ATLANTA, May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Graduating from college is a major life achievement, and one of the first things many graduates do after landing a new job is search for a means of transportation. Autotrader knows the car-shopping process can be intimidating, so the experts have put together their top vehicle recommendations and shopping tips for college grads preparing for their future purchase.

"College students have a lot of decisions to make after graduating, but car shopping doesn't have to be as complicated as it seems," said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader. "There are more choices than ever, so to help narrow the pool, we hand-picked all the vehicles that tailor to both the lifestyle and budget of the average recent grad."

Autotrader editors selected nine great new and certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles based on affordability, practicality, fuel economy and style – all with an affordable price tag of $25,000 or less.

The nine models that recent college grads should have on their shopping lists are:

*Models are unranked, listed in alphabetical order

To make sure the car buying is experience is as satisfying and hassle-free as possible, Autotrader experts also offer a few pieces of advice:

1. Consider new and used vehicles: New cars are almost guaranteed to have the latest technological upgrades, as well as extensive warranties and incentives that you generally can't get on the pre-owned market. However, used cars typically cost less and therefore depreciate less over time.  
2. Know your options when it comes to leasing and buying a vehicle. When you graduate from college, it's hard to say where you're going to be a few years down the road. But if you can count on staying put for at least two years, leasing could be a convenient option. The car is typically new or nearly-new, and if anything goes wrong unexpectedly, the dealership covers the cost.
3. Figure out what you can afford. Once you've decided on a few cars worth considering, it's time to find out what will work within your budget. If you're interested in financing or leasing your next car, determine your maximum monthly payment before you get your heart set on anything.

Students are encouraged to visit Autotrader.com/CollegeCars to find helpful resources like lists of the coolest affordable cars on the market and expert consumer advice to help young buyers negotiate the best deal.

For more information about these top selections visit Great Cars for Recent College Grads.

About Autotrader
Autotrader is the most visited third-party car shopping site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or certified pre-owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience.

Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader®, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, vAuto®, Xtime® and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

SOURCE Autotrader