Born in 1999, my daughter is among the many earliest Individuals recognized as Era Z. Most demographers classify these born between 1997 and 2012 as “Z,” and listing amongst their distinctive experiences having been born into the digital age.
Automobile Buying With Gen Z
Era Z and Driving
Primarily based completely on anecdotal proof, I wish to add to Gen Z’s roster of noteworthy traits a normal disdain for automobiles and driving. My daughter’s first automobile, a 2014 Nissan Juke, was foisted upon her by my spouse and me as a result of we didn’t wish to drive the child to six:00 AM water-polo apply. She wished nothing to do with it.
Unrelated: My child additionally needs nothing to do with the music I hearken to. Perhaps that’s a Gen Z factor, too.
Changing the Nissan Juke
The Juke has been part of the household for a few decade now, and has served my daughter properly. The little Nissan traveled with my child to Monmouth Faculty in western Illinois, and later to Colorado State for graduate college. The automobile by no means failed my daughter, and by no means even troubled her with a useless battery. Although a string of flat tires whereas at Monmouth proved irritating.
The Juke is getting up within the years, nevertheless, and my daughter, now gainfully employed, felt the necessity for one thing slightly quieter and extra comfy, and fewer drained trying.
New-Automobile Priorities Checklist
We began the seek for a brand new automobile about six weeks in the past, and started take a look at driving autos shortly after that. One factor we discovered early on: It’s troublesome to squeeze greater than two take a look at drives into a day. Extra on that in a bit…
My daughter’s listing of new-car calls for was easy and stable. She had gotten used to the dimensions of the Juke (tiny) and didn’t wish to drive something a lot bigger. It’s value stating that my child is on the small aspect, standing round 5’ 4”. Her options/priorities listing:
New Automobile Ought to Be…
Small
- Simple to see out of
- Simple to get comfy in
- Simple to park
Comfy/Refined
- Quieter and extra relaxed on the freeway than the Juke (The Juke might be buzzy)
- Ought to have extra comfy trip than Juke (The Juke might be bouncy)
Connectivity
- Utterly wi-fi cellular gadget connectivity (The Juke was poor on this regard)
Roomy (sufficient)
- Again-seat space must accommodate a largish canine crate
Enjoyable
- Quick (Be aware that I mentioned quick, not simply fast)
- Deal with properly
- Must be an attention-grabbing coloration
Upscale (at the very least moderately)
- Be good if the inside was sort of stylish (Juke cabin largely exhausting plastic)
- Audio system at the very least first rate
AWD
- With extra floor clearance than the Juke (Story beneath)
Buying Begins
Although my daughter has proven little curiosity in automobiles over time—purchasing for the Juke was a nightmare of indifference—she was absolutely engaged within the Juke-replacement course of. I don’t recall my little one ever being extra open to my recommendation.
Buying started with me capturing her opinions and listings for autos I assumed would meet her wants—and of which I accepted. The test-drive candidates have been all subcompact crossovers, this more-or-less dictated by the demand for AWD, and rear-seat dog-crate house.
The Candidates
Sight unseen, my child dismissed the Buick Encore GX, firstly as a result of it’s a Buick, and secondly as a result of it isn’t supplied in any attention-grabbing colours. She additionally rapidly dismissed a used Mini Countryman, this regardless of the promise of energy and fast dealing with. She finds the Mini design esthetic slightly compelled, and wonders about what kind of unusual group she’d be becoming a member of by driving one.
Additionally mentioned, however rapidly dismissed, was a used 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale. The small crossover, although unique by model, is mechanically a close to clone of the Dodge Hornet. {The marketplace} is plagued by one-year-old Tonales with low odometer readings promoting for comfortably below $30,000. Compelling as these little Alfas are, we feared costly elements prices, together with brakes (distinctive to the Tonale) wheels, and physique panels. Would have been cool, although…
(Be aware: 2024 Tonales have been powered by an excruciatingly crude plug-in-hybrid drivetrain. For 2025 Alfa switched to an entertainingly caffeinated 2.0-liter turbocharged setup that feels and sounds sporty, and is extra in character with what an Alfa needs to be. As for all of the 2025 examples already on used-car heaps, I can solely assume these automobiles have been pressed into short-term rental-car obligation to assist relieve bloated inventories of the slow-selling autos.)
Doing Analysis
To her credit score, the child did a substantial quantity of analysis on her personal, asking good questions on reliability, and efficiency. All advised, we take a look at drove 5 small crossovers, every of which offered properly, and would have made a superb each day driver for my first born. (She’s additionally my solely born.)
