- Price: $18,300
- Gas mileage: 26 mpg city/36 mpg highway
Value pricing and solid fuel economy put the Forte on this list. More than basic transportation, it is economical and fun to drive. Furthermore, it sports some decent exterior lines, so your teen won't feel like putting a paper bag over his head when behind the wheel.
Under the hood is a 156-horsepower 2-liter four-cylinder engine that sends its production to the front wheels via a six-speed, driver-shiftable automatic transmission.
It has more cargo-carrying space behind the second-row seat than trunk space in the Honda Accord Sedan.
Among the long list of standard features are Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry, trip computer and a six-speaker audio system with iPod interface.