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Cars for teen drivers

Find a suitable vehicle for your young motorists

Last updated: February 2012

Cars for teen drivers

When buying a vehicle, safety and reliability are important considerations, especially if it's for a young driver, since they usually do not have a lot of driving experience or money. When shopping for a car for that young driver, look for ones with advanced safety features such as electronic stability control and curtain airbags as well as good crash-test results. Generally speaking, bigger and heavier vehicles perform better in crash tests. But very large vehicles can have unwieldy handling, offer poor fuel economy and allow young drivers to drive with more passengers which has been shown to increase a young driver’s crash risk.

Large pickups and SUVs are not recommended for young, inexperienced drivers because their high centers of gravity make them more prone to roll over than other vehicles. Sports cars are also a poor choice for young drivers. They beg to be driven too fast and have a higher rate of accidents than other cars.

Acura TSX Nissan Altima (4-cyl., 2010 or later)
Chevrolet Malibu (4-cyl., 2008 or later) Nissan Sentra (2010 or later)
Ford Focus sedan (2009-2011) Scion xB (2008 or later)
Ford Fusion (4-cyl., 2010 or later) Subaru Forester (non-turbo, 2009 or later)
Honda Accord (4-cyl., 2008 or later) Subaru Impreza (non-turbo, 2009 or later)
Hyundai Elantra SE Subaru Impreza Outback Sport (2008 or later)
Hyundai Elantra Touring Subaru Legacy 2.5i (2009 or later)
Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl., 2006-2011) Toyota Camry (2010 or later)
Hyundai Sonata (non-turbo, non-hybrid, 2011- or later) Toyota Corolla (2010 or later)
Hyundai Tucson (2010 or later) Toyota Matrix (2010 or later)
Kia Forte (2010)
 Toyota Prius (2010 or later)
Kia Optima (non-turbo, 2010 or later) Toyota Prius V
Kia Soul Toyota RAV4 (2004 or later, non-3rd row)
Kia Sportage (4-cyl., non-turbo, 2011 or later) Volkswagen Jetta (2007-2010)
Mazda3 i Touring (2009 or later) Volkswagen Golf (2010 or later)
Mazda3 s Sport Touring (2007 or later) Volkswagen Rabbit
Mazda6i (4-cyl., 2009 or later)  

In the list above, we've identified vehicles that Consumer Reports has tested that we think are appropriate for young drivers. The list is based on our test results, and government and insurance-industry crash-test results. These vehicles also showed average or better reliability, according to our subscriber surveys. (Find out how you can compare these cars and get unlimited price reports with Cars Best Deals Plus.)

We did not consider cars with 0-to-60-mph acceleration times faster than 8 seconds or slower than 11 seconds, those with braking distances longer than 145 ft. in dry conditions, or those with mediocre emergency-handling scores.  The newest versions of many of these vehicles above are designated as Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). You can see all IIHS crash-test ratings at www.hwysafety.org. Vehicles with electronic stability control (ESC) should be your first choice for less experienced drivers. ESC is a proven device that keeps cars from sliding, thus preventing crashes in the first place. The availability of ESC along with reliability scores are why some vehicles are differentiated by specific model years.

Newer models generally offer more safety features and provide better crash protection. Try to buy the most safety that your budget can afford, since no one needs these safety advantages more than a teenage driver.

CR's recommendations

Choosing a car for a young person will usually involve compromises between budget, and desirable features, and the wants of an image-conscious teen. The best bet is to buy the newest, most reliable model with the most safety equipment you can afford. Do not even consider a car without antilock brakes. If you can reach a little deeper and get a car equipped with multistage advanced front air bags, side and head-protection curtain air bags, antilock brakes, and electronic stability control, so much the better. The life-saving potential assistance these systems can provide is worth every penny in an emergency situation and can be especially beneficial to an inexperienced driver. Another benefit can be gained by an advanced driving training course. Such courses are offered by various advanced driving schools at closed tracks throughout the country and teach car control and proper driving.

Tremendous advances in crash protection have been made in the past 10 years. Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites to see crash results for models you are considering. Both sites post results that go back to the 1990s.

Consumer Reports maintains reliability Ratings on our website going back ten model years. Check the Ratings for any car you're considering, but also keep in mind that every used car gets treated differently. The older a car gets, the more its care and maintenance history will affect its overall performance and reliability.

As with any used car, we recommend having it thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic before you buy.

   

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