2025 Nissan Versa
$17,390 - $21,390 | 35 MPG | $0.56 per mile
Best First Cars for 2025
50 vehicles under $30,000 earned NHTSA's 5-star safety rating for 2025. The 2025 Nissan Versa appears first because it has the lowest starting price in this 5-star group at $17,390. RepairPal rates it 4.0 out of 5.0 for reliability. Within this 5-star group, results are ranked by base price, cheapest first.
First Result
5-star NHTSA safety rating, lowest starting MSRP in this group
$17,390 starting MSRP, 35 MPG
Photo by Dan Gold on UnsplashHow this list is generated
Model year: 2025; Base MSRP: 30000 or lower; NHTSA overall safety rating: 4 or higher. Data is refreshed periodically from published sources.
305-Star Rated
12IIHS Awards
11Brands
$17k–$29kPrice Range
Sources: NHTSA.gov, IIHS.org, fueleconomy.gov, RepairPal.com, AAA.
Vehicles Matching These Criteria
Showing 30 of 50 vehicles
2025 Nissan Sentra
$21,590 - $24,590 | 34 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2025 Kia K4
$21,990 - $28,090 | 33 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Hyundai Elantra
$22,125 - $28,975 | 31 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2025 Toyota Corolla
$22,325 - $28,040 | 34 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2025 Volkswagen Jetta
$22,995 - $29,500 | 33 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer
$23,100 - $29,300 | 27-31 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2025 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
$23,780 - $27,080 | 35 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
$23,825 - $28,190 | 44-47 MPG | $0.64 per mile
2025 Honda Civic
$24,250 - $45,895 | 34-49 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2025 Subaru Impreza
$24,360 - $29,250 | 30 MPG | $0.56 per mile
2025 Kia Seltos
$24,690 - $31,190 | 29-31 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Chevrolet Malibu
$24,700 - $31,500 | 31 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Mazda CX-30
$25,195 - $37,150 | 29 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2025 Honda HR-V
$25,400 - $31,000 | 27-28 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
$25,450 - $29,800 | 50 MPG | $0.64 per mile
2025 Buick Encore GX
$25,940 - $33,100 | 27-30 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Subaru Crosstrek
$26,560 - $33,360 | 29 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2025 Subaru Legacy
$26,810 - $40,110 | 30 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Hyundai Sonata
$26,900 - $37,700 | 27-47 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Nissan Altima
$27,000 - $34,830 | 28-31 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Kia K5
$27,190 - $34,960 | 27 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
$27,345 - $31,595 | 25 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2025 Kia Sportage
$27,390 - $38,290 | 25-28 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2025 Nissan LEAF
$28,140 - $36,190 | 149 mi range | $0.96 per mile
2025 Honda Accord
$28,295 - $39,300 | 32-48 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2025 Toyota Prius
$28,350 - $36,765 | 54-57 MPG | $0.64 per mile
2025 Nissan Rogue
$28,590 - $39,990 | 31-33 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2025 Toyota Camry
$28,700 - $36,425 | 50-51 MPG | $0.71 per mile
2025 Hyundai Tucson
$28,705 - $41,295 | 26-35 MPG | $0.69 per mile
This ranking shows the top 30. Refine by body type or year using the navigation above to find more.
Common Questions
How many 2025 cars have 5-star safety ratings?
30 of 50 vehicles earned NHTSA's top 5-star overall safety rating for 2025. Prices start at $17,390.
Which 2025 cars have zero recalls?
15 of 30 vehicles shown on this page have no recalls on file with NHTSA. Recall counts can change at any time as manufacturers and NHTSA identify new issues.
What safety rating should a first car have?
NHTSA's 5-star Safety Ratings program rates vehicles from 1 to 5 stars, with higher scores indicating better crash protection. This list includes only 2025 vehicles under $30,000 with at least a 4-star NHTSA rating. 30 of 50 on this list earned the top 5-star rating.
How much should a first car cost in 2025?
Among safe, affordable options for 2025, base prices range from $17,390 to $28,705. All vehicles on this list are under $30,000 and have earned at least a 4-star NHTSA safety rating.
Which brands have vehicles on this list?
11 brands are represented: Buick, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and 3 more. Rankings are based on EPA, NHTSA, IIHS, AAA, and RepairPal data, not editorial opinion.