These Are The Ideal Cars To Get If You’re A New Driver
You’ve taken the classes. Mastered the road lessons. Passed the test. And that driver’s license you just got feels like minted gold in your pocket. Next step: Buying a car that’s just right for your lifestyle – and your driving style.
These days, not all newly licensed people are younger folks. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the number of 16-year-olds with a driver’s license dropped from around 46 percent in 1983 to 25.6 percent in 2018, and more than 61 percent of 18-year-olds had a driver’s license in 2018, down from nearly 80 percent in 1983. The numbers tell the story: Many more people are opting to get their driver’s license later in life, which could impact their financial ability to buy a brand-spanking new car as their first vehicle.
Some of today’s cars offer new drivers not only a relatively inexpensive point of entry but also advanced collision-avoidance equipment. Stability control, rear-view cameras, and traction control can come in handy for those who are new to navigating streets and highways regularly.
Here are five great options for first-time drivers and car buyers heading out on the road with a newfound sense of freedom – and the realization they’re free from having to rely on others to get them where they want to go.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic provides surprisingly decent driving comfort, excellent reliability, and good fuel economy. Today’s Civic is a perpetual “Top Safety Pick” in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) annual safety ratings. The new Civics include all of the equipment found in the Honda Sensing suite of collision-avoidance technologies: collision-mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and road-departure mitigation. The coupe is priced at $21,050 and the sedan is priced at $21,250.
Subaru Legacy
Every version of the new Legacy includes standard all-wheel drive and Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology. EyeSight includes lane-centering technology, advanced adaptive cruise control, and pre-collision braking. Priced at $22,895, the Legacy’s DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology monitors driver movements and issues an alert if the system detects that you’re unfocused or drowsy.
Honda Pilot
Word of caution: New drivers might have a bit of difficulty managing a full-size, nine-passenger SUV right out of the gate, especially when it comes to navigating teeny-weeny parking spaces. That being said, Honda Sensing technology comes standard in every trim level. You’ll be able to count on collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-departure mitigation to help you avoid fender benders or a crash. This is priced at $32,550.
Honda Ridgeline
In addition to all-wheel drive, the Honda Ridgeline includes all of the Honda Sensing equipment in every trim level, which means you can count on road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, and lane-keeping assist. Priced at $36,490, the Ridgeline offers reliability that gets you where you want to go in dependable comfort.
BMW 2 Series Convertible
The BMW 2 Series offers four-door sedan, two-door coupe, and convertible body styles that all offer all-wheel drive. Advanced safety equipment comes standard and includes active driving assistant, frontal-collision warning, pedestrian warning with braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian warning with braking, and city collision mitigation with braking. Sure, you’re paying more for a car in this class at $41,850, but you’ve waited a good long while to hit the open road – why not open your wallet and do it in style?