So you just took and passed that driving test. Next step? Start looking for that first car. But what to get, since there are so many options? We looked at some solid choices, catering for various preferences and different states of lavishness of wallets. And just so you know, the Mitsubishi Mirage is not on this list.

In short, you need to buy with your heart and head, with proper consideration for the status of your bank account. And if your parents return home from their regular shopping expeditions with bags of cash, you may need to ask some questions.

Choosing the right car can be tough. But it can also be a lot of fun. This is a look at some good, solid, practical options. And a few slightly ambitious ones because dreaming big never harmed anyone.

10

Toyota Prius LE

MSRP: $28,350

Oh, what a long way the Prius has come since the first model was launched in 1997. Back in the day it was a trendsetter, but cool… well, no. In fact, if you look past the hybrid technology, the original Prius was as exciting as watching paint dry.

But what if you are a teenager with an interest in matters of the environment like, say, climate justice activist, Greta Thunberg, and you need an environmentally-sensitive car? Then look no further than the latest Prius. Not only does it look superb (especially in the new Nightshade trim), its hybrid powertrain offers a practical solution between electrification and gasoline.

Did we mention it has nearly 200 hp too? So you can get to those urgent environmental matters much faster, too! You don’t even have to bother with stick shift, conserving more energy. The Prius is equipped with the latest electronic CVT gearbox. It is also a Toyota, so you get reliability and reasonable resale value as part of the deal. In fact, out of all the Toyotas currently on sale, the Prius holds its value the best.

9

Mini Cooper

MSRP: $28,950

Feeling sporty, but don’t want to break the bank? Don’t you need a lot of space? Are you an Austin Powers or Mr Bean fan? Then the latest Mini Cooper Hardtop may be just the ticket.

The entry-level 2-door Cooper features a funky interior, a sporty 3-spoke steering wheel, and the world’s first 9.4-inch round OLED display and the Mini Toggle Bar in the center. Cool news for teenagers is the integrated gaming console in the OLED display, and you can play your favorite game when the car is parked.

In true Mini tradition, you can have the Cooper in just about any color under the sun, from a traditional British Racing Green to a shade of Sunny Side Yellow. A 2-liter turbocharged engine with 161 hp powers the Cooper, and it can do 130 mph. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. On the handling front, the latest Cooper has not forsaken its ancestors. You can still chuck it into a corner with confidence.

8

Subaru Crosstrek Premium

MSRP: $27,060

So you are a bit of a Ken Block and Travis Pastrana fan, with a cool screen saver collection of Subaru Impreza STIs flying through the air on a rally stage. But you also need practical and safe, fuel-efficient, and you have to give some buddies a lift. Oh, and you are also into surfing, so you need a vehicle that can get you (and buddies) closer to the beach. It even has to tackle some sandy tracks.

Then look no further than the Subaru Crosstrek, preferably in the Wilderness trim. You get Subaru’s iconic Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive, combined with the brand’s 2.5-liter Boxer engine. It delivers 182 hp, which is still very handy on a sandy track. On the inside, you get a lot of cool kit, like Subaru’s Starlink Multimedia system and EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. On the outside, LED headlights, cool 17-inch wheels, a roof spoiler and raised roof-rails are standard.

Those rally legends will definitely approve.

7

Mazda3 2.5 S Select Sport Sedan

MSRP: $24,690

Right, time to get practical with a sedan. And what is more practical than the latest Mazda3 Sedan? It can even serve as an Uber when you’re not using it. Since the entry-level Mazda3 gets puny wheels that no self-respecting teenager will tolerate, we focus on the 2.5 S Select Sport model, which comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels with a black metallic finish.

The sedan is powered by Mazda’s SkyActive-G engine, delivering 191 hp, and the power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The interior is a luxurious affair, and there is dual-zone climate control, a keyless entry system, leatherette-trimmed sports seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector, a six-speed sound system, Alexa Built-in, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

6

Kia Carnival LX

MSRP: $36,800

Right, so you are a popular teenager. The football quarterback. Or the captain of the chess team. You’ve got lots of friends. What better way not to disappoint those (six) friends by providing the most suitable transport solution so they can still tap into the greatness of your aura, and don’t have to walk. Introducing the Kia Carnival.

