Picking The Safest Car, Truck or SUV For Your Teenage Driver
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports have
some suggestions.
THE DETROIT BUREAU | MAY 25, 2023
One of the hardest choices for parents to make is what kind of vehicle their child should drive.
This is not a query to be treated casually. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), car accidents are the main cause of mortality among teenagers in the U.S. While road fatalities rose 10% in 2021, teen road deaths have followed the same pattern, increasing 11% to 3,058 in 2021.
“With road safety statistics headed the wrong way, it’s more important than ever that inexperienced, young drivers have vehicles with a high degree of occupant protection as well as good emergency handling, braking and reliability,” said IIHS Chief Research Officer David Zuby.
That’s why the IIHS and Consumer Reports have released the cars they consider to be the best choices for young drivers.
“As parents, we can’t control what happens on the road once our teen driver pulls out of the driveway,” said Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s Auto Test Center. “But we do have some say in the type of vehicle they drive off in, and that can make a huge difference. This list can help parents find vehicles that check all the boxes.”
2013 Kia Soul
Before you buy
Ultimately, the car they want will most likely not be on this list, but even before you consider which car to purchase, there are other things to keep in mind.
First, is your child mature enough to operate a vehicle safely? Has he or she earned the right to operate a vehicle?
Next, decide who will be responsible for paying for it, including any parking fees, maintenance, insurance, and fuel costs.
Then, be sure the driving school you select has to hold a state department of motor vehicles license and be completely accredited. Additionally, look into the comprehensive training that some automakers and racing schools offer expressly for teenagers.
Finally, lead by example. Your children will undoubtedly emulate your driving behaviors, both good and not-so-good. So, when driving, be sure to always wear a seat belt, don’t use your cellphone while driving and, above all, be courteous to other drivers.
2014 Toyota Prius
Car considerations
While the list offers plenty of options, the ideal choice is a used family sedan because midsize and full-size sedans handle predictably in emergency circumstances, which is useful for inexperienced drivers. Consider a vehicle that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in between eight and 11 seconds and has adequate engine power. New drivers lack the knowledge necessary to use high engine power safely.
Also, be sure to check a vehicle’s crash rating as modern automobiles all have crash test ratings. There are two tests so be sure to look at both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the IIHS. Look for vehicles that scored “top pick” or “good” on IIHS tests, while the top vehicles scored four or five stars in NHTSA tests.
The IIHS suggests avoiding cars that are too small. In its list, no car weighs less than 2,750 pounds because small, light vehicles don’t provide enough protection in multiple-vehicle crashes. But officials also warn against opting for a vehicle that’s too large, such as a full-size SUV or pickup because they can be difficult to handle and are more likely to have increased braking distances.
2017 BMW 3 Series
Which vehicles top the list
The vehicles that made the list have top ratings in crash tests, and have substantially higher than average insurance claim rates for injury coverage. In addition, all have above-average reliability scores from Consumer Reports. They also have emergency handling scores greater than or equal to 3 out of 5 and dry braking distances from 60 mph of 145 feet or less in the magazine’s tests. Finally, all cost $20,000 or less according to Kelley Blue Book.
Best used choices
2017 Volkswagen Passat
Small cars
2014-20 Mazda 3 sedan/hatchback - $9,100
2014-16 Ford C-Max Hybrid - $10,000
2014 Toyota Prius - $12,900
2018, 2022 Subaru Impreza sedan/wagon - $14,500
Midsize cars
2013-21 Subaru Legacy - $7,800
2014-18 Mazda 6 - $10,200
2015-18, 2022 Subaru Outback - $12,200
2015-17 Toyota Prius v - $14,500
2017 Volkswagen Passat - $14,500
2017 or newer BMW 3 series - $16,500
Large cars
2015 or newer Toyota Avalon - $14,600
2016 Hyundai Genesis - $18,000
Small SUVs
2013, 2017 Volvo XC60 - $9,600
2014 or newer Mazda CX-5 - $11,800
2016, 2019 Mazda CX-3 - $13,900
2015 or newer Honda CR-V - $15,200
2017 or newer Honda HR-V - $16,000
2015 or newer Toyota RAV4 - $16,100
2018 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid - $18,900
2018 or newer Subaru Forester - $20,000
Midsize SUVs
2015 or newer Nissan Murano - $12,400
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport - $15,700
2014 or newer Toyota Highlander - $17,100
2016 or newer Acura RDX- $19,300
Minivan
2015-20 Toyota Sienna - $15,700
Pickup
2016 or newer Toyota Tacoma - $17,900
Good choices
2013 Chevrolet Volt
Small cars
2013, 2017, 2019, 2021 or newer Kia Soul - $6,600
2013 or newer Toyota Corolla sedan - $9,700
2013 Chevrolet Volt - $10,300
2013-15, 2020 or newer Honda Civic sedan - $10,400
2013 Toyota Prius - $11,700
Midsize cars
2014, 2016 Ford Fusion - $10,300
2013 or newer Honda Accord coupe/sedan - $10,400
2013 or newer Toyota Camry - $11,400
2013 Toyota Prius v - $12,000
2016 BMW 3 series sedan - $14,000
2015-16 Audi A4 - $14,200
Large cars
2013 Hyundai Genesis - $10,000
2013-15 Audi A6 - $10,800
2013-14 Toyota Avalon - $11,700
Small SUVs
2014 Hyundai Tucson - $9,700
2015, 2017, 2021 or newer Nissan Rogue - $11,900
2013-14 Honda CR-V - $12,400
2013-14 Toyota RAV4 - $14,100
Midsize SUVs
2013-15 Acura RDX - $14,000
2013 Toyota Highlander - $14,500
Recommended new vehicles
2023 Mazda3
The report also recommends the following new vehicles, and have earned top crash safety ratings and come with standard vehicle-to-vehicle automatic emergency braking.
In addition, all vehicles have average or better reliability, based on Consumer Reports’ member surveys; average or better scores from Consumer Reports’ emergency handling tests; and dry braking distances of less than 140 feet from 60 mph in Consumer Reports’ brake tests. They also receive a rating of good or better from Consumer Reports for ease of use.
Also, none have substantially higher than average insurance claim rates under medical payment, personal injury protection or bodily injury liability coverage.
Small car
Mazda 3 sedan/hatchback - $23,000
Midsize cars
Subaru Legacy - $25,100
Subaru Outback - $29,300
Small SUVs
Honda HR-V - $24,400
Subaru Forester - $27,700
Mazda CX-5 - $27,800
Mazda CX-50 - $28,900
Toyota RAV4 - $29,300
Honda CR-V - $29,700
Lexus UX - $36,000
Midsize SUVs
Subaru Ascent - $34,600
Hyundai Palisade - $36,600
Toyota Highlander - $37,100
Mazda CX-9 - $38,300
Lexus NX - $39,800
Minivan
Honda Odyssey - $38,100