Seven Best Used Cars for First-Time Drivers

December 13th, 2024 by

A dark blue 2023 Chevy Trax is shown from the side after leaving a dealer that has used cars for sale near Burlington.

If you’re a first-time driver or have a growing teen who is prepping to get their license and want to help them get their first vehicle, what do you go with? Do you opt for something small and performance-driven? Or do you give them something good on fuel economy and safety? How about all of the above? What are the vehicles that best suit first-time drivers in upper North Carolina learning how to come to terms with driving for the first time? Well, the best solution is to shop with us for used cars for sale near Burlington that offer great safety, good fuel economy, and enough convenience features to make the drive to and from every destination comfortable and secure. Here are the top seven pre-owned vehicles for first-time drivers heading out on their own.

#1 – Chevy Trax

The Chevy Trax is one of those perfect vehicles for first-time drivers because it’s highly affordable, highly dependable, and highly efficient for daily driving. If you’re a first-time driver looking for a good subcompact SUV or a parent looking to buy a good used vehicle for your teen, then a used Trax fits right onto the shopping list with ease. You have a great design, comfortable seats for up to five people, and enough space to store simple belongings, from school books to work clothes to groceries. The Trax is a good overall entry-level subcompact.

Additionally, Chevy’s small SUV has good performance for its size and offers fuel economy that makes it worthwhile for those dealing with long stretches of driving to work or school. The available infotainment stack is also quite robust, with a touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and Bluetooth streaming. The added Chevy Safety Assist suite with features like Teen Driver Mode also makes the Trax convenient whether you’re a first-time driver or have a teen who is a first-time driver.

#2 – Toyota Corolla Cross

While the Corolla itself is a great compact sedan, the Corolla Cross takes the spirit of the Corolla and tucks it into the body of a subcompact SUV. Sports-inspired looks, exotic color options, and plenty of functionality are all part of the many highlights of the Corolla Cross. You have great infotainment functionality, a pleasant powertrain, and some amazing fuel economy. You also have some good towing capacity, with up to 1,500 lbs worth of trailering, making a used Corolla Cross great for those who need something reliable but also very utilitarian.

One thing that makes the Corolla Cross well worth it for first-time drivers is that Toyota vehicles are well-regarded as long-lasting and affordable. Buying a used Corolla Cross gives you an opportunity to have a vehicle that will not only save you a lot of money upfront but will also save you a lot of money in the long run, thanks to its low costs of upkeep and maintenance. As long as you have it serviced regularly, it will drive and drive for a long time to come. That makes the Corolla Cross not only perfect as a first vehicle, but it can also work as a long-term investment since it’s not something that is known for breaking down or requiring a lot of expensive replacement parts.

A blue 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross is shown from the front at an angle.

#3 – Honda HR-V

The subcompact HR-V makes for an excellent starter vehicle and also looks great. It has a lot of functionality and comes with a highly celebrated safety suite. The HR-V has multiple generations and plenty of used models to select from, which means you can easily find a low-cost way to get your hands on a quality SUV that offers good performance, available all-wheel drive capabilities, and plenty of convenience features. The different trims also provide you with different levels of features and comfort, including an optional full leather interior.

This makes for a really good starter vehicle if you want something exceptionally feature-rich, stylish, and good on fuel economy. The HR-V also comes with a full assortment of safety assists thanks to the Honda Sensing suite, so if you want a vehicle with great active assists and collision mitigation to help keep you or your teen safe on the roads around Burlington, this is a great pick. The HR-V also offers plenty of infotainment capabilities, smartphone connectivity, and HondaLink functionality for remote accessibility and app support, making it an excellent pre-owned option for first-time drivers.

#4 – Kia Soul

One of the most beloved subcompact SUVs on the market is the Kia Soul. It’s hip, modern, feature-rich, safe, and highly affordable. The stylish subcompact fits in perfectly with Burlington’s compact urban feel. Its good fuel economy makes it a delight for those looking for an efficient SUV that provides ample cargo capacity while being able to nimbly navigate urban centers. Plus, the modern design of the Soul makes it a great first vehicle if you’re looking for something contemporary and sporty.

The added bonus of having a large and robust infotainment stack, plus an ergonomic interior with comfortable materials and sport seating, makes the Soul an all-around enticing subcompact SUV for first-time drivers. The fun vibes that come with Soul are made even more exciting when you consider that buying a used Soul will save you a lot of money, giving you an opportunity to put more cash away for when it’s time to make an important purchase, buy school supplies, or finally make that big move across town. You also have plenty of available driver assist technologies to help with everything from highway travel to bumper-to-bumper traffic.

#5 – Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

The Mitsubishi Outlander is known as a great family vehicle, but if you want the functionality, reliability, and features of the Outlander in a smaller package, then the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is the way to go. When shopping for a quality used starter vehicle, the Outlander Sport offers you a sporty-looking vehicle with decent cargo capacity, seating for up to five people, and available all-wheel drive. It’s optimized for driving throughout Burlington all year round in all sorts of weather and traffic conditions.

You have a robust collection of safety features in the Outlander Sport, with both protective engineering and active driver assist technologies. With the modern infotainment suite featuring entertainment, navigation, and media, you have a well-rounded interior with easy-to-use controls, lots of accessibility, and plenty of storage capacity and seating comfort. The best part about the Outlander Sport is that buying a used model saves you a lot of money upfront, and this vehicle also has low maintenance and service costs compared to many other options within the segment. So you have a highly affordable, feature-rich, and long-lasting subcompact SUV in the Outlander Sport, making it a perfect first vehicle for beginner drivers.

A red 2023 Nissan Versa SR is shown from the side.

#6 – Nissan Versa

The Nissan Versa is one of the last subcompact sedans on the market, and it is highly affordable, fuel efficient, and very safe. The low cost of entry makes the Versa one of those vehicles that are well worth pursuing for first-time drivers looking for a car that will not burn a massive hole in their wallet. At the same time, the Versa seats five people across two rows, and it’s well known for its solid fuel economy, making it great for commuting in Burlington.

Used Versa models offer modest technology features, but you can still find a touchscreen infotainment system. This is one of the few cars that still offers manual and automatic transmissions. So, if you are looking to learn how to drive a manual, then the Nissan Versa is a good option. Plus, it offers Nissan Safety Shield 360, featuring the latest active safety systems and driver aids to help reduce potential collisions and accidents. This makes the Nissan Versa a great vehicle for first-time drivers. It covers all of the necessary points at an extremely low price.

#7 – Hyundai Accent

Shopping for used cars for sale near Burlington doesn’t always need to include the flashiest of models or the most popular of vehicles; sometimes, it’s about the vehicles that are low-cost, easy to maintain, and reliable to drive from point A to point B, and that description perfectly encapsulates the Hyundai Accent. It trades the panache and over-stylized appeal of some other vehicles for functionality and reliability. The four-door sedan seats five across its two rows and offers good trunk space, smart access, remote functionality, and a solid set of interior materials for discerning drivers.

You have available leather seating if you want the added comfort, a functional infotainment stack, and robust safety features. The real highlight for the Accent, however, is that it is an extremely affordable entry-level vehicle. Buying a used model will save you a lot of money as it’s one of the most affordable vehicles in the segment and has very low repair costs. This makes the Accent perfect for those looking for an extremely affordable used sedan that has very low upkeep requirements. If you need something that gets you to and from your destinations throughout Burlington without burning a hole through your wallet, you likely won’t find a better deal than the Hyundai Accent.