Posts Tagged ‘Toyota Yaris’

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of driving away in your first brand new car. Between the new car smell and the promise of road trips to come, that first big purchase is sure to make memories.

A new car is a symbol of success and of good financial stewardship. It celebrates your sense of style and reflects your personality.  And assuming it’s well cared for, that vehicle will be with you for work and play for many years to come.

With new car season now in full swing, we were curious to see which vehicles were most popular among first time buyers. So we fired up the Honk search tool and honed in on young people who recently made that first big purchase.

Owing to economic conditions, we also added in a budget-friendly cap on price at $20,000.  Practical sedans and minivans were banned because hey – it’s summer and we wanted to have some fun!

Our final list is full of coupes, hatchbacks, and trucks with plenty of personality.  You can read about the Top 10 winners below or take in that new car smell with the complete list of Best Cars for First Time Buyers on Honk.

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#1 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Scion tC

The Scion tC proves that you can drive a stylish car and still be able to make those student loan payment at the end of each month.  This coupe is easy on the eyes and easy on the wallet.  Owners brag about the tC’s panoramic moonroof and bumpin’ Pioneer audio system – both standard – making this Scion a great buy if you want a car that can spoil you without breaking the bank.

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#2 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Jeep Patriot

Outdoorsy types love the Jeep Patriot for its ability to tackle adventures and stay composed in rough conditions.  Road trips and ski trips will be frequent but trips to the gas station will not thanks to fuel economy that can range as high as 29 mpg on the highway.  The Patriot is a great choice if you need extra cargo space for outdoor sports or large pets.

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#3 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Honda Fit

Fun and flexible, the Honda Fit is loaded with more deep thinking than that philosophy class you took in college.  The secret here is the ingenious second row “Magic Seats,” which can fold up or down to accommodate cargo of various shapes and sizes.  Despite being small on the outside, the Fit has more cargo space inside than some SUVs.  Owners rave that this Honda is fun to drive and has excellent fuel economy, making this hatchback good for the soul and easy on the wallet.

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#4 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Nissan Versa

Compact on the outside and enormous on the inside, this Nissan is notable for space, space, and more space.  Rear seat leg room is a step above anything else in the class, as is the quality of interior materials.  For such an affordable car, the Versa impresses with high-quality cloth upholstery and premium plastics that are soft to the touch.  Nissan didn’t skimp on technology, either: the Versa can be had with navigation, Bluetooth, and an Intelligent Key that lets you enter the car and start the engine without ever taking the key out of your pocket.

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#5 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Ford Focus

If you’re the kind of person who is into the latest gadgets and technology, you’ll love the SYNC system that Ford has built into the Focus coupe and sedan.  It’s a tethered system that connects to your mobile devices via Bluetooth or USB, allowing you to control your devices through simple voice commands.  You can use SYNC to search through your music library or to have it read you an important email while you drive.  And your inner environmentalist will be happy to know that the seat cushions in the Focus are derived from a bio-based polyurethane foam that’s derived from the oils of various plant seeds.

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#6 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Volkswagen Golf

One look at the stunning interior in the Golf is all it took for reviewers on Honk to fall in love with this sleek and chic Volkswagen.  The design is subtle and sporty with impeccable fit and finish and a level of refinement that betters some luxury cars.  Owners love the feisty, fun-to-drive spirit and the ample cargo space.  Volkswagen’s optional audio and navigation systems both come with crisp displays and an easy-to-use interface.  There’s also an available TDI clean diesel engine that boasts up to 42 miles per gallon.

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#7 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Scion xD

With funky styling and a long list of standard features, the Scion xD is a great value for grads who want to stand apart from the crowd.  The hatchback bodystyle has lots of space for people and cargo and the four-cylinder engine was praised for a nice balance of power and fuel efficiency.  Owner love the excellent value, noting that, “The xD also has the best price compared to other cars in its class, but offers more standard features.”

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#8 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Nissan Frontier

Nissan’s Frontier packs fullsize features into a midsize truck.  It’s the best choice here if you need a rugged vehicle that can tow a trailer or get you to the outdoors.  There’s a choice of economical 4-cylinder or powerful 6-cylinder engine and a fully-boxed frame that allows the Frontier to tow up to 6,500 pounds.  Owners love this Nissan’s many clever innovations, like a handy storage bin under the rear seats and a Utili-track system in the pickup bed that can make securing cargo a cinch.

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#9 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Toyota Yaris

With highway fuel economy higher than that of some hybrids, the Yaris is a smart move if you’re looking to save money or the environment.  In Europe, the Yaris won many awards when it was first launched, thanks to cheeky styling and fun handling.  Owners rave about the value, too, pointing out a low sticker price that starts under $13,000.

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#10 Best Car for First Time Buyers: Mitsubishi Eclipse

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is one of the best options for sleek and stylish transportation on a budget.  The design is racy and the engine is thrifty – a great combination for anyone who wants to save money and look good in the process.  The Eclipse impresses with a practical side, as well.  That steeply-raked roofline hides a hatchback opening and fold-down rear seats that make it easy to bring bulky gear along for the ride.

