What are some of the best cars for newer drivers in 2024?
I have compiled eight cars that are reliable, comfortable, affordable, nice, safe, and overall amazing cars.
With new cars for high school students, these vehicles are nice, affordable, and great daily drivers that aren’t going to leave you stranded on the side of the road.
These cars have engines that run forever and would be good in the winter. A lot of them are all-wheel drive (AWD) so you have maximum traction in the snow and ice and have plenty of room for your friends and your belongings.
- 2014 Subaru Outback.
This amazing car has a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine making around 173 HP and 174 LB-FT of torque and is even AWD. You can find these cars with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission with an overall towing capacity of 2,700 LB.
The Outback can seat five total people with two in the front and three in the back and plenty of space in the seats and in the cargo area for sports stuff, backpacks, etc. You can buy one of these cars for around $14,000.
That seems like a lot, but it’s a good car to learn in and a great daily. The Outbacks have great motors that won’t break down on you and have all the room you could ask for.
They are AWD so you have all the traction you want in the winter and won’t slide around as much. This car has a good sound system and good safety features and that’s why it would be a good car for you
- 2004 Honda CRV 4WD LX.
This CRV has a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine making 160 HP and 162 LB-FT of torque and is even 4WD. This car has the option for a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. This CRV has a 1,500 LB towing capacity so you can tow something small if needed.
The CRV can seat five people with two in the front and three in the back. This mid-size SUV has a ton of room in the back for any cargo you need and can pick one up for around $6,000.
This CRV would be a great all year round car and daily driver. This 4WD machine can take you anywhere and is almost indestructible, the rear seats fold down flat so you can sleep in it if you want to, and is a fun winter car.
- 2008 Toyota Camry LE V6.
This Camry is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 motor pushing 268 HP and 248 LB-FT of torque and is FWD with a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and an overall towing capacity of 1,000 LB.
This car has four doors and can seat five with two in the front and three in the back. This car has a big trunk for anything you would need to carry around. You can find one of these for around $6,000.
Toyotas run forever and can take a great beating and still run great after 400,000 miles. The interior is great and comfortable. Toyotas have great suspension and feel like you’re driving a cloud and are even extremely safe.
- 2014 Hyundai Elantra Gt.
This car is powered by a 2.0 liter inline 4 making 173 HP and 154 LB-FT of torque with a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. The Elantra GT only has a 750 LB towing capacity so it’s not the best if you’re going to have to tow something.
The Elantra can seat five but comfortably four, with two in the front two, or three in the back. The Hyundai Elantra GT goes for around $7,000.
This car has plenty of power when you need it and is very comfortable on the inside, this is a compact car so you can fit in any parking spot you want. The Hyundai brand is a more luxurious daily driver so you have comfort and a good drinking feeling.
- 2015 Ford Fusion SE.
The Fusion SE is powered by a 2.0 liter inline 4 that is a turbocharged eco boost pushing 231 HP and up to 270 LB-FT of torque with a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. The Fusion SE has a towing capacity of up to 2,000 LB.
You can fit five people in this mid-size car, two in the front and three in the back. Your trunk has enough room for multiple suitcases. You can find one of these for around $11,000.
This car has a nice sleek look and is reliable, this car has plenty of power when you need it. Ford was one of the first car brands around and with that comes more reliability and more experience with what they do.
- 2007 Honda Civic LX Coupe.
This car is powered by a 1.8 liter inline 4 cylinder engine making 140 HP and about 128 LB-FT of torque with a 5-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. The Civic LX Coupe has a towing capacity of 1,000 LB.
You can fit four people in this car with your tiny backseat, you can put two in the front and two in the back. This car has a massive trunk you can fit at least five suitcases and still have a little room. You can find one of these cars for around $5,000.
This car is a fun little car to learn manual in, and if you get an automatic then it’s a great car to drive around town.
The Civic is a great pick because it is cheap. No matter what year of Civic you buy you will always be able to find parts for it. Driving an FWD car in the winter is better than an RWD your front wheels are spinning through the corner so your rear end has less chance to lose traction and slide.
“ I would pick the Civic out of all of them because it’s super rad and has plenty of power when you need it and you can just bang through the gears,” said Holden Meradeth, Freshmen at Lakeland High School.
- 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Grand Cherokee is powered by a 3.7 liter V6 making 210 HP and 305 LB-FT of torque paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and is 4WD. The Grand Cherokee has a towing capacity of a whopping 7,000 LB.
You can seat up to five people with two in the front and three in the back. This SUV has plenty of room in the back for anything you need to haul around, the back is big enough that you can fit an office desk with the seats folded down. The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee is priced at around $7,000.
This car would make a great year round car that you can even take into the mountains if you want. Jeep has a great reputation for being the first car and has a huge name in the offroading scene. You can find any part of these things really easily. Jeeps can go on just about any trail.
- 2015 Subaru Impreza WRX STI.
The Impreza WRX STI is powered by a turbocharged 2.5 liter boxed 4 Cylinder engine making 305 HP and 290 LB-FT with a 6-speed manual transmission and it is even AWD. The Impreza WRX STI has a towing capacity of only 7,000 LB.
You can seat four people comfortably and five if you squeeze in the back seat, you can seat two in the front and three in the back. This car has a good size trunk and you can fit everything you need in there. You can find one of these for around $22,000, and you are getting what you’re paying for.
This car is a faster car when you want, and it is a super fun car to drive. The WRX STI is made for Rally racing so the car is super sturdy and fast with great suspension and a great feel with the manual gearbox. And just because it’s fast doesn’t mean you can’t daily it, you still can, and then you can still have plenty of fun.
“I want the nicest one on the list,” said Annika Bixby freshman at Lakeland High School.