Used Cars n’ New Grads – 10 Best Cars For Your High School Grad

With 4x4 and a low horsepower "bullet proof" 4.0L I6 these SUV's are safe and extreamly cheap to fix but it averages an EPA estamated 15 mpg for all its good it may just be too expensive from week to week for most grads. As for price many are available unoff-roaded for under $3,500 on craigslist.

Ok I know its a two seat roadster sports car but its a low horsepower low torque gas sipping extremely reliable and inexpensive sports car. The Miata also has near 50/50 weight distribution making it the best handling car on this list and can help your grad get out of trouble when they ievitably do something stupid, the car almost drives it self. The only downside is they are impossible to find as an automatic and most parents I know look for that when shopping for a car.

What can I say it is everthing you would want to keep your mind at ease when your grad hits the streets too bad most of the have fallen in the hands of tuners. Cheap, Reliable, Safe, AWD and far too many times Modded.

Roomy american car with a reliable gas sipping japaneese drivetrain with a load of safety features and available in AWD so they can be safe in all weather. The only downside is the price to own one.

Ok here comes a tough one for me on one side yes it has everything you could ever want in a first car for your grad on the other side it is the most boring thing ever built it is a kitchen appliance you can drive. So I put it right in the middle, is it something I would want my kid to drive NO because there is so many other options but if bland, boring and uninspired is you or your grad this is the car.

Everything great from the Impreza without the tuners. The draw back is mpg EPA avgerage of 20 mpg.

The civic is the definition of great on gas its reliable, safe and also the definition of tuner. Far to many times these cars are modded and beaten it also doesn't help its case that it is chosen most of all by car thiefs.

Way too many of these cars to list but thats the beauty of it. You can get generic to sporty to luxury and super safe to bare bones. These cars sare one of the most reliable drivetrains ever also from 1995-1997 this motor was a 10 best .They can be beaten up day in and day out and still go from point A to point B and back. Most of them get 25+ mpg and these cars can be found all over and at all price points.

This car built its legacy on being reliable, gas sipping, safe and giving you the most bang for your buck. All in all the the definition of a first car if you can find one that isn't a half inch off the ground and doesn't sound like your weed wacker or one that hasn't been beaten into submission already which is why I could not make this #1.

Maybe not the best in mpg but top almost all "most reliable" or "cars that won't die" lists and have the highest owner reviews of any on this list. Later models had ABS and SRS safety devices and they are dirt cheap to buy and fix if need be but you can be almost 100% sure your grad will never be stranded when driving one of these.