Teenagers might yearn to drive flashy sports cars or hulking SUVs, but none of these vehicles make the cut for Consumer Reports’ list of the best vehicles for young drivers.
That’s because Consumer Reports, along with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), screened cars for safety with teen drivers in mind, meaning that any vehicle with excessive horsepower relative to weight was excluded. And large SUVs may seem safe, but they can be difficult to maneuver for inexperienced drivers in an emergency, noted Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center.
This year’s list of the best vehicles for teens includes 58 used models ranging in price from $5,800 to $19,900. Consumer Reports notes that for the first time all the choices have a good or acceptable rating in the IIHS driver-side small overlap test, which rates cars for their performance when a front corner collides with another vehicle or an object like a tree.
The list also includes new 2024 vehicles, with 22 choices all rated as top safety picks by the IIHS and priced under $40,000.
“You really want to get the most reliable vehicle you can get for your money” when getting a car for a teen, Stockburger said.
Consumer Reports evaluated the cars on a range metrics: crash ratings; advanced driving assistance technology such as forward collision warning; reliability; and price.
Only one electric vehicle made the cut — the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6, which retails for $37,700. All new vehicles had to cost less than $40,000 to be included, given that parents typically also have price in mind when picking a car for their teen, Stockburger said.
“That’s the first time we’ve had an EV that made the list,” she added. “We expect we’ll see more EVs trickle on the list as they age a little bit” and come down in price.
The vehicles in all categories are listed according to price, from lowest to highest.
Best used vehicles
All the cars in the best choice category include standard automatic emergency braking systems that earn an “advanced” or “superior” rating from IIHS in the original vehicle-to-vehicle front-crash prevention test.
Small cars
Bloomberg
Toyota Corolla sedan (2017 or newer) or hatchback (2019): $10,600 Toyota Prius (2017 or newer): $13,800 Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback (2021-22): $16,400 Toyota Prius Prime (2017 or newer): $17,000 Honda Civic sedan or hatchback (2021 or newer): $17,600
Midsize cars
Toyota Camry (2018 or newer): $9,600 Volvo S60 (2017, 2021): $10,200 Volvo V60 (2017, 2021): $12,300 Subaru Legacy (2019): $14,700 Hyundai Sonata (2021): $17,200 Honda Accord sedan (2020): $19,200
Large car
Toyota Avalon (2017 or newer): $14,400
Small SUVs
Chevrolet Equinox (2020, 2023): $13,800 Kia Sportage (2020 or newer): $14,400 Toyota RAV4 (2017 or newer): $14,700 Hyundai Tucson (2020 or newer): $14,900 Mazda CX-5 (2021-23): $17,600 Lexus UX (2019-21): $18,100 Honda CR-V (2020 or newer): $18,700 Nissan Rogue (2021): $19,000 Subaru Forester (2021 or newer): $19,000 Mazda CX-30 (2022 or newer): $19,900
Midsize SUVs
Volvo XC60 (2017): $12,100Hyundai Santa Fe (2019, 2020, 2023): $15,200Toyota Highlander (2017 or newer): $15,700 Nissan Murano (2019, 2020): $15,900 GMC Terrain (2020, 2023): $16,100 Ford Edge (2020 or newer): $16,700 Lexus NX (2018-21): $17,100 Infiniti QX60 (2019): $17,800Mazda CX-9 (2020, 2022): $18,800
Minivan
Toyota Sienna (2018-20): $19,100
Good choices for used vehicles
Robert Hradil / Getty Images
Small cars
Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback (2014-17; built after October 2013): $5,800Ford C-Max Hybrid (2015-16): $7,100Honda Civic sedan (2014): $7,900Toyota Prius (2014-16; built after November 2013): $9,400Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon (2019-20): $13,200
Midsize cars
Mazda 6 (2015-17): $8,400Toyota Camry (2014-17; built after December 2013): $9,000Toyota Prius v (2015-17): $10,200Honda Accord coupe or sedan (2015-17): $10,500Subaru Legacy (2017-18): $11,600BMW 3 series (2018): $13,800
Large car
Toyota Avalon (2015-16): $12,600
Small SUVs
Mazda CX-5 (2016): $10,100Hyundai Kona (2018-19): $11,000Honda CR-V (2015-19): $11,400Chevrolet Equinox (2018-19): $11,600Honda HR-V (2017-22; built after March 2017): $11,600Toyota RAV4 (2015-16; built after November 2014): $12,000
Midsize SUVs
Nissan Murano (2016): $9,900Toyota Highlander (2014-16): $11,700Lexus NX (2015-17): $12,100GMC Terrain (2018-19): $12,700Acura RDX (2016): $13,500Mazda CX-9 (2018): $14,200
Minivans
Toyota Sienna (2016-17): $12,600Honda Odyssey (2017): $14,400
New cars: Recommended 2024 models for teens
Getty Images
Small cars
Subaru Impreza: $23,400 Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback: $24,300 Toyota Prius: $28,300 Toyota Prius Prime: $33,600
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 Honda CR-V: $29,700 Mazda CX-50 (built after August 2023): $31,200 Lexus UX: $35,300
Midsize SUVs
Subaru Ascent: $35,000 Kia Telluride: $36,300Hyundai Palisade: $37,000Honda Pilot: $37,200Mazda CX-90: $38,800 Lexus NX: $39,600
Minivan
Pickup
Hyundai Santa Cruz: $27,500
