Best first cars under $5,000

 

They say that you never forget your first, and this is certainly true for your first car. Which is why it’s important to pick a car that will be worth your while.

But, how do you go about it? Well, the first step towards getting the right car is working out what it is that you are looking for in your new car or rather what makes a car ideal for first-time buyers. Ideally you want a car that packs in a lot of great features but is at the same time reasonably priced. You would also want a car that is safe and reliable but also easy and enjoyable to drive. You need a car that does not take up too much space but also has enough room for your family or friends when you need to. Finally, you want a car that offers great value but also looks like a million bucks.

Finding a car that offers all of the above can be really tricky, but here are 5 we think fit the brief perfectly.

5. Honda Civic (Eight-generation, 2006-2012)

In 5th place, we have the Honda Civic. Introduced for the first time in 1972, the Honda Civic has become one of the best-selling cars of all time.

 

The Civic family offers a wide range of cars that you can choose from. If you are looking for a car under $5000, we recommend the eighth-generation Civic, and, more specifically, the 2-litre Civic Sport.

 

Civics are known for offering refined driving and the 2-litre Civics are incredibly fun to drive. They come with some great safety features and are very reliable. For the price, the Honda Civic Sport is truly a stunner.

 

If you are looking for a used car, make sure you choose one that has the lowest possible mileage and a solid service history. There’s nothing wrong with the 1.8 litre VTi and VTi-L either but steer clear of the GLi and Hybrid models.

4. Toyota Yaris (Second-generation, 2005-2016)

In the 4th place, we have the Toyota Yaris, also known as, Toyota Vitz or Toyota Belta. It’s compact, cozy and perfect the perfect city car if you don’t need to carry lots of people or lots of stuff.

 

We’d recommend the second-generation Toyota Yaris XP90, manufactured between 2005 to 2016. The 5-door hatchback with the 1.5-litre engine would be ideal for first-time buyers. In Australia, it is known as the YRS or YRX model. Elsewhere, it is known as Toyota Vitz RS or Toyota Yaris TS.

 

The Toyota Yaris scores high with its stunning design and great build quality. It is also quite spacious for its price, with plenty of headroom and leg space to make for a comfortable ride. It is pleasant to drive and easy to manoeuvre. It performs well on all terrains and offers some great safety features. The bullet-proof exterior, in particular, makes it a steal at this price.

 

You may feel tempted to invest in the smaller 1.3-litre engine but know that it is slightly underpowered, making the already conservatively performing little hatch even more lacklustre behind the wheel. You will also struggle to save any fuel with the smaller engine as you will have to drive it harder to get anywhere. The 1.5-litre engine will be a safer choice in that regard.

 

3. Hyundai i30 (First-generation, 2007-2012)

In the third place, we have a car that has changed the face of its entire brand. We’re talking about the Hyundai i30. The first-generation i30 arrived in 2007 in all its magnificent glory and quickly elevated the status of Hyundai from being a manufacturer of cheap, subpar runabouts to a top-notch automobile brand with promising prospects.

 

Its sleek design and powerful engine made it a big hit from the very beginning. It offered loads of exciting features, a spacious cabin, adequate leg space, pleasant driving experience and fantastic factory warranties, making it one of the most sought-after cars in this range. More recent i30s have come to be some of the most popular small cars on the market, surpassing many Japanese and European rivals as the go-to car in its class.

 

The one we’d recommend is the Hyundai i30 SR. It boasts of a full suite of safety gear, a stylish body kit and some really funky alloy wheels. A decent 2.0-litre engine and locally-tuned suspension make this vehicle one of the best cars you can get under $5000.

 

2. Mazda 3 (First-generation, 2004-2009)

In second place, we have the cult favourite Mazda 3. You can find two generations of Mazda 3 under $5000. We’ll recommend the first-generation BK models, manufactured between 2004 and 2009, over the newer, second-generation Mazda 3.

 

This is because while the second-generation Mazda 3 is by no means a lesser car, its features are rather underwhelming when compared to its first-generation siblings such as the Maxx Sport or SP23 which offer better features for the same price. We highly recommend higher-spec models of the first-generation Mazda 3 such as Maxx, Maxx Sport and SP23. These come packed with excellent features, better safety measures and great efficiency.

 

Mazda 3 is known for its seamless performance, dynamic handling, spacious design, proven reliability and minimal repair costs. It is a very versatile and is available in two styles – sedan and hatchback. Both score high on practicality with nifty storage space, decent headroom, and folding rear seats. Despite being reasonably priced, it looks and feels premium. If you are someone who loves being behind the wheel, you will certainly love this car. Mazda 3 offers a great driving experience and should please everyone.

 

As with the other cars on this list, make sure to choose one that comes with the lowest possible mileage and an impeccable service history. You may also want to find a Maxx, Maxx Sport or SP23 that has been fitted with the optional electronic stability control or ESC which will make your overall driving experience considerably safer.

 

1. Toyota Corolla (10-generation, 2006-2011)

 

The number 1 car on our list is also the world’s highest selling car. We’re talking about the Toyota Corolla, also known as the Toyota Auris. Toyota has sold over 44 million Corollas since 1966 which isn’t surprising considering its impressive characteristics. Given the sheer number of Corollas that have been sold over the years, it should not be too hard to find one on the used car market.

