Reviews & Features

The 21 best used cars for first-time drivers

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2005- 2015 Toyota Tacoma

2005-2015-toyota-tacoma

Toyota

Starting price: $16,000 and up

IIHS crash test rating: Good

Why buy it: Toyota’s Tacoma pickup makes our list as the only representative of the pickup segment. The Tacoma offers rugged off-road capability in addition to Toyota’s strong build quality.

The truck’s available 4 -and 6-cylinder powerplants offer good performance, but some may find them to be a bid thirsty when it comes to fuel. The Tacoma is famous for its high resale value. As a result, even at this price point, examples of the truck are likely to have more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. Don’t worry, if the truck hasn’t been severely abused, Tacomas are capable of running well past 200,000.

2009 to Present Subaru Forrester

2009-to-present-subaru-forrester

Subaru

Starting price: $13,500 and up

IIHS crash test rating: Good

Why buy it: The Forester is Subaru’s contender in the lucrative compact crossover market. Known for its capable all-wheel-drive system, solid reliability, and great utility that all wrapped up in a comfortable, roomy package. From 2009 to 2013, Subaru offered the third generation Forester for sale in the US with a 170-horsepower and a 224-horsepower version of its trusty 2.5-liter flat-4-cylinder engine. The fourth generation Forester arrived in 2014 with a new 2.0-liter, 250-horsepower turbocharged flat 4 in addition to the standard 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter unit.

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