Buying a first car is a big deal, especially if you decide to shell out the money for a brand new one. Most drivers start out by getting hand-me-downs or borrowing cars owned by family members. But your first true car is the one you actually purchase with your own money and own needs in mind. That said, it is very important not to get too carried away in the moment, make a snap decision and get the wrong car. The perfect car for the first-time owner must not only be a good value, but also have a reasonable cost of ownership. You will be looking for a vehicle that will fill your practical needs, be solidly built, reliable, good on fuel and reasonably affordable. You also want a car that will keep you and your passengers safe and yet be agile, maneuverable and fun to drive. Plenty of interesting models are available today, but some stand out in this buyers' market. Here are the rides we recommend for first-timers.
The Civic was the first small car to gain mainstream recognition in the U.S. Launched more than 35 years ago, it has steadily grown in popularity and size since then. Design-wise, the current Civic, launched in 2006, was a radical departure from its predecessor. Nonetheless, it has been highly successful. The sedan is spacious, and the coupe sheds two doors in the name of style. Both share a lively and frugal 1.8-liter 140-horsepower engine and deliver a rare combination of comfort and agility. For better fuel economy, Honda offers the Civic Hybrid with EPA fuel economy ratings of 40 mpg city/45 mpg highway. The Civic also has a stellar record for reliability and safety, with six airbags, active head restraints and an anti-lock brake system all standard. The new Civic DX-VP sedan is a great value, and LX versions in both body styles add a number of useful amenities.
Starting cost: $15,305
The redesigned 2009 Honda Fit is quite simply the best car you can buy — pound for pound and dollar for dollar. It has everything the majority of us will ever need in a car, more so a first-time buyer who doesn't typically need to transport soccer teams or tow a boat. The new Fit is exceptionally roomy for its size, thanks to a fuel tank cleverly located under the front seats. It is also slightly longer and wider than its predecessor. Engineers have improved the "magic" rear seat and made it easier to fold the split seatbacks or flip the seat cushion up in a single stroke, making the Fit more versatile and practical. Honda has also fixed the driving position with the addition of a proper footrest. In addition to an improved version of the zippy 1.5-liter engine and solid safety and reliability credentials, the Fit is a hoot to drive whether you pick the manual or the automatic gearbox, both of which are 5-speeds.
Starting cost: $14,750
In recent years, this South Korean carmaker has shown remarkable attention to the actual use of its cars in the real world. The Elantra compact sedan ably demonstrates this with solid construction, quality materials, simple and well-laid-out controls, good performance and a comfortable ride. It also has great reliability scores. The base Elantra GLS is a value leader, but the slightly more expensive SE offers great additional amenities such as air conditioning, an electronic stability control system, a full-featured 172-watt audio system, 16-inch alloy wheels with bigger tires and a trip computer. Yet it is competitively priced. All Elantras have four disc brakes with ABS, six airbags and active front head restraints. They also come with Hyundai's strong warranty and its new Assurance plan — if you lose your income within the first year of ownership, you can return the car.
Starting cost: $14,120
If you are single and seldom need to carry large objects, why not treat yourself to the world's most popular roadster, now in its 20th year and third generation? The front end of the marvelous MX-5 Miata was restyled for the 2009 model year, featuring a larger grille inspired by recent Mazda concepts. The feisty 2.0-liter engine now delivers 167 horsepower with a sportier exhaust note, and the manual gear shift, known for its quick action and precision, has been further refined. So has the suspension. The cockpit has always been snug, but it's now better with reshaped door panels. You can flip down the Miata's standard soft-top with a twist of the wrist. But the optional power retractable hardtop is a highly desirable and affordable upgrade. It turns the roadster into a coupe when in place and eats up no trunk space, unlike most similar designs. The hardtop adds solidity, security and a measure of quietness, and it is much more durable.
