The Best Used Cars to Buy for First Time Car Owners

Owning your very first car is an exciting time in a person’s life. Likely you want to put a lot of thought and research into the process to ensure you get something that meets your needs, is fun to drive, and let’s face it, a car that is awesome to look at. We’ve gathered a list of the top five best used cars for first time owners to purchase.

Must-haves

Here are a few things you may want to keep in mind during the shopping experience:

  • The car is easy to handle on the road
  • The car is easy to park
  • It’s great on fuel economy
  • It offers a nice amount of cargo space
  • It’s peppy and fun to drive

Top five vehicles

Keeping these must-haves in mind, here’s a collection of cars that manages to stand out:

  • Honda Civic: One of the things that make this car such a great first vehicle is that it’s known to keep last. It's actually not unheard of to see this car hit more than 250,000 miles and still run well. Another advantage is that it is easy to find parts if there are any issues, which also makes repairs reasonably priced.

  • Ford Mustang: If it’s a sports car you’re after for your first car then here’s a classic that is bound to catch your eye. The Ford Mustang has decades worth of technology and design behind it. Despite the fact it's very sporty, filled with features, and has luxurious lines, the price tag remains reasonable. It should be mentioned that fuel economy is average.

  • Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Here’s another make and model that has been around for quite some time and has built quite the solid reputation. Although it's not quite as sporty as the Mustang, it's still got a cool vibe going for it. If you're interested in fuel economy, this is a great way to go. Keep in mind that repairs on this vehicle can be expensive due to the parts.

  • Honda Fit: Honda does it again and this time they are able to deliver a compact car that performs well, has pep to it, looks fun, and is a breeze to park. Even if it’s tight spaces you’re trying to get into, you’ll have no problems.

  • Kia Sportage: Compact SUV's are always popular thanks to the fact you get the look of the SUV but they handle much more like a car. The Kia Sportage is easy enough to park, will feel comfortable to drive, and you have the added luxury of extra cargo space.


Next Step

Schedule Pre-purchase Car Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Pre-purchase Car Inspection. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Pre-purchase Car Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,493)

Rating Summary
5,137
193
39
38
86
5,137
193
39
38
86

Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
Excellent ! Jay is very detail oriented and forward thinking. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

How to Buy a Good Quality Brake Wheel Cylinder
Drum Drum brakes, which are still in use today on the rear of many vehicles, operate on a hydraulic basis, using brake fluid to apply pressure to pistons in the wheel cylinder, which in turn presses the brake shoes against...
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in Delaware
There There are several important documents pertaining to your car – the insurance information, for instance. However, there’s nothing more important than the title. This certificate proves that you have ownership of the car, and it’s needed to register the...
How to Buy a New Car Below Sticker Price
When When you buy a new car from the car dealership, you want to get a better deal than they have advertised or displayed on the car, but negotiation isn’t a strong suit for every person. There are several ways...

Related questions

What may be the cause of a gear to lock?
Vehicles with automatic transmissions are equipped with a shifter inter-lock. These prevent the vehicle being shifted to and from any gear unless the brake pedal is depressed. The shift inter-lock system relies on the correct signal from the brake light...
Bad VCT solenoids
If you believe that your VCT solenoids or cam phasers are inoperative, I would recommend having them tested and replaced as necessary by a qualified professional in order to resolve this issue. If these parts have truely failed, it is...
2010 kia soul Broken tie rod.
You will need to use a large pipe wrench to hold the shaft connected to the inner tie rod joint. Once you are holding with a pipe wrench then you can use a second large wrench to loosen the lock...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com