Parents choosing a car for their teen driver have a tough decision to make because they need to strike a balance between cost and safety. But the latest analysis by Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that more safety is available for the money in the latest list of best used cars for teens.
The used cars span from $5,800 to $19,900, based on pricing from Kelley Blue Book.
“Vehicles continue to get safer, and for the first time since the pandemic-era disruptions, prices on the new and used market have stabilized,” said Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s Auto Test Center. “These trends have enabled us to point families to even better options this year.”
CR and IIHS continue to pressure the auto industry to make ongoing improvements to new cars, allowing the organizations to raise the standards for their used-car selections, guiding families toward ever-safer models.
For the first time, all recommended used vehicles here have a Good or Acceptable rating in the IIHS driver-side small-overlap test, in addition to Good ratings in four other IIHS crash tests and average or higher marks for braking, handling, and reliability from CR.
Standard electronic stability control (ESC) is not factored in the latest lists because the oldest vehicle recommended here is a 2014 model. This vital, proven safety feature has been standard equipment on all new vehicles since the 2012 model year, and it should be on any vehicle that a teen drives.
Why Safety Matters for Teen Drivers
The temptation—often born of necessity—is to buy a less-expensive, bare-bones model or to pass down an older family car. But because the car will be transporting their children, we feel that parents should pick the best and safest car their budget allows.
Teenagers are among the riskiest drivers because of a combination of immaturity, inexperience, social pressures, and potential distractions. Consequently, they have crash rates that are almost four times those of drivers 20 and older.
Choosing the right car can help teens stay safe. We understand that it can be challenging to balance all the factors that make a vehicle ideal for inexperienced drivers.
Beyond teen drivers, these picks can serve any shopper looking for a vehicle that excels in the combination of safety and reliability.
How the Used Cars Were Selected
The Good Used Car Choices and Best Used Car Choices lists omit subcompact cars and other vehicles under 2,750 pounds because research shows that they don’t provide adequate protection in multiple-vehicle crashes. And large SUVs and pickup trucks aren’t included because they can be hard to handle, they often have increased braking distances, and they pose a greater risk to other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Even amid elevated prices, we kept our cutoff at $20,000, and there are many good choices for less money. For some families, today’s elevated used-car prices may mean that buying a new car is the right move, particularly with lower loan interest rates. Not to worry: We have a list for that.
CR and IIHS identified more than 60 used vehicles under $20,000 that meet stringent safety and reliability criteria.
These recommendations focus on “Goldilocks” models that provide the best all-around protection for inexperienced drivers. Ultimately, the goal is to select a reliable car with as much safety as you can afford. Active driver assistance systems (ADAS) are becoming widespread and are now available in many late-model used cars. Features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind spot warning are proven features that can help avoid collisions and are worth considering if your budget allows it.
The starting price listed is the least-expensive version in the range of years, assuming that the vehicle is in good condition with typical mileage and that it’s sold by a private party. The prices were provided by Kelley Blue Book, rounded to the nearest $100, and they reflect the average U.S. values from April 19, 2024.
We present two tiers of recommendations: Good Choices and Best Choices, grouped by car category and ranked by price.
Good Used Car Choices for Teens
To make the cut to be a Good Choice, the vehicles must have:• Above-average reliability for a majority of the years listed, based on CR’s member surveys.
• Average or better scores from CR’s emergency handling tests.
• Dry braking distances of less than 145 feet from 60 mph in CR’s brake tests.
• A good or acceptable rating in the IIHS driver’s-side small-overlap front crash test. Launched in 2012, the test replicates what happens when the front left corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole.
• Good ratings in four IIHS crashworthiness tests: moderate-overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints.
• Four or five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (if rated).
Small Cars:
- Mazda3 sedan or hatchback (2014-27, built after October 2013) - $5,800 starting price
- Ford C-Max Hybrid (2015-16) - $7,100 starting price
- Honda Civic sedan (2014) - $7,900 starting price
Midsized Cars:
- Mazda6 (2015-17) - $8,400 starting price
- Toyota Camry Hybrid (2014-17, built after December 2013) - $8,800 starting price
- Toyota Camry (2014-17, built after December 2013 - $9,000 starting price
Large Car
- Toyota Avalon (2015-16) - $12,600 starting price
Small SUVs
- Mazda CX-5 (2016) - $10,100 starting price
- Hyundai Kona (2018-19) - $11,000 starting price
- Honda CR-V (2015-19) - $11,400 starting price
Midsized SUVs
- Nissan Murano (2016) - $9,900 starting price
- Toyota Highlander (2014-16) - $11,700 starting price
- GMC Terrain (2018-19) - $12,700 starting price
Best Used Car Choices for Teens
These picks meet an even higher standard by requiring:
Standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems that earn an advanced or superior rating from IIHS in the original vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test. AEB cuts police-reported front-to-rear crashes in half, IIHS research has shown, and rear-end crashes make up nearly a quarter of all crashes teens are involved in.
Small Cars
- Toyota Corolla sedan (2017 or newer) or hatchback (2019) - $10,600 starting price
- Toyota Prius (2017 or newer) - $13,800 starting price
- Mazda3 sedan or hatchback (2021-22) - $16,400 starting price
Midsized Cars
- Toyota Camry (2018 or newer) - $9,600 starting price
- Volvo S60 (2017, 2021) - $10,200 starting price
- Volvo V60 (2017, 2021) - $12,300 starting price
Large Car
- Toyota Avalon (2017 and newer) - $14,400 starting price
Small SUVs
- Chevrolet Equinox (2020, 2023) - $13,800 starting price
- Kia Sportage (2020 or newer) - $14,400 starting price
- Toyota RAV4 (2014 or newer) - $14,700 starting price
Midsized SUVs
- Volvo XC60 (2017) - $12,100 starting price
- Hyundai Santa Fe (2019, 2020, 2023) - $15,200 starting price
- Toyota Highlander (2017 or newer) - $15,700 starting price
Minivan
- Toyota Sienna (2018-20) - $19,100 starting price
Click HERE for a full list of recommended used vehicles for teen drivers by the IIHS and Consumer Reports. Click HERE for a full list of recommended new vehicles for teen drivers by the IIHS and Consumer Reports.