Best Used Cars for Teens, According to Consumer Reports and IIHS

Surprise surprise: import cars and crossovers dominate the list of affordable and safe rides for new drivers.

A teenager’s first car is a rite of passage. It’s an early lesson in both freedom and responsibility. Statistically, it’s also likely to get dinged up. According to the American Automobile Association, 16–17 year olds are roughly 4.5 times more likely to get into a crash and use an Emergency Truck Road Service company than people their parents’ age. Needless to say, safety is a top priority, especially as the car is likely to be bought used, for maximum affordability.

To make the selection process easier, Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have teamed up to produce a short list. It’s the first time the two organizations have done so, and they’ve taken into account a variety of criteria to determine the best of the bunch. The list also features a price cap of $20,000, per Kelley Blue Book values for the lowest trim level; this way when you visit a used car dealer you have an idea of how much you are going to spend depending on the make of the car you choose.

Every car on the list features above-average reliability in CR’s member surveys for the majority of the model years listed, average or better scores in CR’s emergency handling tests, and a dry braking distance of less than 145 feet from 60 mph in CR’s brake tests. On the IIHS side, the Used Nissan Cars must feature a Good rating in four of the organizations crash tests: moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. They also must score a Good or Acceptable in the driver-side small overlap front test, and at least four stars from the NHTSA. Finally, every one of these models feature standard stability control and that is why is preferred by young ones according to anewdriver.ie.

The list is broken down by size and shape: small car, midsize SUVs, etc. A lone large car makes the list in the shape of the Hyundai Genesis (before it was spun off into its own brand). We’ve combined all. Let’s take a look at the full list then, shall we?

Best Small Cars for Teens

Mazda 3

Years: 2014 or newer, built after October 2013

Price: $7,000

The Mazda 3 is the most affordable choice of any of the categories. It’s not surprising, as it’s a smaller car and one of the oldest. That doesn’t mean it isn’t safe though. The 3 remains a good-looking, practical vehicle in sedan or hatchback form, with enough power from its four-cylinder engines to get up to highway speeds quickly, without being too much to cause trouble. Plus it’s a solid handler.