(May 3, 2017) ATLANTA — Graduating from college is a major life achievement, and one of the first things many graduates do after landing a new job is search for a means of transportation. Autotrader knows the car-shopping process can be intimidating, so the experts have put together their top vehicle recommendations and shopping tips for college grads preparing for their future purchase.

"College students have a lot of decisions to make after graduating, but car shopping doesn't have to be as complicated as it seems," said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader. "There are more choices than ever, so to help narrow the pool, we hand-picked all the vehicles that tailor to both the lifestyle and budget of the average recent grad."

Autotrader editors selected nine new and certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles based on affordability, practicality, fuel economy and style — all with an affordable price tag of $25,000 or less.

The nine models that recent college grads should have on their shopping lists are:

2017 Chevrolet Cruz                   
2017 Toyota Prius    
2017 Ford Focus ST  
2015-16 CPO Acura TLX
2017 Honda HR-V
2016 CPO Hyundai Tucson
2017 Jeep Renegade  
2014-16 CPO MINI Cooper (pictured below)
2017 Subaru Impreza
   
*Models are unranked, listed in alphabetical order

To make sure the car buying is experience is as satisfying and hassle-free as possible, Autotrader experts also offer a few pieces of advice:

    • Consider new and used vehicles: New cars are almost guaranteed to have the latest technological upgrades, as well as extensive warranties and incentives that you generally can't get on the pre-owned market. However, used cars typically cost less and therefore depreciate less over time. 

    • Know your options when it comes to leasing and buying a vehicle. When you graduate from college, it's hard to say where you're going to be a few years down the road. But if you can count on staying put for at least two years, leasing could be a convenient option. The car is typically new or nearly-new, and if anything goes wrong unexpectedly, the dealership covers the cost.

    • Figure out what you can afford. Once you've decided on a few cars worth considering, it's time to find out what will work within your budget. If you're interested in financing or leasing your next car, determine your maximum monthly payment before you get your heart set on anything.

Students are encouraged to visit Autotrader.com/CollegeCars to find helpful resources like lists of the coolest affordable cars on the market and expert consumer advice to help young buyers negotiate the best deal.