Teens still want cars. Despite all the grim auto news, graduating seniors continue to fantasize about driving a spanking new ride to that momentous first day at college.
So which cars are most popular with newly minted drivers? According to marketing data, American kids want reputable brands with cool styling, great gas mileage and ample passenger and luggage space.
“The brand has to speak to them and interact with them,” says Issa Sawabini, a partner at Fuse, a youth marketing agency in New York City.
Ford Motor ( F - news - people ), Honda ( HMC - news - people ), Nissan ( NSANY - news - people ), Subaru and Toyota ( TM - news - people ) have excelled at capturing teenagers’ attention, offering the readily customizable, Euro-style Ford Focus and the aggressive Nissan GT-R, which earned a loyal following thanks to its presence in the auto racing videogame “Gran Turismo.” Teens also like the eco-minded Toyota Prius and Ford’s carefully cultivated, iconic Mustang brand.
Teens tend to pick small sedans and coupes that get good gas mileage, have room for several friends, cost no more than $23,000 and, most importantly, are made by brands identified as socially acceptable in the rarified air of high-school hallways and cafeterias.
Honda and Toyota are perennial winners on our “most popular” list. The $20,900 Accord and $19,400 Camry have seating for five and combined fuel efficiencies of 24 mpg and 27 mpg, respectively. Plus, they are produced by respectable companies that also make the likes of the $35,000 Honda S2000 and Toyota Celica (of “Gran Turismo” fame).
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