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Raising children is tough – and it’s many times tougher if you’re a single parent.  You’ve got to balance a busy and complicated adult life with the health and happiness of your children.

Everything from getting your kid to school to finding time to run errands is harder when you don’t have a built-in support network. Fortunately, you’re not alone.  According to recent data from the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 13.7 million single parents out there, raising over 26% of all children under the age of 21.

These hard-working Moms and Dads know what works best for their busy lives.  And as a car-shopping website that’s serious about the people behind the wheel, we thought we could help by compiling a list of the most popular cars for single parents.

We searched through Honk to find single parents who recently purchased a new vehicle and then drew on their wisdom to help explain why these cars and trucks are so well suited to family life.  The final top-10 list of Best Cars for Single Parents contains a variety of sedans, hatchbacks, trucks, and SUVs that range from about $13,000 to $24,000.  If you’d like to create a more personalized list for yourself on Honk, just click here.

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#1 Best Car for Single Parents: Kia Sorento

The most popular car for single parents is also the only one with 3 rows of seating, making the Sorento a great choice if you have two or more kids and need some extra space.  This Kia is stylish and safe and with a starting price just shy of $20k, you’d never believe that the Sorento can also be had with premium features like an optional panoramic sunroof and DVD entertainment system.  The only thing you’ll have to worry about is that you don’t spoil the kids.

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#2 Best Car for Single Parents: Mazda CX-7

Can a family car be fun?  Mazda says yes and proves it with the light-on-its-feet CX-7.  Owners love the sleek styling and luxurious interior, calling this crossover “surprisingly sporty and refined.”  If you need some extra oomph to get you to the ballet recital on time, the CX-7’s optional turbo engine can turn this family hauler into a serious speed machine.

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#3 Best Car for Single Parents: Honda Civic

It’s hard to go wrong with a Civic.  This best-selling Honda is known for rock-solid reliability and a design that is small on the outside but spacious on the inside.  The Civic was also awarded a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, so you can rest assured knowing that your child is safe inside.

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#4 Best Car for Single Parents: GMC Sierra 1500

With a sticker price that can jump from about $21k to over $40k, the Sierra is the priciest vehicle on this list.  It is, however, your best choice if you need to haul large gear or tow a trailer.  GMC offers a wide range of beds, cabs, and engines in the Sierra, though owners with families seem to agree that the spacious Crew Cab model is the best choice if you have kids.

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#5 Best Car for Single Parents: Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 makes a strong case that a car can be “action-packed” and “value-packed” at the same time.  Forget the $15k starting price because this Mazda’s confident road manners make it feel more like a junior sports sedan from Germany than a commuter car from Japan.  Though a sedan model is available, the hatchback may be a better choice if you need extra cargo space for strollers or soccer gear.

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#6 Best Car for Single Parents: Toyota Yaris

With highway fuel economy higher than that of some hybrids and a $13k starting price, this Toyota is a smart move if you’re looking to save money or the environment.  In Europe, the Yaris won many awards when it was first launched, thanks to its cheeky styling and fun handling.  The car comes in two versions, though cargo space is a bit more limited in the hatchback than it is in the sedan.

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#7 Best Car for Single Parents: Jeep Liberty

If you’re a single parent who loves to venture outdoors, this is the best vehicle on the list for you.  The Liberty is genuinely capable off-road and has over 60 years of mud-slinging Jeep heritage behind it.  There’s an optional Sky Slider canvas roof that can peel back for a convertible feel and a UConnect media system that can organize your music and display photos of your kids.

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#8 Best Car for Single Parents: Kia Forte

Kia’s brand new Forte – and its predecessor, the Spectra – earn Kia another spot on this Top 10 list.  The Forte’s handsome looks come from celebrated car designer, Peter Schreyer, who is best known for his work on the stunning Audi TT and A3.  Fortunately, beauty is more than skin deep on this new Kia thanks to a standard Bluetooth hands-free phone system and best-in-class 36 MPG highway rating.  It’s a smart buy, too, with a starting price in the mid-$13k range and a 10-year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.  Your child’s college fund will thank you.

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#9 Best Car for Single Parents: Toyota Corolla

After a long day of running around, it helps to have some space to stretch out.  With an enormous 92 cubic feet of interior space, the Corolla lets you do exactly that.  Owners love that this Toyota is a full package, bragging, “You cannot find a more sensible car in terms of price, style, value, design, fitness to any age, economy to operate, safety and fun.”  And if that’s not enough to convince you, the Corolla was also honored with a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  It’s no surprise that the Corolla landed on the Top-10 list of the most popular cars for single parents.

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#10 Best Car for Single Parents: Nissan Cube

Just because you’re a single parent doesn’t mean you have to be boring.  The Cube stands out with a funky asymmetrical design that’s sure to get a few admiring stares when you pull up at a traffic light.  And thanks to six standard air bags and rear seats that can slide to make room for people or cargo, this Nissan is also a smart runabout for small families.  The tight exterior dimensions can be deceiving, as one owner described his Cube, “It’s like the size of a house inside but looks like a compact on the outside.”