10 Cool First Cars for Guys

2018 Ford Mustang GT front three quarter top hero ・ Photo by Ford

The need to prove ourselves never really goes away. Tricks on a skateboard, burnouts in a parking lot, promotions at work – every life stage is an opportunity to show the world our talents. It’s more than just the things we do, too; the clothes we wear, the technology we use, and the cars we drive are extensions of our inner cool.

When considering a first vehicle, the safest, cheapest or easiest-to-drive choices are traditionally the marks of a boring car. These days, though, new cars are distinguished by how they look or perform in addition to these baseline qualifications. That’s music to the ears of both parents and young drivers. Whether you want to take your first car on awesome adventures, twisty canyon roads, or as many first dates as there are days in a week, this list of 10 cool first cars for guys has the right options.

2018 Jeep Renegade

As a brand, it doesn’t get much cooler than Jeep. The automaker equivalent of eating raw eggs and pumping iron, Jeep only builds vehicles that can handle the unpaved lifestyle. Over the past few years, the company’s model range has expanded dramatically, but one of its best vehicles is its smallest and cheapest. The Renegade is fun, spacious and ready for adventure.

The base Renegade Sport is priced from $18,445. Standard features include a four-cylinder engine, antilock brakes, 16-inch styled steel wheels, traction control, a 5.0-inch UConnect infotainment system, Bluetooth, push-button ignition, keyless entry, power windows and power locks.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2018 Chevrolet Colorado

Need something even more manly than a Jeep? Try a pickup truck. The Colorado is one of the most affordable options in its mid-size class, and with a brand like Chevrolet backing it up, no one will question its toughness (or yours). Rivaling the Toyota Tacoma and the upcoming Ford Ranger, the Colorado is available with an extended or double cab, and with a small or large bed.

Powering the base Colorado is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, but a 3.6-liter V6 gas motor and a 2.8-liter turbodiesel are available with up to 305 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, respectively. Utility is popular — especially for guys — so expect to make friends pretty quickly with that open truck bed and go-anywhere body.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Ford Mustang

American muscle translates to cool in every language, and the latest models combine retro styling and modern technology in one supremely desirable ride. The original pony car, Ford’s Mustang, is still worthy of being your smartphone’s wallpaper, and when it’s time to choose a first car, this might be your best performance car bet.

Everyone wants the V8-powered Mustang GT, but to keep the price tag within reach, Ford offers the Mustang in turbocharged 4-cylinder form. Yes, that’s half the cylinders, but it still makes a mighty 310 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Capable of a 0-60 mph sprint in less than 5.0 seconds, the “base” Mustang is plenty entertaining in a straight line – and even more so on a curvy road. Add to that a sexy fastback silhouette, LED headlights and taillights, push-button ignition, and plenty of other standard goodies, and the Mustang’s $25,585 price tag seems very reasonable.

Photo by Ford

2018 Chevrolet Camaro

If you believe the Internet, then you’re either a Mustang guy or a Camaro guy — you simply can’t like them equally. Whether that’s true or not, the Chevrolet Camaro is an attractive, cool alternative to the Ford Mustang. Like the Mustang, Chevrolet offers the Camaro with a turbocharged four-cylinder to lower its price tag (to $26,900), but Chevy also offers a V6 for not much more coin ($28,395) that gets you closer to the V8 performance experience.

V6-powered models deliver 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque (more power but less torque than the turbo Mustang) for a 0-60 time of about 5.1 seconds. Standard equipment highlights include 18-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights, Sirius XM, Bluetooth and a backup camera. 

Photo by General Motors

2018 Dodge Challenger

People get so caught up in the war between Mustang and Camaro that they often forget the Dodge Challenger. To be fair, if we’re talking about performance on a race track, the Mustang GT and Camaro SS (or their more aggressive versions) have the Challenger whooped. However, if the conversation is about style and substance, Dodge’s muscle car competitor has a lot going for it.