No Hyundai Kona
Apparently, we have been prepared to check drive a sixth car, however shockingly, they’re out of inventory. All of them. Per two Hyundai sellers, there are nearly no new Konas to be discovered within the Chicago space. Apparently 2025 examples of the favored small crossover are offered out, and 2026 editions are but to start arriving within the States. It’s exhausting to not assume that these comparatively fashionable Korean-built, low-margin autos have develop into a back-burner precedence for Hyundai, as the corporate grapples with the tariff state of affairs. We’ll see how rapidly 2026 Konas arrive in showrooms. (The Kona is imported from South Korea.)
Check-Drive Fatigue
As for take a look at driving candidate autos, the method was fatiguing. Although exhibiting up unannounced for a take a look at spin proved to be of little hassle to dealership employees, the wait between the time we arrived at a retailer till we have been finally seated in a car was typically appreciable.
Whereas our arrive-to-drive time at a suburban Chicago Nissan retailer was lower than quarter-hour, our wait to drive a brand new Chevrolet Trailblazer examined our persistence, and we left the dealership after 35 minutes–having not take a look at pushed the automobile.
Low Stress
Apparently, the car-shopping expertise has grown much less tense over the previous few years, at the very least by way of salesperson strain. Subsequent to our take a look at drives, we obtained solely a handful of follow-up contacts, none of which have been something however pleasant {and professional}.
Check Drive Professional Tip
Right here’s a tip: Don’t head out for a behind-the-wheel analysis round rush hour. Our drives all came about within the comparatively congested Chicago suburbs, save for that of the Dodge Hornet, which was situated at a retailer within the metropolis. Our planning was poor, and in a few instances we spent appreciable time in visitors trying to achieve some open pavement. Our ride-along gross sales representatives have been all affected person, however battling rush-hour congestion lower into the time we had allotted for test-driving—and diminished the standard of the take a look at drive itself.
My Daughter’s Check-Drive Notes
Right here I’ve collected my daughter’s ideas on every of the autos we evaluated, together with a couple of notes on why the child finally handed on mentioned trip. The autos are listed from least preferred to most preferred, although no automobile we drove was really disappointing. I’ve additionally included a couple of of my daughter’s ideas on her Nissan Juke.
Nissan Juke
Automobile: 2014 SL AWD
Click on right here for extra in regards to the Nissan Juke.
Daughter’s take:
Execs
- Tiny (simple to park and maneuver)
- Quick and enjoyable to drive
- Handles properly
- Simple to see out of
- Good within the snow (survived 10-hour blizzard drive en-route to Fort Collins, Colorado.)
Concerning snow: My daughter famous that although the Juke’s AWD system was as much as the duty of coping with blizzard situations, the automobile’s low floor clearance proved a hindrance because the white stuff piled up between lanes on the freeway. She reviews that if she stayed within the snow “groove” created by visitors, issues went properly sufficient, however that trying to alter lanes—and cross deeply piled accumulation—proved troublesome, even harmful.
Cons
- Very loud, particularly on freeway
- Poor connectivity setup (telephone hands-free hyperlink by no means labored properly)
- Windshield wipers by no means coated a lot glass space (substitute blades did not right state of affairs)
- Again doorways “suck” (openings small, deal with oddly situated)
- Bass from customary Rockford Fosgate “ecoPunch” audio system “obnoxious”
Hyundai Kona: No Present
As famous above, the regional provide of 2025 Konas has dried up, and 2026 examples have but to reach in native dealerships. Whereas not a direct substitute, the mechanically comparable Kia Seltos served properly sufficient as a Kona Surrogate. Click on right here for extra on the Kona.
Nissan Kick: Fifth Place
Check Automobile: 2025 SR AWD with Premium Bundle
Because the Kicks is a 2025 Client Information Greatest Purchase, I had anticipated it to higher impress my daughter. Its lack of energy, and the limited-availability of heated seats, nevertheless, pushed the spunky Nissan to the underside of my child’s listing. Click on right here for extra in regards to the Nissan Kicks.
Daughter’s take:
Execs
- Cute/best-looking car in test-drive group
- Good coloration choices
- Cool, upscale inside (young-person vibe)
- Good outward visibility
Cons
- Gradual
- Audio system “sucked”
- Solely high trim degree with dear bundle fashions accessible with heated entrance seats
Chevrolet Trailblazer: Fourth Place
Check Automobile: Used 2025 RS AWD (3000 miles)
The sporty RS seems nice from the surface, although the inside comes off as slightly plain when in comparison with the opposite autos we take a look at drove. The little Chevy does serve up the most effective use of cabin house, nevertheless. Be aware that we’d have appeared on the similar-size Chevrolet Trax, which is available in cheaper than the Trailblazer, but it surely isn’t supplied with AWD. Click on right here for extra in regards to the Trailblazer.
