best cars in the world 2012

You might be surprised to learn that the lowest-priced new car in America is not some ancient, long-ago-paid-for design, but rather an all-new-for-2012 model. Meet the Nissan Versa, which offers as much interior space as a mid-size sedan plus Nissan's legendary reliability and longevity, all for half the price of a base-model Toyota Camry. Cheap as it is, the Versa is far from stripped-down -- it comes with air conditioning and a CD stereo as standard equipment. There is a bit of a catch: An automatic transmission will cost you $1,770, about twice the going rate. But even so equipped, you can't beat the Versa for affordable, reliable family transportation. A fitting car to take the #1 spot on this list.

Putting your teen on wheels is a difficult decision, but I think it's a good idea: A car can expand a high school or college student's educational horizons, allowing her to take advantage of opportunities like off-site classes and internships. Car ownership is also a great lesson in responsibility: Kids who pay their car's running costs have good incentive to drive carefully (if they break it or crash it, they walk). Here are ten cars that are reliable, easy to drive, affordable, and well suited to young, inexperienced drivers.