Many teens are behind the wheel for the first time and with the school year starting, parents will be looking to find reliable, efficient, safe and affordable cars for their new drivers.

According to Cars.com, a pair of Honda's rank at the top of the charts.

"We realize that parents play an important role in the car-buying process," said Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder. "But we also realize that a teen's priority typically is looking cool, while their parents are probably concerned with safety and practicality. That's why we considered body styles as well as safety features while making our decisions."

Cars.com's list of the best cars for teens compared overall value and safety features, as well as gas mileage, exterior styling and interior comfort. The list took into account coupes, sedans, convertibles, hatchbacks, SUVs and regular-cab pickup trucks that cost less than $20,000.

The best new car for first-time drivers was the 2008 Honda Civic, with a starting manufacturer's retail price of $14,810 and gas mileage of 34 mpg on the highway.

"It's safe, reliable, gets good mileage, retains its value and has a lot of standard features," Wiesenfelder said of the Civic. "The Civic is one of the best cars on the market for any driver; first-timers certainly won't go wrong with it."

The best deal for first-time drivers is the 2008 Honda Fit, with a starting price tag under $14,000 and similar gas mileage to the Civic.

Cars.com's other picks for first-time drivers:

• 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
• 2008 Suzuki SX4
• 2008 Toyota Tacoma
• 2008 Scion xB
• 2008 Nissan Sentra
• 2008 Hyundai Sonata
• 2008 Mini Cooper
• 2008 Ford Escape