Teenagers behind the wheel used to instill fear in experienced drivers, but over the years the vehicle industry has given younger drivers a hand. Auto manufacturers are now making vehicles loaded with safety features.
A list of the safest new and used cars for teens was recently released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR). The safest vehicles are broken down into three tiers: “Best Choices” and “Good Choices” for used cars and “Best Choices” for new models.
Check Out the Safest Cars for Teens
Starting prices for recommended used models range from $5,800 to nearly $20,000. Recommended new models are in the $23,000 to $37,000 range.
“All these vehicles have specific things that make them safer on the roads,” money expert Clark Howard says. “A variety of features.”
The safest used cars all earned good ratings from IIHS on things such as roof strength and head restraint tests, and acceptable or good ratings in the driver-side small overlap test, which gauges seat belt and airbag functionality in crashes.
The used cars were also measured based on the following CR criteria:
- Above-average reliability scores (4 or 5 out of 5).
- Emergency handling scores (at least 3 out of 5).
- Dry braking distances (going from 60 mph to zero) of 145 feet or less.
Notably absent from the lists? Electric vehicles.
“Electric vehicles have so much power — they’re so fast that they’re not a good choice for an inexperienced driver,” Clark says.
Let’s first take a look at some selected models of the best used choices for teen drivers. Then we’ll consider selected models of some good used choices and finally, some selected models of best new cars.
Used Cars: Best Choices for Teens
| Make and Model | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small Cars | ||
| Toyota Corolla sedan or hatchback | Sedan — 2017 or newer; hatchback — 2019 | $10,600 |
| Toyota Prius | 2017 or newer | $13,800 |
| Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback | 2021-22 | $16,400 |
| Midsize Cars | ||
| Toyota Camry | 2018 or newer | $9,600 |
| Volvo S60 | 2017, 2021 | $10,200 |
| Small SUVs | ||
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2020, 2023 | $13,800 |
| Kia Sportage | 2020 or newer | $14,400 |
| Midsize SUVs | ||
| Volvo XC60 | 2017 | $12,100 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 2019, 2020, 2023 | $15,200 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2017 or newer | $15,700 |
Let’s now consider the good choices among used vehicles for teens:
Used Cars: Good Choices for Teens
| Make and Model | Model Years | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small Cars | ||
| Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback | 2014-17; built after October 2013 | $5,800 |
| Ford C-Max Hybrid | 2015-16 | $7,100 |
| Honda Civic sedan | 2014 | $7,900 |
| Midsize Cars | ||
| Mazda 6 | 2015-17 | $8,400 |
| Toyota Camry | 2014-17; built after December 2013 | $9,000 |
| Toyota Prius v | 2015-17 | $10,200 |
| Small SUVs | ||
| Mazda CX-5 | 2016 | $10,100 |
| Hyundai Kona | 2018-19 | $11,000 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 2015-16; built after November 2014 | $12,000 |
| Midsize SUVs | ||
| Nissan Murano | 2016 | $9,900 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2014-16 | $11,700 |
| Lexus NX | 2015-17 | $12,100 |
| GMC Terrain | 2018-19 | $12,700 |
For the safest new cars, the report graded them all average or better based on the following CR criteria:
- Reliability.
- Emergency handling tests.
- Dry braking distances of less than 140 feet from 60 mph in brake tests.
“They also receive a rating of good or better from CR for ease of use of their controls,” the report says. The new vehicles are also all winners of the 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award and come with standard vehicle-to-vehicle automatic emergency braking.
Let’s take a look at the best choices among new cars for teens.
New Cars: Best Choices for Teens
| Make and Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Small Cars | |
| Subaru Impreza | $23,400 |
| Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback | $24,300 |
| Toyota Prius | $28,300 |
| Midsize Cars | |
| Toyota Camry | $26,900 |
| Honda Accord | $28,200 |
| Subaru Outback | $29,300 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 except dual-motor | $37,700 |
| Small SUVs | |
| Mazda CX-30 | $25,700 |
| Kia Sportage | $27,300 |
| Hyundai Tucson | $27,800 |
| Midsize SUVs | |
| Subaru Ascent | $35,000 |
| Kia Telluride | $36,300 |
| Hyundai Palisade | $37,000 |
| Honda Pilot | $37,200 |
See the complete list at IIHS.org.
Before You Buy a Used Vehicle, Do This
Run a VIN Check
Head off any trouble that may emerge later by checking out the car’s history. Start first with a VIN check. And no, you don’t have to pay for a VIN check. Read our guide on how to get a free VIN check.
You’ll also want to make sure that the used vehicle doesn’t have any open recalls and wasn’t involved in a flood or horrible accident. Read about free options to check whether the vehicle has been in a flood.
Hire an Independent Mechanic
Before you hand over any money, have the used vehicle thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic. Clark wants you to choose a mechanic with an ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification, which means they have completed rigorous training and education on the fundamentals of auto repair and maintenance.
Clark’s #1 tip on choosing a mechanic includes this sage advice:
Final Thoughts
For young people, Clark is a big proponent of safety features in vehicles.
One feature he’s big on is electronic stability control (ESC), which helps to steady the vehicle when it senses that your wheels have momentarily lost traction with the road. Clark says the feature is a must-have for teenage drivers and he was once told by the people at Consumer Reports not to buy a car for a kid if it does not have ESC — a “make-or-break feature” — on it.
Another feature Clark likes — and this is an add-on — is a dash cam.
“I look at them as ultra-cheap insurance,” Clark says, adding that the dash cams can be used to show police officers what transpired during a car accident.
Want more money-saving tips? Read Clark’s Guide on How To Buy a Used Car.
