10 great first cars

With prices under $25,000 (some way under) these cars make excellent choices for those shopping for their first new set of wheels.

Ford Escape
If you're looking for an SUV:
Ford Escape
Base prices: $18,500 to $23,600

Engine and transmission: 153 horsepower, 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine or 3.0-liter, 200 horsepower V-6; 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel or front-wheel drive

Also available as a gas/electric hybrid vehicle. Prices start at about $25,000. Hybrid fuel economy is 34/30 with FWD.

Fuel economy: 22 mpg city, 28 highway with 4-cylinder, manual transmission, FWD; 17/22 with V-6, automatic, AWD

The Escape was already a decent small SUV before it was redesigned for the 2008 model year.

Now it has a more controlled ride and more nimble handing. Inside and out, the new Escape looks sophisticated and masculine.

It retains a traditional boxy shape that gives it a nice roomy feel inside. While the interior design is also outstanding, some cut-rate materials detract from the effect.

Overall, the Escape is a wonderful crossover SUV for those who actually like SUVs.


Fusion

Aura

Rondo

Lancer

Fit

Versa

Cooper

Escape

SX4

Rav4
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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.