a tree or telephone pole. Bluetooth and USB are standard on the ES version. Environmentally conscious drivers will appreciate the regenerative braking system (typically found on electric vehicles and hybrids), which captures energy that helps keep the battery charged and boosts fuel economy to 31 mpg on the highway.

2013 Nissan Altima

Sticker price: $23,650 (2.5 S)
Invoice price: $21,695
Edmunds TMV: $21,324
5-year service costs: $3,633
MPG (city/hwy): 27/38

The redesigned Altima sedan has Infiniti-esque good looks and stellar fuel economy (38 mpg on the highway). The 2.5 S features Bluetooth with streaming audio and steering-wheel controls that put phone calls and music at your fingertips. A smart monitoring system displays each tire's pressure, and if the tires need air, Nissan's Easy-Fill Tire Alert honks the horn to let you know when each tire is properly inflated.

2013 Subaru Impreza

Sticker price: $21,065 (2.0i Premium)
Invoice price: $20,085
Edmunds TMV: $20,023
5-year service costs: $4,505
MPG (city/hwy): 27/36

A redesign last year gave this compact a striking new look, better fuel economy (36 mpg on the highway) and more standard features. As always with Subarus, sure-footed handling comes baked in, thanks to standard all-wheel drive. On the 2.0i Premium, auto-off headlights preserve the battery, and steering-wheel buttons control audio and hands-free calls. Bluetooth includes audio streaming, so you can select a playlist on your phone and play it over the car audio system.

2013 Toyota Prius

Sticker price: $24,995 (Two)
Invoice price: $23,543
Edmunds TMV: $23,700
5-year service costs: $3,436
MPG (city/hwy): 51/48

Environmentalists young and old(er) will appreciate the earth-friendly statement the Prius makes. It's wallet-friendly, too -- the combined city/highway fuel economy is 50 mpg, and it costs less to own over five years than a less expensive (and only slightly larger) Camry. The anti-lockout feature means no midnight calls to deliver an extra set of keys. A driver's knee airbag provides an added layer of safety. Bluetooth and USB are standard.

10 Best Cars for Young Drivers