Top 3 Cars Every New Grads Should Check Out in 2024

Equipped with both cost-effectiveness and safety
Young people starting their social life
TOP 3 first vehicles to drive

Demand for cars is increasing among young adults starting their social lives after graduation. As the number of parents choosing vehicles for their sons and daughters increases, their concerns also deepen. They must consider whether the car is cost-effective and safe for their sons and daughters to ride.

Consumer Reports and IIHS recently selected 26 new cars based on safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness to resolve these parents’ concerns. There is a strong tendency to buy a used car as a first car, but new models have the advantage of being equipped with the latest features and are excellent at avoiding and preventing collisions.

Honda’s midsize sedan, the Accord
Generates a maximum output of 192 horsepower

Consumer Reports’ main criteria for selecting cars include several key safety and usability features: passing the IIHS crash test, achieving excellent or good ratings in headlight evaluations and frontal pedestrian collision prevention, a standard emergency braking system, and a braking distance of less than 42.6 meters (139.8 feet) at speeds over 96 km/h (59.7 mph). Also, the cars must have a gross vehicle weight of at least 2,750 kg (6,062.7 lbs), receive an excellent or good rating from Consumer Reports for ease of use, and earn a four or five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Among the 26 models selected, we will introduce 3 models with excellent cost-effectiveness and performance. The first is Honda’s midsize sedan, the Accord. The 2024 Honda Accord starts at $28,990. The LX and EX trims are equipped with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline turbo engine that produces a maximum output of 192 horsepower. They are also equipped with a CVT transmission and operate as front-wheel drive.

Toyota’s Hatchback Prius
Equipped with Excellent Safety Specifications

Next is Toyota’s compact hatchback Prius. The price starts at $29,045. Safety features such as rear warning function and blind spot monitoring are applied as standard, creating excellent safety. In addition, it has high fuel efficiency through a hybrid powertrain. It is equipped with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor, producing a total output of 196 horsepower and a maximum torque of 19.2 kgf.m, and is combined with a CVT transmission to drive all-wheel drive.

Based on EPA standards, the hybrid model’s fuel economy was recorded at 21.7 km per liter (51.0 mpg) in the city and 20.4 km per liter (47.9 mpg) on the highway. The regular gasoline model has shown an average fuel efficiency of 12.3 km per liter (28.9 mpg) in the city and 15.7 km per liter (36.9 mpg) on the highway. The advantage is that we can choose a hybrid depending on the driving environment and situation.

Hyundai’s Santa Cruz
Recently Released New Model

The last is Hyundai’s mid-sized pickup truck, Santa Cruz. The SE trim standard price starts at $29,000. A facelift model was recently released, reflecting the latest design and solid appearance. As for the exterior, it features an angular grille with an emphasized rectangular shape, and next to it, wing-shaped daytime running lights extend toward the side.

In the powertrain case, a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline naturally aspirated engine is installed as standard and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This generates a maximum output of 191 horsepower and a maximum torque of 25 kgf.m. The body size is 4,970 mm (195.7 inches) in length, 1,905 mm (75.0 inches) in width, 1,694 mm (66.7 inches) in height, and 3,004 mm (118.3 inches) in wheelbase. Because it features such an appropriate size, even young adults who are not good at driving can drive relatively smoothly.