Your Best Choice For A First New Car Is Not A Boring Sedan, It's A Sports Car

What is the best car for a first-time new or used-car buyer? U.S. News picks two Subaru models, the Subaru Legacy sedan and the Subaru BRZ sports car. Which is the best?

Which vehicle do you pick as your first new car, a boring Subaru Legacy sedan or a fun sports car like the Subaru BRZ? U.S. News picked the ten best cars for a first-time new-car buyer. They made the picks based on reliability, they are relatively inexpensive and are full of standard safety features. They used these criteria to find the best choices for a first new car.

U.S. News says, "It helps if it isn't too expensive to fill up at the gas station, and it should have modern infotainment and safety features to make driving easier over the long haul."

photo credit: Tucson Subaru

"We've rounded up nearly a dozen great cars for shoppers new to the car-buying experience. We've included a variety of models, including hybrids and even an affordable EV, to fit most lifestyles. All but one of our choices are under $30,000, it being a great entry-level luxury car if your budget can stretch a bit."

U.S. News Best New Cars for First-Time Buyers

2023 Acura Integra: $31,300 | Reliability Rating: N/A | USN Overall Score: 9.0/10
2023 Chevrolet Bolt: $26,500 | Reliability Rating: N/A | USN Overall Score: 8.0/10
2023 Hyundai Tucson: $26,900 | Reliability Rating: 77/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.5/10
2023 Subaru BRZ: $28,595 | Reliability Rating: 78/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10
2023 Subaru Legacy: $24,395 | Reliability Rating: 78/100 | USN Overall Score: 7.8/10
2023 Honda Civic: $23,450 | Reliability Rating: 80/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10
2023 Mazda CX-30: $22,950 | Reliability Rating: 80/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10
2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz: $25,700 | Reliability Rating: 83/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.2/10
2023 Toyota Corolla: $21,550 | Reliability Rating: 85/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.0/10
2023 Kia Soul: $19,890 | Reliability Rating: 87/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.5/10
2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid: $27,490 | Reliability Rating: 88/100 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10

U.S. News picked the Subaru Legacy sedan and the Subaru BRZ sports car. The Legacy is an excellent safe pick, but pay attention to the Subaru BRZ. It's affordable, safe, reliable, and gets good fuel mileage.

U.S. News says, "Your first new car doesn't have to be boring. The 2023 Subaru BRZ brings lively driving dynamics and quick acceleration for under $30,000. The suspension is tuned for performance so you will feel bumps in the road, but the edges have been smoothed out for comfort."

"The interior has a functional, minimalist design, an 8-inch touch screen, and smartphone connectivity. There's also a 7-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver. The front seats are spacious and supportive, but the rear seats are too small even for kids."

Is there a downside to the BRZ?

The BRZ is the only Subaru model that does not have standard (or even available) all-wheel drive. If you live in a cold climate where it snow, the BRZ will not be the best choice for first-time drivers. All Legacy sedan trim levels come standard with Subaru Symmetrical all-wheel-drive.

But you can put good winter/snow tires on the BRZ, and new drivers can learn how to drive in the snow. Taking a winter snow-driving class can be a good idea to learn how to drive in the snow regardless of what car you buy.

Is the 2023 BRZ a good value for sports car shoppers? The 2023 Subaru BRZ is still one of America's most affordable sports cars.

The 2023 Subaru BRZ comes in two trim levels with two transmission options. The BRZ Premium with a 6-speed manual gearbox has a starting price of $29,615. BRZ Premium with an automatic transmission starts at $33,115. The Limited (6-speed manual) has a starting MSRP of $32,115. The Limited with an automatic transmission starts at $33,255. All pricing includes destination and delivery fees.

What is the BRZ fuel mileage?

The 2023 Subaru BRZ with the 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated Boxer engine gets an EPA-estimated 20/27 city/highway mpg and 22 combined mpg with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The BRZ with a CVT automatic transmission gets 21/30 city/highway mpg and 25 combined mpg.

Should you buy a used Subaru BRZ?

Is a used Subaru BRZ reliable? The most reliable used sports cars for under $25,000 now include the Subaru BRZ. A recent ranking from U.S. News says the 2016 Subaru BRZ is a good pick for buyers looking for an affordable sports car under $25,000. They also picked its cousin, the Toyota 86 and the earlier version Scion FR-S, both developed with Subaru and Toyota.

What does Consumer Reports say about the Subaru BRZ?

A new owner study by Consumer Reports (CR) reveals the ten new cars, SUVs, and trucks owners would not buy again and ten that say they would. See which list the new 2023 Subaru BRZ sports coupe is on now.

After driving their vehicle for two to three years, Consumer Reports asked thousands of owners what they thought of the model they bought and if they would buy it again. CR says they analyzed data from their latest member survey to measure vehicle owner satisfaction.

Chevrolet Corvette (94%), Porsche 911 (90%), Kia Telluride (87%), Rivian R1T (88%), Ford Maverick Hybrid (88%), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (88%), Polestar 2 (88%), Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 (88%), Toyota RAV4 Prime (87%), Mazda MX-5 Miata (86%), and Dodge Challenger (86%).

BRZ crash scores

The all-new 2022 Subaru BRZ rides on a new platform, and it comes with EyeSight safety technology. Both helped the sports coupe earn the 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It's the first time the BRZ achieved the highest safety score.

The next-generation BRZ also received a "Superior" rating in front crash protection for the first time. The BRZ earned the highest "Good" ratings in six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations, including the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests.

The all-new sports coupe also comes with EyeSight safety technology for front crash prevention earning superior ratings in vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. EyeSight driver assist technology is standard equipment on models with an automatic transmission.

The next-generation 2022 Subaru BRZ just pulled off a first-ever for the sports coupe earning the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The 2023 BRZ now has the highest percentage of Subaru owners who say they would repurchase the same car. First-time car shoppers should put the sports coupe on their list.

You Might Also Like: The Best Used Subaru Models To Buy Now And Those To Avoid - Ranked By Year

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: main image Tucson Subaru