Starting cost: $21,750
The modern MINI is all about classic styling, design and pure driving fun. What most people don't know is that it is also one of the safest and most reliable small cars you can buy, and one of the very best at retaining its value. The Cooper is powered by a naturally aspirated 118-horsepower 1.6-liter engine. It is one of the most frugal cars on the road, with EPA fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city/37 mpg highway, using the standard 6-speed manual gearbox. The new-age MINI has been a resounding success since its rebirth in 2003 and is now in its second generation. For a bit more money, you can get a slightly larger and roomier version of this chic and cheeky premium compact, called the Clubman. For additional slices of cash, MINI will sell you the all-new convertible, with much-improved rear visibility, or one of the faster Cooper S versions of all three body styles, powered by a turbocharged 172-horsepower variation of the same engine.
Starting cost: $18,550
The Vibe and Matrix are mechanical twins under their distinct metal skins, since both were developed by Toyota. That said, Pontiac typically offers more standard equipment and deserves kudos for making stability and traction control systems standard on all trim levels. They both share a 1.8-liter 132-horsepower engine for their front-wheel-drive base versions. A new 2.4-liter 158-horsepower unit makes the all-wheel-drive versions more enjoyable and turns the sporty Vibe GT and Matrix XRS into much quieter and more usable propositions. The Matrix and Vibe are comfortable, roomy and practical, with a good-size cargo bay that can be expanded by flipping down split-folding second-row seatbacks. Both also share standard ABS, excellent frontal and front-side crash test ratings and solid reliability scores.
Starting cost: Vibe: $16,100; Matrix: $16,290
Scion's square-profiled xB can be credited with pioneering the nascent "cube-car" segment in 2004. The second generation came to market as a 2008 model. It was a full foot longer and 3 inches wider, rode on a 4-inch-longer wheelbase and was powered by a stronger and more flexible 2.4-liter 158-horsepower engine. The EPA fuel economy ratings for this larger and more powerful package are 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway, whether you stick with the standard 5-speed manual or pick the optional 4-speed automatic. The xB's center-mounted gauges are an acquired taste for many. On the other hand, everyone will enjoy the benefits of its standard front and side-curtain airbags, stability control system and ABS, as well as its good reliability record.
Starting cost: $15,750
The Impreza might be the best all-around choice in this top 10 selection for all imaginable uses and driving conditions. No other small car can match its combination of roominess, practicality, reliability, all-weather driving safety and value. Its standard all-wheel-drive system is an eminently trusty 2.5-liter 170-horsepower horizontal 4-cylinder "boxer" engine coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox. You get to choose between a versatile and practical 5-door hatchback and a more conservative and slightly quieter-running sedan with a good trunk. Updates to this model line, a year after its long-awaited redesign, include standard 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-channel ABS and standard stability and traction control systems.
Starting cost: $17,495
Suzuki calls its 5-door SX4 hatchback the Crossover and it is the most affordable car you can get with four-wheel drive. At $16,439, the base all-wheel-drive SX4 is only $500 more than the front-wheel-drive version. Suzuki also markets the SX4 Sport, a tall sedan with the same robust feel and stable handling but with a large trunk instead of a cargo bay, and front-wheel drive only. All SX4s are powered by a 2.0-liter 143-horsepower inline four. New for the SX4 Crossover is a standard navigation system that was developed with Garmin and provides real-time traffic data, weather forecasts and other info, in addition to Bluetooth connectivity. The Sport already had a standard navigation system.
Starting cost: Crossover: $15,939; Sport: $13,299
The Rabbit is a renamed version of the best-selling European Golf and the most affordable German-built car you can get here. This compact hatchback, offered with two or four doors, has the typical solid German feel and the excellent interior fit and finish that have been familiar traits of Volkswagen products for more than a decade. All Rabbit trims are front-wheel drive and powered by a flexible 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder engine that develops 170 horsepower. This powerplant has the meaty midrange torque you would expect from a turbo or diesel engine, which makes it a joy to drive in the city. As an added benefit, it is offered with the Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) rating in California. The 4-door comes only with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, while two-doors get a 5-speed manual as standard and the 6-speed auto as an option. The Rabbit comes with VW's standard ESP stability control system as well as four disc brakes with ABS.
Starting cost: $16,300
A professional auto journalist for more than 25 years and the founding editor of Sympatico / MSN Autos, Marc Lachapelle is a two-time winner of the Canadian Journalist of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, an accomplished photographer and licensed racer.