Expert Reveals The Best Car To Buy In Your Early 20s: ‘The Equivalent Of A Nokia Phone’
“How is it with gas?”
Choosing a car in your 20s can be a little trickier than when you’re older and (ideally) have more expendable income and automotive knowledge. So one expert is offering some advice on which cars make the most sense to buy in your 20s.
Ashley (@nomafinance), a car finance broker based in Australia, listed her top picks in a recent TikTok.
“Cars I’d buy in my early 20’s,” she wrote in the text overlay of their clip.
The picks span a mix of sedans, hatchbacks and a small SUV, but all fall into the kind of practical, everyday vehicles younger buyers may be considering as they shop for a first or early-career car.
Her list includes the Toyota Camry, Mazda CX-3, Kia Cerato and Hyundai i30.
“Do you drive these cars?” she asked in the caption.
As of this writing, her video has more than 610,900 views.
Do These Cars Make Sense In Your Early 20s?
Ashley’s picks are pretty conventional, which is probably the point. None is built around being flashy; rather, they’re the kinds of cars that can work as everyday transportation without the luxury car costs.
The Toyota Camry is the biggest of the group. In Australia, the Camry is hybrid-only and Toyota lists combined fuel economy at 4.0 liters per 100 kilometers, or 43 to 53 miles per gallon. That makes it particularly appealing for someone who needs to do a lot of commuting, though a newer Camry will also generally cost more upfront than an older small hatchback.
The Mazda CX-3 is the only SUV on Ashley’s list. Mazda rates the current version at 27 to 34mpg, depending on trim.
The Kia Cerato is a slightly different case because it is no longer Kia’s current small car in Australia. (Kia doesn’t sell the Cerato in the US.) The K4 has succeeded it in Australia, according to reports, but used Ceratos remain relevant for younger shoppers looking for more affordable vehicles.
Ashley also named the Hyundai i30, another compact option that has long competed in the same general part of the small-car market. The i30 is not available in the US.
In general, someone in their early 20s should look beyond the purchase price to insurance, maintenance, fuel, and taxing, Diehl Toyota writes. A cheaper car with a high interest rate or neglected maintenance history can easily become the more expensive choice over time.
And Ashley’s video misses important context: it doesn’t specify model years or trims, which can dramatically change the price and features of any of the cars she listed.
Her advice is a useful starting point for practical models worth comparing, then narrowing down based on what each buyer can actually afford based on their own research.
Gallery: 2025 Toyota Camry First Drive
Owners Agree With Some Of Ashley’s Picks
Several commenters who actually owned cars on Ashley’s list were quick to back her up.
“Kia Cerato, 7 years never had an issue,” one viewer wrote.
Another commenter asked how many kilometers the car had accumulated.
“140k,” the owner replied.
Someone else joked that it might finally be time for an upgrade.
“Time to upgrade to a k4,” they wrote.
Mazda CX-3 owners were just as enthusiastic.
“I loved my Mazda CX-3,” one commenter wrote.
That prompted a question from another viewer: “How is it with gas?”
One owner responded that their 2016 CX-3 had been treating them well.
“Mine’s a 2016. I got my oil changed to synthetic oil [and] it’s amazing on gas!” they wrote.
Another commenter shared an even more detailed account of their older CX-3.
“I had a 14, I believe, and it was GREAT on gas. I mean a full tank was 35$ and it would last about 2 weeks driving 70+ miles a day,” they wrote.
The first Mazda owner agreed with the general praise.
“Yess! I just love my Mazda!” they added.
The comments reflect individual experiences, of course, and fuel and maintenance costs can vary depending on where someone lives, how much they drive their car, and its overall condition.
Motor1 contacted Ashley via TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.
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