These Are The Safest Vehicles For Your Teen Driver

Key Takeaways

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports chose 58 vehicles for the list.
There are new and used options with prices as low as $5,000.
Japanese brands dominated the list with Toyota scoring the most number one slots.

If your teenager has just passed their driver’s test, and you’re interested in getting them into a great vehicle, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR) have you covered. The two organizations have joined forces to update their list of the safest new and used models for teens. A total of 58 vehicles were chosen with used prices from $5,800 to $19,900. New models start as low as $23,400. Japanese automakers did especially well with Toyota securing the most number one spots in the various categories.

Toyota

Toyota is a Japanese automaker founded in 1937 that has developed a reputation for reliability across a multitude of segments, from sports cars and family sedans to pickup trucks and off-roaders. Famous models from the brand include the Hilux, Land Cruiser, Camry, Crown, and Corolla, the latter being the world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate, with more than 50 million Corolla-badged vehicles being sold since it was first introduced. Toyota typically competes in the mainstream market, but is also famous for launching Lexus as a luxury sub-brand to take on Mercedes-Benz.

Founded: August 28, 1937
Founder: Kiichiro Toyoda
Headquarters: Aichi, Japan
Owned By: Publicly Traded
Current CEO: Koji Sato

Since the IIHS updated its crash testing this year, the group announced that, for the first time, all the vehicles on its “Safe Vehicles for Teens” list have a good or acceptable rating in the IIHS driver-side small overlap test and good ratings in four other tests. Vehicles also received passing marks in braking, handling, and reliability from CR.

2024 Toyota Corolla Sedan Side View — Toyota

Used Models

The most affordable route is to go with getting a used car. The used list splits choices into Best and more affordable Good categories. All vehicles have a curb weight above 2,750 lbs and earn good ratings from the IIHS in the original moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests, as well as an acceptable or good rating in the driver-side small overlap test.

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If the NHTSA rates them, they get 4 or 5 stars. Where the best and good models differ is that the best models have standard automatic braking systems that earn an advanced or superior rating from the IIHS in the original vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test.

Reliability is also taken into account, with only CR scores of 4 or 5 allowed. Pricing is average, with the lowest trims picked and the earliest applicable year.

Best Vehicles

	Make	Model	Model Years	Average KBB Price
Small Cars	Toyota	Corolla sedan or hatchback	Sedan — 2017 or newer; Hatchback — 2019	$10,600
Midsize Cars	Toyota	Camry	2018 or newer	$9,600
Large Cars	Toyota	Avalon	2017 or newer	$14,400
Small SUVs	Chevrolet	Equinox	2020, 2023	$13,800
Midsize SUVs	Volvo	XC60	2017	$12,100
Minivans	Toyota	Sienna	2018-20	$19,100

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Good Vehicles

	Make	Model	Model Years	Average KBB Price
Small Cars	Mazda	3 sedan or hatchback	2014-17; built after October 2013	$5,800
Midsize Cars	Mazda	6	2015-17	$8,400
Large Cars	Toyota	Avalon	2015-16	$12,600
Small SUVs	Mazda	CX-5	2016	$10,100
Midsize SUVs	Nissan	Murano	2016	$9,900
Minivans	Toyota	Sienna	2016-17	$12,600

All vehicles listed here are 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ winners, making them some of the safest vehicles on the road today. Additionally, they all have average or better reliability, average or better emergency handling scores, and dry braking distances of less than 140 feet from 60 mph in CR’s tests. They also receive a rating of good or better from CR for the ease of use of their controls.

Pricing is based on Kelly Blue Book pricing to the nearest $100 as of April 19th, 2024 with the lowest possible trim.

	Make	Model	Average KBB Price
Small Cars	Subaru	Impreza	$23,400
Midsize Cars	Toyota	Camry	$26,900
Small SUV	Mazda	CX-30	$25,700
Midsize SUV	Subaru	Ascent	$35,000
Minivan	Honda	Odyssey	$38,200
Pickup	Hyundai	Santa Cruz	$27,500

There are lots of choices when it comes time to choosing a vehicle for your teen. Take your time to be sure it’s the right one, but no matter which you choose, make sure they know how to drive safely before they get behind the wheel.