For new drivers, the thought of being able to drive a car is a great feeling, but it’s even better when you choose the right car. For first-time drivers, some cars are worth considering, while others are best avoided. The cars I recommend are in the more affordable range, have great safety ratings, reliability ratings, feature ratings, and are overall great cars for a first car driving experience. On the other hand, some of the cars that I’d suggest steering clear of are many you see in Lake Forest. 

This list highlights several car manufacturers and evaluates whether their vehicles meet the key needs of first-time drivers, including  safety, reliability, features, affordability, and performance.

Most Reliable Car Brands in 2025

Subaru

Subaru makes a very simple and reliable car; the brand earns its high reputation from their long lasting and durable cars. Moreover, nearly every Subaru model is AWD which is very consistent in many weather/road conditions. For 2025, the only Subaru model that isn’t AWD is the Subaru BRZ, which is a small sports coupe and is recommended for more experienced drivers. Besides the BRZ, every Subaru model for the 2025 and past years lineup has AWD. Additionally, many Subaru models have also provided Apple Carplay along with Bluetooth Connectivity since 2010. 

What also made me put Subaru on this list is the safety ratings it has for its vehicles: the 2025 Subaru Forester received the IIHS Top Safety Pick Award, the 2025 Subaru Outback and Subaru Impreza received the highest five-star ratings for safety from the NHTSA., and past Subaru models still hold very strong ratings from the IIHS Safety Ratings and have very exceptional reliability scores.

Honda

Honda is widely known for making cars that are trustworthy and efficient. Newer Honda’s are quite budget friendly as the new models and older models are ranked at the top with other competitors in reliability. Given that the weather in Lake Forest can vary––Snow, heavy rain, and icy roads––many affordable Honda sedans such as the Civic and the Accord have very efficient performing FWD. It may seem odd, but the engine’s weight on the front wheels gives the tires better traction in many different weather conditions. Other Honda models in the SUV class such as the Pilot, Passport,  CR-V, and many more have very safe and efficient AWD. 

Honda scores a very high score on safety ratings, as the 2025 Civic and 2025 Pilot both earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick, and many older models also perform very well in safety tests.Many Honda’s older models from 2016 have Apple Carplay along with the newer models. Models as old as 2009 have Bluetooth connectivity. Honda’s reputation for making simple and reliable cars make them a very good option for first-time drivers.

Toyota

Toyota is at the top of the car brands in terms of reliability and quality. Toyota is seen nearly all over the world and is ranked as one of the best car brands for first-time drivers by nearly all Auto websites. For many beginning drivers, new and older Toyota models fit nearly all the needs a first-timer wants and needs. If you are just looking to have a comfortable ride to school and back or go for far distances the Toyota Camry, Prius, and Corolla all offer a simple and smooth ride. New and older years of those hatchback/sedan models are affordable and have incredible reliability scores. Very few recalls have been set for those models and for the rest of Toyota’s lineup too. 

In addition, nearly every Toyota model has a cheap repair cost on top if it is an affordable option. 

Toyota offers Apple Carplay on 2019 and newer models, but it also has had Bluetooth connectivity since 2007. 

Toyota also offers a variety of drivetrain options, for FWD, it is available on the sedans/hatchbacks and smaller SUVs. AWD is available on the smaller SUVs (RAV4 and Highlander),  for some hatchback/sedan trims, and the rest of the SUV/Truck lineup. Finally, RWD is available on the Trucks/Sport coupes with the exception of also having a AWD option for some. 

Many Toyota models such as the 2025 Toyota Camry earned a five star safety rating for NHTSA and the IIHS Top Safety Pick award. Older Toyota models also have great safety ratings by the IIHS.

Toyota earns their reputation for making  top-notch reliable, simple, affordable, safe and great performing vehicles, which makes Toyota the best car option for first time drivers.

Other reliable car brands to note:

Nissan

Volkswagen

Porsche (Not Budget Friendly)

Audi

Volvo

BMW (Not Budget Friendly)

Ford 

GMC

Chevrolet

Acura

Mazda 

Kia

Lexus 

Hyundai

Least Reliable Car Brands in 2025

Mercedes-Benz

You have probably seen a Mercedes in Lake Forest, but they are considered to be  one of the least reliable car brands in 2025. Mercedes is ranked 27th out of 32 car brands with a 3.0/5.0 reliability score according to RepairPal. While many models feature very efficient and advanced technology, this complexity contributes to their lower reliability scores. 

Though many Mercedes models have very good durability and perform quite well in Lake Forest weather conditions; the problems start here. After about 100,000 miles, key components of the car such as engine gaskets, air suspension, and the transmission need attention, which isn’t cheap at all according to RalleyeMotors. The average repair cost is about $908 for a Mercedes according to RepairPal, which is quite an expense given that the average repair cost is $300-$500. Additionally, around 13% of unshielded repairs are classified as severe for Mercedes, according to KempthornMotors. 