 

We recommend the tenth-generation Corolla, manufactured between 2006 and 2011. Try to find a 2009 facelifted, top-spec Corolla Levin ZR. While all Corollas come with great features, the post-09 Levin ZR packs in an incredibly impressive range of additional features. A sophisticated infotainment system, comfortable upholstery, nicer alloy wheels and a visually appealing exterior gives it a premium feel. It combines economy with style in a way few cars in this price range do. It also boasts a superior set of safety features such as electronic stability control that solidifies Toyota’s reputation of producing surprisingly reliable cars at low prices.

 

Are Corollas the most exciting cars you will find in this price range? Certainly not. But, they sure stand out with their superior build quality and great reliability. They are cost effective and have great resale value. So while a Mazda 3 might be more entertaining, and a Toyota Yaris is perhaps better looking, a Corolla would be the most sensible choice under $5000. You really can’t go wrong with this one.

 

We’ve reviewed versions of the Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i30, Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla.

 

In the market for a used car? Check out all our ReDriven Cheat Sheets.

 

Find all our video reviews over on YouTube.

Cars under $3000

 

Surely any car under $3 grand is going to be a dodgy piece of crap but if you think that, you’d be…well look most of the time, you’d be exactly right, but, there are some great bargains to be had under $3 grand and here are our top 5.

5. Suzuki Swift

In fifth place it’s the Suzuki Swift. Finding one of these for less than 3 grand might be a challenge, but it’ll be worth it.

 

For this budget you’ll be looking at 2005 to 2007 Swifts and they’ll most likely have loads of kilometres on them, which look, as long as they have a healthy service history, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

 

These Swifts are super fun to drive, they look pretty cool, they are proving to be a really reliable thing and are inexpensive to run. 

 

Negatives, well the boot isn’t the biggest and like any car in this price range, if they haven’t been cared for could spell trouble. So it’s critical to check the service history and make sure you have inspected by a licensed mechanic before you hand over your cash.

 

4. Toyota Corolla

Of course the Toyota Corolla was going to make the list but it’s all the way down in 4th place.

 

Now for $3000, you’re going to be presented with a wide range of various Corolla generations and variants but the one to search for is a 2001 to 2007 ninth-generation E120 Corolla and in the best variant trim and condition you can afford.

 

These Corollas will be available as a 5-door hatch or 4-door wagon or sedan in four trim levels, all powered by a near bulletproof 1.8 litre 4-cylinder engine.

 

We say near bulletproof because while they do have an excellent reputation for reliability and longevity, with many Corollas still running strongly after well over 400,000kms, a thorough service history is really important.

 

In fact, we’d go as far as recommending an extremely high kilometre but regularly serviced Corolla over a lower kilometre Corolla that has hardly any service history at all.

 

3. Subaru Forester

We couldn’t just have a list of small hatchbacks because even though the budget is $3000, what if you need more space and more adventure ability than what a small hatch can offer?

 

Luckily our third place getter fits that criteria perfectly, it’s the Subaru Forester.

 

But, for this budget, there’s a very specific Forester you should be hunting for. You’ll want the first-generation 1997 to 2002 Forester with the 2-litre engine. 

 

We cannot say this strongly enough, you want the 2-litre engine, not the later models 2.5 litre, trust us, get the older 2-litre.

 

The 2.5 litre engines at this price point will most likely have some gremlins lurking around the cylinder heads and that will result in a very expensive repair bill. The 2-litre, at this budget is a far safer and stronger option.

 

Yes, these Foresters have a bit of an appetite for oil and can be a bit thirsty when it comes to fuel but you get the safety and adventure prowess of Subaru’s permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive, really good ride quality, an enjoyable driving experience, great practicality and some relatively tough looks. When compared to the other cars in this list anyway.

 

2. Mazda 3

In second place, and yes finding a good one with this budget will be a challenge, it’s the first-generation 2004 to 2009 Mazda 3.

 

Available as either a 4-door sedan or 5-door hatch, the gen-3 is a cracker of a car.

 

Attractive styling, great performance and dynamic handling mixed with practicality, reliability and a decent level of safety makes the 3 a standout at this price point.

 

Like the Corolla, don’t let high kilometres scare you as long as it has a solid service history. But if that service history has as many holes as a fresh crumpet, maybe walk away.

 

1. Toyota Echo

Taking out this top 5, it’s tiny, it’s quirky, it’s a little bubble of fun, it’s the 2001 to 2005 XP10 Toyota Echo.

 

These are available as either a 3- or 5-door hatch or a 4-door sedan but steer clear of the sedan unless you’re ok with people laughing behind your back because they are bloody ugly.

 

The one to get is the 1.5 litre Sportivo, because these things are truly a ball of fun to drive, plus like the slightly more sensible 1.3-litre variants, they are incredibly reliable and even if something does go wrong, it’ll cost next to nothing to repair.

 

Yes they are small but around town they’re hilarious to drive, easy to park and with the rear seats folded down, can be pretty practical.

 

We’ve reviewed versions of the Mazda 3, Suzuki Swift Sport, Subaru Forester & Toyota Corolla.

 

In the market for a used car? Check out all our ReDriven Cheat Sheets.

 

Find all our video reviews over on YouTube.

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