With arguably the most retro design inspiration of the trio, the Challenger is big, beautiful and bold. As a first car for guys, these attributes are perfect. The entry-level SXT ($26,995) uses a 3.5-liter V6 good for 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph takes 6.2 seconds, making it slower than its similarly priced rivals. Still, the Challenger is plenty fast. It also packs a 7.0-inch UConnect infotainment system, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — all as standard.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2018 Ford Fiesta ST

If large and in charge isn’t your style, try downsizing to the Fiesta ST. Nimble handling, sharp angles, and turbocharged performance make hot hatchbacks the perfect first cars for guys. Pile your friends into a Fiesta ST, find a twisty road, and show them why small is cool. More affordable and agile than just about every other car on this list, the Fiesta ST is a no-brainer for those who want fun on a budget.

Powered by a 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder, the Fiesta ST sends 197 hp and 202 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual gearbox to its front wheels. Apart from its spunky driving dynamics, the Fiesta ST comes with Ford’s Sync 3, 6.5-inch infotainment system (including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), push-button ignition, and automatic climate control. Prices start at $21,195.

Photo by Ford

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Volkswagen effectively created the hot hatch segment with its Golf GTI in the 1970s. Since then, competitors have all tried (unsuccessfully) to unseat it as class leader. Despite some very good options (including the Fiesta ST), the Golf GTI remains one of our favorite affordable performance vehicles, and it's a seriously cool option for a first car. More spacious than the Fiesta, plus more powerful and more mature, the GTI is a car without caveat.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is the only drivetrain, but you can choose between a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic. 0-60 mph takes a scant 6.0 seconds (yes, a four-cylinder hatchback can be quicker than a V6 muscle car) and top speed is limited to 130 mph. At its $26,415 starting price, the GTI includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen, LED taillights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Photo by Volkswagen

2018 Honda Civic Si

Now that Honda’s Civic Si isn’t available as a hatchback, it isn’t as practical as the Golf GTI and Fiesta ST. Still, it makes for one swanky sedan or coupe, and a great first car for guys. The Civic Si checks a few major boxes, including fun-to-drive dynamics (thanks to a 205-hp turbo four-cylinder and manual transmission), style (with its low-slung, big-wheeled physique) and affordability (a reasonable $24,100 starting price).

Even Honda’s standard Civic looks cool, so add the Si’s rear wing, trapezoidal exhaust port and unique 19-inch wheels, and the car boasts plenty of attitude. With fewer people than ever driving (or even knowing how to operate) a manual transmission car, using the Civic Si’s six-speed also adds automatic cool points to your resume. It may not be the fastest car in its class, but it’s also painless to maintain and will have better resale value than most performance cars.

Photo by Honda

2018 Subaru WRX

Subaru’s exponential sales growth tells us quite a few people consider the brand’s cars cool, but more specifically, the WRX is cool to the right people. Roll up in one of these sport sedans and you’re bound to make your friends jealous. With seating for five, permanent all-wheel drive, a manual transmission and aggressive styling, the WRX is hard to beat as a first car.

Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the WRX makes 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 mph sprint of just 5.0 seconds, the WRX is quicker than the most of the cars on this list — but doesn’t cost a penny more ($26,995). Handling another forte, but the WRX also charms with standard features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control and a 6.2-inch infotainment system.

Photo by Subaru

2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata

M.I.A.T.A. stands for “Miata Is Always The Answer,” at least according to its fans. Sure, it’s not a bulletproof claim (can you imagine moving furniture in a tiny two-door sports car?), but it's still a great answer to the question of “what’s a cool first car for guys?” The fourth-generation Miata is sleek, upscale and fun. Muscle cars are more imposing, but the Miata can run circles around them on a tight road.

Both the traditional fabric soft-top convertible and the folding power hardtop models utilize a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive and either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Weighing just under 2,300 pounds, the Miata makes up for its puny power (just 155 hp) with its lightweight agility. Simply put, there’s nothing cooler than a sports car, and at $26,395, there aren’t many new sports cars cheaper than this one.

Photo by Mazda