Gayle Anderson reports Autotrader has released its 2025 list of what makes the best car for a recent college graduate. The ten vehicles on the Autotrader.com list met its three important criteria for this list.
Candidates must have a starting price under $30,000 (at the time of publication), including a destination charge.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-Star Overall Safety Rating.
At least one cool feature.
According to the analysts at Cox Automotive (Autotrader’s parent company), the average price of a new car in the United States was $47,462 in March 2025. As a recent college graduate, spending that much to get a good car, maybe your first new one, wouldn’t be wise.
Autotrader.com has what it describes as “some superb choices that start under $30,000.” Auotrader.com says you might study this list and shop for a used car instead of a new one. If you decide on a used vehicle, Autotrader.com highly recommends you consider a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle.
Autotrader predicts new vehicle pricing promises to be volatile this year, so it cannot guarantee the sub-$30,000 cars on this list will stay that way all year with looming tariffs and expected price increases.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects crash-test data for new cars and publishes its rankings for public consumption. Its top safety rating is “5-Star.”
To learn about the 10 Best Cars for Recent College Graduates, presented alphabetically by brand, take a look at the website: – www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/10-best-cars-recent-college-graduates-281474980013135
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