Daughter’s take:
Execs
- Cute colours, preferred accessible two-tone paint schemes
- Acceptable energy
Cons
- Constructed for a taller driver (couldn’t get comfy behind the wheel)
- Poor rearward visibility
Dodge Hornet: Third Place
Check Automobile: Used 2025 GT Plus (6000 miles) (Licensed Pre-Owned)
This explicit automobile had been sitting on the dealership lot for weeks, and was priced very attractively. One challenge may need been the automobile’s Acapulco Gold paint, which is one thing of a love-it or hate-it affair. Although my daughter didn’t love the colour, she appreciated that it was each unconventional, and unusual. Click on right here for extra on the Hornet.
Daughter’s take:
Execs
Cons
- Didn’t properly accommodate quick driver (felt as if in a bath)
- Poor outward visibility (fore and aft)
- Rear seat backs don’t fold degree with load flooring
- Some unusual controls (turn-signal particularly)
Kia Seltos: Second Place
Check Automobile: 2025 SX AWD
Although not fairly as extinct because the Hyundai Kona, the on-lot provide of 2025 examples of the Kia Seltos seemed to be skinny–at the very least within the Chicago space. That mentioned, we did spend time with a loaded SX, which comes customary with the higher-power engine possibility (a 195-horsepower turbocharged 4, versus a 146-horse non-turbocharged 4).
Daughter’s take:
Execs
- Good coloration choice
- Respectable energy
- Comparatively enjoyable to drive
- Good inside
- Respectable sound system
- Would select if extra passenger house was wanted
Cons
- Odd driving place—appears designed for somebody with longer legs
Mazda CX-30: First Place
Check Automobile: 2024 2.5 Carbon Turbo (8000 miles) (Licensed Pre-Owned)
The marketed worth on this frivolously used 2024 was too good to disregard. Once more, we marvel if the colour, Zircon Sand Metallic, may need been a barrier to resale. My child doesn’t love the colour, however is joyful that it’s one thing out of the bizarre. I occur to assume it seems stylish. Additionally, with 250 horsepower on faucet, the CX-30 is, by far, the quickest of the autos my daughter thought-about. Click on right here for extra on the CX-30.
Daughter’s take:
Execs
- Enjoyable to drive
- Nice dealing with
- Feels small (in a great way)
- Good inside
- Higher sound system than different automobiles examined
- Amused by the colour
Cons
- Doesn’t really like the colour
Buying Course of
Concerning the method, my child discovered interacting with salespeople tedious. There have been too many inquiries to reply, and the wait to truly take a look at drive automobiles was, generally, too lengthy. As a member of Gen Z, her expectation is that a lot of the “small speak” and license checking ought to most likely be dealt with on-line. You realize, digital age, and all. She was additionally upset that we couldn’t drive a Kona, a car about which she had heard good issues.
The child was moreover upset by the dearth of coloration and trim degree choices accessible throughout our search. Certainly, new CX-30 stock appeared to be restricted largely to less-expensive non-turbocharged trim ranges, whereas the stock of Trailblazers on vendor heaps was practically as lean.
Huge because of Rene Quinones of Schaumburg Mazda in Schaumburg, Illinois for helping us. Rene was affected person as we take a look at drove two autos for prolonged evaluations (CX-30 and the Trailblazer), returned my calls after hours, and introduced the automobile round to the showroom a second time so I might take a tape-measure to it and ensure my child’s canine crate was going to suit.
The worth quoted was the worth we paid, and we didn’t endure hard-sell strain to think about an prolonged guarantee or service contract, although the merchandise have been offered to us.
Carfax
A shout out to Carfax for its Carfax Worth information. The automobile my daughter bought was listed as a “Nice Worth” by Carfax, at about $1200 below common transaction worth for a like-equipped CX-30 with comparable odometer mileage. Whereas I most likely might have haggled off one other $100-$200, I actually didn’t see the purpose. We obtained nice service, a stable deal, and, most significantly, a fantastic automobile that my child was proud of. I’m slightly bummed, although. I used to be type of hoping to do at the very least slightly haggling. You realize, old style.
Last Ideas:
As my daughter hasn’t brazenly expressed pleasure about something for the reason that new season of Bob’s Burger’s, her lack of open delight with the brand new automobile isn’t too shocking. Nonetheless, she appears joyful along with her the trip, and was clearly thrilled with the little Mazda’s acceleration.
And whereas she doesn’t actually care about automobiles, and wouldn’t personal one if she didn’t must, when it got here time to analysis and put together for a serious buy, she rose to the event and shopped patiently and critically. A lot so, the truth is, that she was open to taking recommendation from her father. Right here’s to you, Era Z. Now if I might simply get her to hearken to slightly Ray Bryant or Kenny Burrell…
Be aware: I made a degree of not sharing what I do for a residing with any of the salespeople. It was enjoyable to only be alongside for the trip.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
Gen Z Automobile-Buying Footage
Click on beneath for enlarged pictures
