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.

Nissan Versa
If you're looking for a hatchback:
Nissan Versa
Base prices: $12,500 to $15,500

Engine and transmission: 122 horsepower, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder with 6-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission

Fuel economy: 30 mpg city, 34 highway, 32 combined with manual transmission; 30/36/32 with automatic

Drive the Versa for a while then get out and look at it. The effect is amazing. It's hard to figure out how the car you were just driving could be so small when it felt so big on the inside.

Rear seat legroom is particularly impressive, and the appearance and amenities up front border on luxury class.

The Versa, while capable, isn't particularly fun to drive though, because it favors a smooth ride over road feel. But if you want a small car that drives and feels like a midsize, the Versa is unbeatable. It is also available as a sedan.


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.