10 Best Cars for Student Drivers

2017 Honda Accord Hybrid profile ・ Photo by Honda

Learning to drive a car can be an overwhelming experience for some people.

If you have decided that your student driver must have a new vehicle, rather than a used one, be prepared for a little bit of heartache when that shiny new car collects its first dings, scratches, and dents.

We recommend that student drivers start with a car that is a Top Safety Pick Plus from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We’re also showing preference to inexpensive vehicles and base models with fewer optional features that could cause a distraction. It’s nice if the car gets good gas mileage, too – that will encourage the student driver to spend more time behind the wheel.

In alphabetical order by brand, take a look at our list of the 10 Best Cars for Student Drivers.

2017 Chevrolet Volt

Safe and efficient, the 2017 Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that’s a little sportier-looking than most of the cars on our list of best cars for student drivers. The Volt can drive on pure electric power for up to 53 miles, which means that students can practice a lot without burning an ounce of gasoline. After a $7,500 Federal Tax credit is applied to the purchase price, the Volt starts at $26,595 – a very friendly price. Even though the Volt is loaded with advanced technology, its instrumentation can be configured in a very straightforward, non-distracting way.

Photo by Chevrolet

2017 Honda Accord Sedan

A perennial favorite on the sales charts, the 2017 Honda Accord Sedan is a solid citizen and a fine choice for student drivers. A more substantial vehicle than Honda’s smaller sedan, the Civic, Accord brings a touch of elegance to the learning process. Accord’s reputation for reliability is well-earned, and its low starting price ($22,455) and impressive fuel economy rating (23 mpg city/32 mpg highway) make it a good beginner’s car that a driver can grow into as they become more experienced. Good resale value also means that the Accord will be easy to swap out once its student driver wants to move on to something sportier.

Photo by Honda

2017 Hyundai Elantra

The 2017 Hyundai Elantra follows the Hyundai tradition by delivering an impressive list of standard features, even in the base SE model. Best of all for student drivers, the Elantra comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. While the manual is a fading feature of the past, we believe that every driver should know how to operate one, for several reasons. For one, if they ever encounter a manual transmission later in their driving career, they’ll already know how to drive it. Also, driving with a manual stick shift forces a driver to concentrate and pay attention to what their engine is doing. Finally, driving a manual helps drivers to understand how cars work, and so they become better custodians for their vehicles. (Of course, we know that driving a manual is more fun than driving an automatic.)

Photo by Hyundai

2017 Kia Optima

The Kia Optima is the car that spearheaded Kia’s explosive growth over the past decade or so, and it is now a mainstream success. A student driver who wants to drive a safe, affordable midsize sedan with style may find the 2017 Kia Optima to be just the right choice. Elegant exterior and interior design cues accompany a car that is reliable and solidly built. The base LX Optima starts at $22,200 and is rated to achieve 25 mpg city/36 mpg highway/29 mpg combined, and comes with an adequate level of standard equipment, including a 5-inch touchscreen display with a rear-view camera – a safety feature that student drivers will appreciate.

Photo by Kia

2017 Mazda3

Mazda has a well-deserved reputation as a fun-to-drive brand, living up their “Zoom-Zoom” motto. The 2017 Mazda3 leads the pack of cars for student drivers regarding driving experience and will reward aggressive drivers with continued enjoyment as their skills improve. Available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, the Mazda3 achieves its performance prowess with balance, precise handling and steering, not excessive engine output. The compact car, available as a sedan or hatchback, is designed as a driver’s car, and can even be ordered with a simple head-up display that helps keep distraction to a minimum – which is ideal for student drivers.

Photo by Mazda

2017 Nissan Altima

Another mid-size contender for student drivers, the 2017 Nissan Altima is a solid, dependable sedan with some sophisticated engineering and technology features that contradict its $22,900 starting price. Many of these features are transparent to the student driver, like electronic drive-by-wire throttle and continuously variable valve timing, but contribute to smooth operation that will be appreciated long after the learning curve has been created. Front-wheel drive and an Xtronic CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission) help the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine squeeze up to 29 city miles/39 highway miles out of every gallon of gas.

Photo by Nissan

2017 Subaru Impreza

The only vehicle on our list of cars for student drivers with standard all-wheel drive, the 2017 Subaru Impreza compact sedan would be a good choice for drivers who live in four-season climates. The Impreza starts at $18,395 and gets a healthy 28 mpg city/38 mpg highway rating from the EPA. Not only that, the Impreza is very nicely equipped, stylish and well-built. All-wheel drive has performance benefits on dry pavement, too, not only on slippery surfaces, with improved cornering grip and road feel. Impreza is yet another car for student drivers that will continue to reward long after the initial learning period has been weathered.

Photo by Subaru

2017 Toyota Corolla

The most popular car in the world for a reason, the Toyota Corolla may be the default choice for student drivers. It is a compact sedan with proven reliability, a low starting price of $18,500, a long list of standard safety and convenience features and a very simple driver interface. The 2017 Toyota Corolla has evolved into a modern-looking sedan that is very attractive, too, which is a nice bonus for a student car. With the added attraction of a 28 mpg city/36 mpg highway fuel economy rating from the EPA, it’s no wonder so many driving schools use the Corolla as their go-to vehicle.

Photo by Toyota

2017 Toyota Prius

One of the smartest hybrid gasoline/electric vehicles on the road, the 2017 Toyota Prius, is a top entry on the list of best cars for student drivers. Though hybrid cars remain a small segment of the automotive marketplace, the technology is proven and accepted. The Prius is compact yet surprisingly roomy inside, and driving this hybrid is simple and uncomplicated. Toyota has done its best to make the Prius’ operation seamless, which allows the student driver to concentrate on the basics of driving. While some experienced drivers are put off by the odd feel of regenerative brakes, new drivers will not suffer the same issues, because they won’t be comparing traditional brake feel with the new system.

Photo by Toyota

Volkswagen has been embroiled in an emissions scandal with its diesel vehicles, but that doesn’t affect its gasoline-powered models like the 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. The base model Jetta 1.4T S uses a highly efficient 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine tuned to produce 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque and can be ordered with a 5-speed manual transmission or 6-speed automatic transmission. The manual version tops out at 40 mpg highway, which provides more incentive to the student driver to learn how to drive a stick. The Jetta is safe, surprisingly roomy inside, and nicely designed in and out. With front-wheel drive and 4-wheel independent suspension, it handles well and is fun to drive. Isn’t that a winning combination for a student driver?

Photo by Volkswagen