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.

Mini Cooper Convertible
If you're looking for a convertible:
Mini Cooper Convertible
Base prices: $22,000 (Hard-top starts at $18,000)

Engine and transmission: 115 horsepower, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder with 5-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission

Fuel economy: 26 mpg city, 35 highway, 29 combined with manual transmission; 25/33/28 with automatic

Sporting two more seats than a Mazda Miata and just about as much fun to drive, the Mini Cooper Convertible is for those who aren't quite ready to leave childhood behind.

Day to day, it's easier to live with than a pure sports car, and even in its base version (shown here), it'll put a smile on your face and on that of just about everyone else around.

Before you buy, be aware that the Mini Cooper has a poorer reputation for reliability than most Japanese or American cars. That's one point in favor of the Miata, even with half the seats.


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.