Catherine Rusoff
Teenagers may want to drive flashy sports cars or huge SUVs, but neither of these vehicles make Consumer Reports’ list of the best vehicles for young drivers.
That’s because Consumer Reports, along with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), examined car safety with teen drivers in mind, meaning any vehicle with excessive power for weight was excluded. And large SUVs may seem safe, but they can be difficult for inexperienced drivers to maneuver in an emergency, noted Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations for 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 options have a Good or Acceptable rating in the IIHS driver-side small overlap test, which rates cars on how they perform 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 possible for your money” when buying a car for a teenager, Stockburger said.
Consumer Reports rated the cars on a range of metrics: crash ratings; advanced driver assistance technology such as forward collision warning; reliability; and price.
Only one electric vehicle was selected – the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6, which retails for $37,700. All new vehicles had to cost less than $40,000 to be included, as parents also typically have price in mind when choosing a car for their teenagers, Stockburger said.
“This is the first time we have an EV on the list,” she added. “We expect to see more EVs appear on the list as they age a bit” and decrease in price.
Vehicles in all categories are listed according to price, from lowest to highest.
Best used vehicles
All cars in the Top Pick category include standard automatic emergency braking systems that earn an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating from the IIHS in the original vehicle-to-vehicle frontal 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
Big 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): $12,100
- Hyundai Santa Fe (2019, 2020, 2023): $15,200
- Toyota 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): $17,800
- Mazda CX-9 (2020, 2022): $18,800
Minivan
- Toyota Sienna (2018-20): $19,100
Good options for used vehicles
Robert Hradil/Getty Images
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
- Toyota Prius (2014-16; built after November 2013): $9,400
- Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon (2019-20): $13,200
Midsize cars
- Mazda 6 (2015-17): $8,400
- Toyota Camry (2014-17; built after December 2013): $9,000
- Toyota Prius versus (2015-17): $10,200
- Honda Accord coupe or sedan (2015-17): $10,500
- Subaru Legacy (2017-18): $11,600
- BMW 3 Series (2018): $13,800
Big car
- Toyota Avalon (2015-16): $12,600
small SUVs
- Mazda CX-5 (2016): $10,100
- Hyundai Kona (2018-19): $11,000
- Honda CR-V (2015-19): $11,400
- Chevrolet Equinox (2018-19): $11,600
- Honda HR-V (2017-22; built after March 2017): $11,600
- 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
- AcuraRDX (2016): $13,500
- Mazda CX-9 (2018): $14,200
mini vans
- Toyota Sienna (2016-17): $12,600
- Honda 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
- Outback Subaru: $29,300
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 (except dual engine): $37,700
small SUVs
- Mazda CX-30: $25,700
- Kia Sportage: $27,300
- Hyundai Tucson: $27,800
- Honda CR-V: US$29,700
- Mazda CX-50 (built after August 2023): $31,200
- Lexus UX: $35,300
midsize SUVs
- Subaru Subaru: $35,000
- Kia Telluride: $36,300
- Hyundai Palisade: $37,000
- Honda Pilot: $37,200
- Mazda CX-90: $38,800
- Lexus NX: $39,600
Minivan
To choose
- Hyundai Santa Cruz: US$27,500
