During the month of May, many college graduates are in the market for a new car. To help guide grads toward making wise choices, Autotrader, a Cox Automotive brand, recently named the Best Cars for Recent College Graduates in 2025. Given looming tariffs and volatile pricing in the automotive marketplace, Autotrader says that it’s more important than ever for car shoppers to maximize their research and consider the advice from experts.
“College students are graduating into a very uncertain economic climate this year, which adds yet another layer into the massive purchase decision that is buying a new car,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. “The most recent data from Cox Automotive reveals the average price of a new car in the United States reaches above $47,000, but we don’t necessarily recommend new grads spend that much as they launch into their new phase of adulting. There are plenty of great vehicles, both brand-new and gently used certified pre-owned (CPO) models, that will fit the bill perfectly at a sub-$30,000 price point.”
How Autotrader Selected the Best Cars for Graduates
Autotrader editors have three primary criteria for this list, according to company officials in a press release. First, candidates must have a starting price under $30,000 (at the time Autotrader created the list), including destination charge. Next, they must have a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). And finally, each car must have at least one feature that the editors believe that grads will appreciate.
Below, presented in alphabetical order by brand, are Autotrader’s 2025 choices for the Best Cars for Recent College Graduates:
- 2025 Chevrolet Equinox
- 2025 Honda Civic
- 2025 Hyundai Elantra and Elantra Hybrid
- 2025 Kia K4
- 2025 Mazda3
- 2025 Mazda CX-30
- 2025 Nissan Rogue
- 2025 Subaru Crosstrek
- 2025 Toyota Corolla
- 2025 Toyota Prius
To learn more about why each of these cars was selected as the Best Cars for Recent College Graduates in 2025 from Autotrader, click here.