Kunal D’souza
First choice: Toyota Corolla Cross
A first car should be easy to drive and also reliable and economical, especially considering the rising costs of fuel. The Toyota Corolla Cross meets those criteria while providing more space than the Corolla sedan, making it a more versatile choice for a small family.
It’s also relatively affordable, starting at $31,952 (before taxes) for a front-wheel-drive model, or you can get all-wheel drive for $1,400 more, which is probably the better choice for most Canadians. Why the Corolla Cross and not the cheaper and even more fuel-efficient Corolla?
The current generation Corolla is a great car but it’s small with a tight back seat and not a lot of cargo space. The Honda Civic feels like a mid-size car in comparison. The Corolla Cross solves this problem with nearly double the cargo space and a rear seating area suitable for adults, while still officially classified as a subcompact SUV. This means more room for road trips and shopping runs while still returning a combined fuel consumption of 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres.
The standard powertrain is a two-litre, four-cylinder that makes 169 horsepower, which can feel a bit wheezy when accelerating. There’s a hybrid version that fixes that though it’s not cheap, starting at just under $40,000.
The 2023 Toyota Corolla CrossMark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Second choice: Volkswagen Jetta
The Jetta is one of the least expensive new cars on the market, starting at $30,442 before taxes. And it’s equipped with everything you need including an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital gauge cluster, heated seats and steering wheel and dual-zone climate control. The 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder makes 184 lb-ft of torque, which makes the Jetta feel more powerful than you’d expect and it’s also fuel efficient. As far as first cars go, the Jetta is hard to beat.
The base Jetta will have a 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Mark Richardson
First choice: Honda Civic
Generally speaking, you can’t go wrong with a Honda Civic. It was Canada’s best-selling passenger car in 2025, again ahead of the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta, because it’s affordable and reliable. The current 11th-generation model is officially considered “great” for reliability by JD Power and earned a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 by the independent industry website repairpal.com. This helps the Civic retain its value when it’s time to sell and, best of all, it’s made in Canada.
(Not all Civics have been ranked so highly. Some 2006-2008 Civics needed the engine blocks replaced because they leaked coolant. For the record, I own a 2006 Civic LX sedan and have had no such problems.)
There are nine versions of the 2026 Honda Civic, offering different experiences of power and handling, but all providing outstanding safety assistance and passenger protection. They range from the basic LX sedan that sells for $31,316 before taxes, to the Type R performance car at almost double the price. I’d certainly not recommend that 315-horsepower boy-racer to a new driver, but there are hybrid and sportier trim levels for both the sedan and the more practical hatchback. Many have financing interest rates below 4 per cent, bringing down the long-term price.
For 2025, the Civic comes with an even more fuel efficient hybrid powertrain. The hatchback returns less than 5 litres per 100 kilometres during city driving.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Second choice: Mazda3
The Mazda3 is Mazda’s compact sedan, its equivalent to the Honda Civic. Mazda is a smaller company and it often needs to try harder, so the Mazda3 is less expensive, starting with the base GX model at $28,140 before taxes. It’s more powerful than the Civic at 184 horsepower (the Civic offers 150 horsepower with its basic LX), but this shouldn’t be a concern for a new driver.
Mazda doesn’t have such high scores of satisfaction and reliability as the Civic, but it’s not far behind and a pleasure to drive. It’s also available with all-wheel drive and looks pretty sharp, while costing less than the Civic. The Mazda3 Sport is the hatchback and, like the Honda, more practical for it. The turbocharged GT is roughly $10,000 extra and even more satisfying to drive, but perhaps that can be your next car.
2025 Mazda3Andrew Holliday Photography 2018/Courtesy of manufacturer
Miranda Lightstone
First choice: Subaru Impreza
Finding an affordable, stress-free option for a novice driver can feel like navigating a minefield, but the Subaru Impreza is a compact hatchback that checks all the right boxes.
First and foremost, safety is paramount. The Impreza comes standard with Subaru’s EyeSight, a camera-based driver-assist technology that provides a reassuring extra set of eyes on the road. For Canadian winters, the full-time all-wheel-drive system delivers exceptional traction with appropriate tires, turning harrowing snowy commutes into confident drives.
The Impreza has a compact footprint that makes parallel parking and squeezing through tight downtown lanes painless, especially for those who are just learning the ropes. It’s an easy, predictable car to drive in all the right ways; ideal for a beginner.
Best of all, it offers good value. The entry-level Convenience trim starts at $30,390 before taxes. Under the hood, a standard two-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine produces a manageable 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, paired with a smooth continuously variable transmission. It’s a sensible, robust and highly practical starter package.
2024 Subaru ImprezaJason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
Second choice: Hyundai Elantra
If you’re willing to forego all-wheel drive, the Hyundai Elantra secures a strong second place for a novice driver. It is the consummate budget-conscious pick, undercutting most of the competition while delivering a surprisingly refined feel with an eight-inch touchscreen and a full spread of driver’s assistance features.
The base Elantra Essential starts at a competitive $24,899 before taxes. It is a highly sensible, safe and modern package that proves you do not need to spend a fortune to get a reliable set of first wheels.
2024 Hyundai ElantraDavid Dewhurst Photography/Supplied
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