Parents looking for suitable vehicles for their teen drivers will
find more safety for less money in this year’s updated list of
recommended vehicles for teens from the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR).
A total of 58 used models ranging from $5,800 to $19,900 are on
this year’s list. For the first time, all recommended used vehicles
have a good or acceptable rating in the IIHS driver-side small
overlap test in addition to good ratings in four other IIHS tests
and strong marks for braking, handling and reliability from
CR.
The top tier of recommended used vehicles also come with
standard automatic emergency braking (AEB), a good backstop for all
drivers, but especially for young, inexperienced ones, who are more
prone to mistakes.
“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.”
“It’s exciting to see crash avoidance tech like automatic
emergency braking filtering through the fleet and into affordable
used models, including many priced under $15,000,” said IIHS
Research Scientist Rebecca Weast. “With a little knowledge and
patience, families can find the right vehicle for their new driver
without spending all their savings.”
Those who can and want to splurge for a new vehicle have 22
recommended 2024 models to choose from — all winners of the 2024
IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ award that offer
state-of-the-art crash protection and crash avoidance. These
vehicles are also great choices for those with younger children who
might be taking the wheel of the family vehicle in several
years.
Whatever list you’re shopping from, a teen driver’s first
vehicle should follow a modified Goldilocks principle — not too
small, not too big and definitely not too fast.
IIHS and CR exclude sports cars and anything with excessive
horsepower relative to its weight. Such vehicles make it too easy
to speed and can tempt young drivers to take risks.
The list also has no minicars or vehicles under 2,750 pounds
because small, light vehicles may not provide enough protection in
crashes with other vehicles.
Large SUVs and large pickups also don’t make the cut. Although
these vehicles offer greater protection in some crash
configurations, they can be hard to handle and take longer to stop.
They also pose more risk to others on the road, including
pedestrians, bicyclists and people in smaller vehicles.
For performance in specific safety tests, the requirements for
used and new vehicles diverge.
Recommended used vehicles are divided into Best Choices, which
this year range in price from $9,600 to $19,900, and Good Choices,
which start at $5,800 and go up to $14,400. This year there are 32
Best Choices and 26 Good Choices.
Both groups have:
- above-average reliability, based on CR’s member survey, for the
majority of the years listed
- 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
- good ratings in four IIHS crashworthiness tests — original
moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head
restraints
- a good or acceptable rating in the IIHS driver-side small
overlap front test
- four or five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (if rated)
In addition, the Best Choices all come with standard AEB that
earns an advanced or superior rating in the original IIHS 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. The
IIHS-affiliated Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) has found that
AEB and other crash avoidance features are more effective for teen
drivers than older ones.
Standard electronic stability control (ESC) is no longer part of
the criteria — not because it isn’t important, but because the
oldest vehicle on either the Good Choices or the Best Choices list
is a 2014 model, and ESC has been required on all new vehicles
since the 2012 model year. Parents handing down a vehicle produced
before 2012 should make sure it includes this lifesaving
technology.
As 2024 TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners, the
recommended new vehicles all have good ratings in the driver- and
passenger-side small overlap front tests and updated side test and
either a good rating in the original moderate overlap front test or
a good or acceptable rating in the updated one. They also have good
or acceptable headlights standard and good or acceptable pedestrian
front crash prevention. Unlike the used vehicles, they are not
rated for roof strength and head restraints because IIHS
discontinued those tests after nearly all vehicles earned good
ratings for several years running.
The new vehicles have average or better predicted reliability
from CR and meet the same standard for emergency handling as the
used vehicles. Compared with the used vehicles, they are held to a
tighter braking distance requirement of 140 feet. They also receive
a rating of good or better from CR for ease of use of their
controls.
This year’s recommended vehicles include one all-electric model,
the Hyundai Ioniq 6. As electric vehicles expand their market
share, it’s likely that many novice drivers will be driving one in
the future. Although EVs are fundamentally just as safe as
gas-powered vehicles, there are concerns about rapid acceleration,
even in models with a reasonable horsepower-to-weight ratio. Unlike
gas engines, electric motors give drivers immediate access to all
of the vehicle’s power, so parents should take extra caution when
giving these vehicles to teens.
The IIHS-CR vehicle recommendations focus primarily on safety
and reliability. But teens and their parents may also want to
consider the cost of ownership, including insurance premiums. One
way to get a sense of how much a vehicle will cost to insure is to
look at insurance losses by make and model compiled by HLDI. It’s
also advisable to get a quote from your insurance company for the
specific vehicle you intend to buy before you complete your
purchase.
RECOMMENDED USED VEHICLES FOR TEENS
STARTING AT $20,000
OR LESS
All listed vehicles have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds
and earn good ratings from IIHS in the original moderate overlap
front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests and an
acceptable or good rating in the driver-side small overlap test. If
rated by NHTSA, they earn 4 or 5 stars overall. Recommended
vehicles have above-average reliability scores from CR (4 or 5 out
of 5) for the majority of model years listed and CR emergency
handling scores greater than or equal to 3 out of 5. They also have
dry braking distances (going from 60 mph to zero) of 145 feet or
less.
Prices, provided by Kelley Blue Book and rounded to the nearest
$100, are average U.S. values from April 19, 2024, for the lowest
trim level and earliest applicable model year. The estimates are
based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical
mileage and private party purchase.
Some models include a “built after” date. This applies when a
manufacturer makes changes to improve safety in the middle of a
model year. Information about when a specific vehicle was
manufactured can be found on the certification label typically
affixed to the driver door or near it.
Best Choices
— USED VEHICLES
In addition to the criteria above, Best Choices have 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 |
|
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) |
$12,100 |
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 Choices — USED
VEHICLES
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
v (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 |
LARGE
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 |
Acura RDX
(2016) |
$13,500 |
Mazda CX-9
(2018) |
$14,200 |
MINIVANS |
|
Toyota
Sienna (2016-17) |
$12,600 |
Honda
Odyssey (2017) |
$14,400 |
RECOMMENDED NEW VEHICLES FOR TEENS
(2024
MODELS)
All listed vehicles are winners of the 2024 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK
or TOP SAFETY PICK+ award and come with standard vehicle-to-vehicle
automatic emergency braking.
In addition, all vehicles have average or better reliability,
based on CR’s member surveys; average or better scores from CR’s
emergency handling tests; and dry braking distances of less than
140 feet from 60 mph in CR’s brake tests. They also receive a
rating of good or better from CR for ease of use of their
controls.
Prices, rounded to the nearest $100, reflect Kelley Blue Book
New Car Fair Purchase Prices as of April 19, 2024, for the least
expensive trim level.
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 |
$36,300 |
Hyundai
Palisade |
$37,000 |
Honda
Pilot |
$37,200 |
Mazda
CX-90 |
$38,800 |
Lexus
NX |
$39,600 |
MINIVAN |
|
Honda
Odyssey |
$38,200 |
PICKUP |
|
Hyundai
Santa Cruz |
$27,500 |
###
B-roll:
Wed. 5/22/2024, 10:30-11 a.m. ET; repeat 1:30-2 p.m. ET (KU)
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For more information from IIHS, go to
iihs.org
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an
independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization
dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from
motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through
education of consumers, policymakers and safety professionals. IIHS
is wholly supported by auto insurers.
For more information from CR, go to
consumerreports.org
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that
works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer
and healthier world. For more than 80 years, CR has provided
evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research,
hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education and
steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’
interests.
- 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback IIHS original side crash
test
Joe Young
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
504-641-0491
jyoung@iihs.org