Best First Cars for Teens and New DriversThe ManufacturersBuying a first car can be a difficult decision. You might feel like everyone has advice for you, and if you're a car enthusiast, you're probably tired of being told to buy the least-expensive beige-mobile you can find. Fortunately, we've found plenty of options to prove that buying a practical, safe, and affordable car doesn't mean you can't have fun. Here, we've ranked our picks for the best first cars for teens and new drivers from least to most expensive. All of these new sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, SUVs, and pickup trucks have base prices of less than $35,000, meaning you don't have to break the bank to find a satisfying vehicle.Brian Silvestro also contributed to this article.More Car Rankings: Cheapest SUVs | Affordable Sports Cars | Hybrids with the Best MPG | Best Small SUVs | Best Small Cars2026 Chevrolet TraxPhoto credit: ChevroletBase price: $23,495AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Trax isn't the kind of car that's going to inspire a whole new generation of automotive enthusiasm, but it's a sensational value and a surprisingly pleasant subcompact crossover. Even the well-equipped higher trim levels don't surpass $30,000, and there's a ton of space inside for rear-seat passengers and your cargo. It's even good to drive, providing the rare combination of cheap and cheerful that surpasses expectations given it's one of the most affordable new cars you can buy.Tested: Chevrolet Trax Activ2027 Volkswagen Jetta / Jetta GLIPhoto credit: VolkswagenBase price: $25,320 (Jetta) / $35,120 (Jetta GLI)The Jetta remains a solid choice among compact sedans. The base car is far from exciting, with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and an automatic transmission, but the more powerful GLI offers more fun and the opportunity to learn how to drive a manual transmission. VW is keeping the stick-shift around in the GLI, despite dropping it from the related Golf GTI hot hatchback.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhy the GLI Keeps the Manual and the GTI Doesn't2026 Mazda 3Photo credit: Chris PerkinsBase price: $25,885It may not be as exciting as the MX-5 Miata, but the Mazda 3 is seriously fun for what it is: a practical, economical, reliable compact car available as a sedan or as a hatchback with plenty of space. It also has a surprisingly nice interior for the price. So if you want a Miata but need room for more than yourself and one person, the Mazda 3 is the car for you.Tested: Mazda 3 Hatchback 2.5 S Manual2026 Honda CivicPhoto credit: Fred SmithBase price: $25,890Everyone knows that the Honda Civic offers practical, efficient, reliable transportation for the masses. The ace up the Civic's sleeve is that it's also great to drive no matter which version you choose. There are now more versions than before, as the hybrid model is offered in both sedan and hatchback forms. It offers impressive fuel economy and is even quicker than the performance-oriented, manual-only Civic Si. You can't go wrong with any of these Civics.AdvertisementAdvertisementWe Drive the Civic Hybrid Hatchback2027 Ford MaverickPhoto credit: FordBase price: $29,990The Maverick, a small and affordable pickup, has proven to be a popular new addition to the Ford lineup since it first arrived for 2022. It combines the practicality of a truck with the ease of use of a small crossover, and its available hybrid powertrain makes it remarkably fuel-efficient, too. Updates for 2025 include new styling, new features, an all-wheel-drive hybrid version, and a Lobo sport-truck trim level.More Info on the Maverick Lobo2027 Toyota PriusPhoto credit: ToyotaBase price: $30,050Get used to it: the Prius is cool now. The high-mpg hatchback that pioneered the idea of the hybrid is now in its fifth generation, and the latest model combines sleek styling with a peppier powertrain. It still gets up to 57 mpg, but it's far more satisfying to drive and looks better than ever. Lots of driver-assistance safety features come standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. There's also a plug-in-hybrid version with a bit of extra horsepower and more electric driving range.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhy the Prius Is an Enthusiast Vehicle2026 Mini Cooper HardtopPhoto credit: Bernhard FilserBase price: $26,675Minis aren't as "mini" as they used to be, but if you're a new driver, that's a good thing. The Cooper 2-door and 4-door hatchbacks were redesigned recently with cheeky new styling and much of the same charm as before. They also come with plenty of modern safety equipment and more space to put your stuff and carry people around. But Minis are still quirky, so if you want to stand out—and what young driver doesn't?—it's a great choice.CHECK OUT OUR REVIEW OF THE New Cooper S2026 Mazda MX-5 MiataPhoto credit: MazdaBase price: $31,665If a list of fun cars doesn't include the Mazda MX-5 Miata, it'd better be called "10 Fun Cars That Aren't the Mazda MX-5 Miata." It really is that much fun to drive. In fact, the Miata is so good, it's almost cliché to include it because it's such an obvious choice. Driving one will make you a better driver, but it may also ruin other cars for you.AdvertisementAdvertisementREAD OUR GUIDE TO EVERY GENERATION OF MIATA2027 Subaru BRZ / Toyota GR86Photo credit: Mike Shaffer / SubaruBase price: $32,795 (GR86) / $37,385 (BRZ)Want a fun, balanced sports car, but don't like Miatas? Subaru and Toyota have just the car. The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 twins are lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupes that produce plenty of smiles behind the wheel. Plus, the 228-hp naturally aspirated boxer-four is just quick enough to be fun without getting you into trouble. The two cars are nearly identical, but slight differences in the suspension mean we actually prefer how the Toyota drives. It's easier to slide and more balanced on the limit—perfect for those looking to get into performance driving for the first time.We Drive the BRZ TS2026 Acura IntegraPhoto credit: AcuraBase price: $34,195AdvertisementAdvertisementIt would be easy to dismiss the Acura Integra as nothing more than a tarted-up Honda Civic, but doing so would mean missing out on a great premium hatchback. It's fun to drive, comes well-equipped with lots of standard features, and looks a bit more upscale than the Civic inside and out. You can also get a six-speed manual transmission if you opt for the A-Spec trim level.CHECK OUT OUR FULL REVIEWYou Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State