Despite their poor reliability reviews, Mercedes 2025 models and older models have strong safety ratings from the IIHS.  Mercedes earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick for the 2025 C-Class. But then again, the 2025 C-Class comes in at about $48,000 for the C 300 (Base Model) of the C-Class. Insurance costs for any car named under Mercedes comes at a high price given that they are classified as a luxury brand. Especially for younger drivers with not a lot of experience, insurance costs are not budget friendly.

Mercedes vehicles as old as 2014 have Apple Carplay and Bluetooth connectivity since 2005-2008. However, Mercedes has very complicated technology with sensors, systems, and control modules. 

All in all, Mercedes vehicles should be avoided by first time drivers due to poor reliability scores, expensive insurance, and repair costs.

Land Rover

Land Rovers are extremely common in Lake Forest, however, it is extremely common that Land Rovers will have problems, which makes them not ideal at all for a first car. Land Rover is ranked 31st out of 32 car brands according to RepairPal, with a reliability score of 2.5/5.0. This places the  Land Rover way below average. Yet, Land Rover does perform well in performance and in several different weather conditions due to their off-road traction capability with the well performing AWD technology. 

Land Rover’s list of problems make them fall where they are in the reliability scores rankings.Average annual repair costs for Land Rovers are around $1,174 according to RepairPal. On top of this, there is a 16% probability that a repair will be severe. 

The performance of Land Rovers is impressive, many of their vehicles deliver power and also problems. Common problems with Land Rover engines are cooling, oil leaks, and timing chains according to WestminsterMotors. 

Land Rover models from 2019 and newer include Apple Carplay, and even models as old as 2006 have Bluetooth Connectivity. Newer Land Rover models also have quite advanced technology which is one of the very few pros of their vehicles.

Overall, Land Rovers should not be a considerable option for first time drivers given that they are expensive to insure, purchase, and repair. Insurance skyrockets for first time drivers with luxury cars like Land Rovers and because they are luxurious and powerful performing vehicles, they are too much for first-time drivers.

Jeep

I would consider Jeep as “the car of Lake Forest.” They are everywhere and, in my opinion, they are overrated. They are listed as 15th out of 32 car brands on RepairPal… not bad right? But, for first time drivers and in general, this “car of Lake Forest” is an unreliable nightmare. Jeep scores a 3.5/5.0 on reliability ratings from RepairPal, which gives them the middle placement, but popular models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Jeep Wrangler show otherwise. 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is ranked 15th out of 26 midsize SUVs, while the popular Jeep Wrangler being ranked 25th out of 26 compact SUVs all according to Edmunds and RepairPal. These rankings cover not only the 2025 model years, but also past model years of the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler ranging from the late 2000s to the mid 2020s.

Many may disagree with me and these sources, but ultimately safety on the road must be the top priority. Newer and older Jeep Wranglers are considered quite dangerous on the roads. Their high center of gravity and poor aerodynamics increases risk of rolling over. While Jeep Wranglers often excel as are off-road vehicles and perform well in off-roading, their performance on asphalt is highly different. Wranglers have poor handling on paved roads and another risk of rolling over on sharp turns at a high speed. 

The more commonly known term for the Jeep Wranglers is the “death wobble.” The “death wobble” is defined as a violent shaking from a Jeep Wrangler, which leads to an uncontrollable front end of the car. This happens from hitting bumps, potholes, and uneven terrain. According to  ExtremeTerrian the “death wobble” is also caused by a variety of parts of a Jeep Wrangler, and for a fixable price this comes in at around a few hundred dollars to possibly thousands of dollars. 

More on safety, many of the Jeep Wrangler models and years have had complaints on faulty airbags. Wranglers as old as 2007-2012 have had these problems but not nearly as dangerous on newer models such as 2018 and newer years. 

However, it’s important to note that the Jeep has shown a steady increase of reliability over the years but they are outshot by several other brands. Even models such as the Renegade and Compass are known for having engine issues given that they are both equipped with TigerShark engines, which are known for having several problems and being unreliable. EnduranceWarranty states that these cars are unfortunately an addition to Jeep’s unpredictable lineup. 

On the other hand, Jeep does have pretty well performing technology given that they have had Apple Carplay and Bluetooth connectivity on all 2017 and newer models since 2007.

Given this, Jeep’s are popular in Lake Forest and people may like them a lot. However, they are not a good choice for a first-time driver in the long run. 

Other unreliable and should avoid car brands:

Jaguar (Not Budget Friendly)

Saturn (No Longer in Production)

Fiat

Dodge (Newer Models)

Rivian

Peugeot

Alfa Romeo (Not Budget Friendly)

Citroen