Who would have thought we’d call an MPV pretty, but here it is. The Carnival is a good-looking machine because Kia gave it more SUV design cues, rather than focusing on the traditional minivan aesthetic. And it is loaded too. Besides the spectacularly comfortable ride and interior, and 290 hp, you get Auto Emergency Braking Technology with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alerts, power sliding doors, 12.3-inch touchscreen display with navigation, Kia Connect and SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto and tri-zone climate control. In short, it has all the bells and whistles.

You and your six best friends will have a great time in it.

5

Hyundai Elantra N

MSRP: $33,700

Into the racing simulators? Think you’re the next Max Verstappen? Then you need the right car for the job. Like the feisty Hyundai Elantra N.

The Elantra N is one of the most engaging driving experiences you can get at the price, with the Honda Civic Type R costing significantly more. In true boy/girl racer style, it has a six-speed manual gearbox, driving the front wheels only. And a loud exhaust.

It has an electronically controlled limited slip differential at the front, along with sporty damping and a reduced steering gear ratio. On the inside, you get N-specific sports seats, steering wheel, gear knob and metal pedals.

The good news is that, just in case you are not really as good as Max Verstappen, the little Hyundai is safe as houses, with a raft of advanced safety features.

4

Jeep Wrangler

MSRP: $31,995

So you’ve got a thing about Moab in Utah, where 4x4s drive up, down and through mountains. Like the Rubicon Trail, Caddilac Hill, and so on. You obviously need something with some off-road pedigree and ability. That Prius we mentioned earlier just won’t do.

Enter the erstwhile Jeep Wrangler. Even in stock trim (which may be frowned upon at Moab), the Jeep is a highly capable 4WD, and it will run through most of the obstacles with ease. The entry-level model has a six-speed manual gearbox, and the V6 engine has 285 hp in the bank – plenty enough for those Utah mountains.

On the inside, you don’t get a lot of space, but you do get a fancy infotainment system with eight speakers, and all the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections you’d need. Oh, and the Jeep is also a convertible.

3

Tesla Model 3 Performance

MSRP: $42,490

A Tesla Model 3 Performance is just what you need to get to those Just Stop Oil get-together events. And get there in good time too. The Performance’s twin electric motors drive all four wheels, and with 510 hp in the game, will complete the 0-60 mph dash in just 2.8 seconds.

In typical Tesla fashion, there are some cool and quirky details… like the top performance setting is called “Insane.” It also has a track mode, launch mode, a performance-oriented suspension with adaptive dampers, upgraded brakes, carbon fiber spoiler and a rear diffuser.

Throw in a range of around 300 miles and fast-charging technology, the luxurious interior, the massive 15.4-inch screen that controls just about all the car’s functions, an additional 8-inch screen for rear passengers, and a top-grade sound system.

2

Ford Mustang 2.3 EcoBoost

MSRP: $31,920

So you have a thing for Ford’s Mustang, but the 500 hp Dark Horse, retailing for $65,000, is just a bridge too far. Then there is always the Mustang 2.3 EcoBoost, selling for half the price of that Dark Horse.

Make no mistake: it is no slouch. The 2.3-liter turbocharged engine delivers 315 hp, and the power is sent to the rear wheels via a 10-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. On the inside, you get Ford’s SYNC 4 with a 13.2-inch Centerstack touchscreen, a six-speaker sound system and all the basic features.

It also has a lane-keeping system, road edge detection (for those times when you smoke the tires going sideways around a corner), AdvanceTrac with electronic stability control (ESC), and SOS Post-Crash Alert System.

1

Rolls-Royce Spectre

MSRP: $422,750

On the other end of the scale: Every fortnight your parents go for a visit to a bank somewhere in the country, wearing their favorite Freddy Krueger face masks. Then they return with bags full of cash. On occasion, they hand you a bag too. After a few months of saving, you have enough to buy your favorite car: The Rolls-Royce Spectre.

Selling for $422,750, the all-electric Spectre coupe is simply sublime. Powered by twin electric motors with a combined output of 577 hp, the big and heavy coupe, with its 23-inch wheels, can sprint from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. It can also reach almost 300 miles between charges.

But this Rolls is not about 0-60 mph. It is about the consummate luxury and refinement, the 60-decibel sound level when you travel at legal highway speeds, the magnificent touch and feel of the interior. It doesn’t get much better and more posh than this.