The three used cars most desired by young drivers (16-25) are Ford Mustangs, Jeep Wranglers and Honda Civics. They're small, on the sporty side and well within the realm of affordability for many recent graduates and their families. Younger drivers are drawn to cars that seem faster or more "fun" than sedans, which are perceived as being "serious."

According to an article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, used luxury cars make better choices for young drivers. Luxury cars, sedans in particular, tend to be heavier and do well on crash tests, as well as being reliable. This makes them safer choices in the long run. To put them in the same entry-level price range as the lower-end vehicles, buyers have to look at slightly older cars. Fortunately, luxury cars have and advantage here, too. Even older luxury cars are likely to have more options and additional safety features, such as stability control and side-impact airbags, which may not have been standard on other models for that model year.

The Lexus IS, Audi A4 and Saab 9-3 were the three top choices recommended.