© Colourbox
Teen’s First Ride
When it comes to purchasing a car for a new teen driver, the goal of most parents is to get their kids into the safest vehicles possible. Sure, plenty of new models achieve the highest safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but most of those vehicles cost more than many parents are willing to spend, so the IIHS has produced a list of more than 50 of the safest used vehicles — all priced below $20,000.
© Subaru of America, © Ford Motor Company, © General Motors, © Volvo Cars North America
General Guidelines
The IIHS has some general guidelines to keep in mind when buying a teen’s first car. These include staying away from high-horsepower models that can tempt a teen to go too fast; buying a bigger, heavier vehicle that is more likely to protect in a crash; only getting cars with electronic stability control; and of course, choosing vehicles that have the highest safety ratings. The IIHS also recommends checking for recalls before making a final purchase decision.
© Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Criteria
Vehicles chosen by the IIHS had to earn good ratings in the organization’s moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, and good or acceptable ratings in the driver-side small overlap front test. If tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicle must have scored at least a 4 stars overall. Vehicles with a history of high claim frequency for medical or personal injury coverage are excluded. The vehicles in this IIHS list have a starting price below $20,000 based on values obtained from Kelley Blue Book. Vehicles are listed in alphabetical order.
© American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura MDX
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated price: $19,600
Classification: Midsize SUV
© American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura RLX
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated price: $18,600
Classification: Large Car
© American Honda Motors
Acura TL
Year: 2012–14; built after April 2012
Estimated Price: $10,700
Classification: Midsize Car
© American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura TLX
Year: 2015; 2017 and newer
Estimated Price: $16,500
Classification: Midsize Car
©Audi of America
© BMW AG
© General Motors
© General Motors
Buick LaCrosse
Year: 2017 and newer
Estimated Price: $19,800
Classification: Large Car
© General Motors
Chevrolet Equinox
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $11,700
Classification: Midsize SUV
© General Motors
Chevrolet Impala
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $13,200
Classification: Large Car
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Fiat 500X
Year: 2016 and newer; built after July 2015
Estimated Price: $11,300
Classification: Small SUV
© Ford Motor Company
Ford Edge
Year: 2016 and newer
Estimated Price: $17,600
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Ford Motor Company
Ford Escape
Year: 2017 and newer
Estimated Price: $14,600
Classification: Small SUV
© Ford Motor Company
Ford Flex
Year: 2011 and newer
Estimated Price: $8,700
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Ford Motor Company
Ford Fusion
Year: 2013 and newer; built after December 2012
Estimated Price: $8,100
Classification: Midsize Car
© Ford Motor Company
Ford Taurus
Year: 2013 and newer
Estimated Price: $10,000
Classification: Large Car
© General Motors
GMC Terrain
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $12,900
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Honda North America
Honda Accord Coupe
Year: 2013 and newer
Estimated Price: $8,900
Classification: Midsize Car
© Honda North America
Honda Accord Sedan
Year: 2013 and newer
Estimated Price: $9,400
Classification: Midsize Car
© American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda CR-V
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $13,500
Classification: Small SUV
© American Honda Motors
Honda Odyssey
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $12,700
Classification: Minivan
© Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Santa Fe
Year: 2017 and newer; built after March 2016
Estimated Price: $19,800
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Year: 2017 and newer
Estimated Price: $17,700
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Tucson
Year: 2016 and newer
Estimated Price: $15,100
Classification: Small SUV
© Nissan North American
Infiniti M37 / Q70
Year: 2013 and newer
Estimated Price: $14,400
Classification: Large Car
© Nissan North America
Infiniti Q50
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $18,600
Classification: Midsize Car
© Kia Motors America
© Kia Motors America
Kia Sorento
Year: 2016 and newer
Estimated Price: $15,900
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Kia Motors America
Kia Sportage
Year: 2017 and newer
Estimated Price: $15,900
Classification: Small SUV
© Ford Motor Company
Lincoln MKZ
Year: 2013 and newer
Estimated Price: $11,900
Classification: Midsize Car
© Mazda North America Operations
Mazda Mazda6
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $9,000
Classification: Midsize Car
© Mazda North American Operations
Mazda CX-3
Year: 2016 and newer
Estimated Price: $15,100
Classification: Small SUV
© Mazda North America
Mazda CX-5
Year: 2014 and newer; built after October 2013
Estimated Price: $10,700
Classification: Small SUV
© Nissan North America
Nissan Murano
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $17,200
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Nissan North America
Nissan Pathfinder
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $16,300
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Nissan North America, Inc.
Nissan Rogue
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $11,500
Classification: Small SUV
© Subaru of America
Subaru Forester
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $12,000
Classification: Small SUV
© Subaru of America
Subaru Legacy
Year: 2013 and newer; built after October 2012
Estimated Price: $8,300
Classification: Midsize Car
© Subaru of America
Subaru Outback
Year: 2013 and newer; built after October 2012
Estimated Price: $10,300
Classification: Midsize
© Toyota Motor Sales USA
Toyota Avalon
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $17,500
Classification: Large Car
© Toyota Motor Sales USA
Toyota Highlander
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $17,600
Classification: Midsize SUV
© Toyota Motor Sales USA
Toyota Prius v
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $14,700
Classification: Midsize Car
© Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota RAV4
Year: 2015 and newer; built after November 2014
Estimated Price: $14,800
Classification: Small SUV
© Toyota Motor Sales USA
Toyota Sienna
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $17,500
Classification: Minivan
© Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Tacoma Access Cab
Year: 2016 and newer
Estimated Price: $18,100
Classification: Small Pickup
© Toyota Motor Sales USA
Toyota Tundra Double Cab
Year: 2014 and newer
Estimated Price: $19,000
Classification: Large Pickup
© Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Jetta
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $8,900
Classification: Midsize Car
© Volkswagen of America
Volkswagen Passat
Year: 2013 and newer; built after October 2012
Estimated Price: $6,000
Classification: Midsize Car
© Volvo Cars of North America
Volvo S60
Year: 2011 and newer
Estimated Price: $7,900
Classification: Midsize
© Volvo Cars North America
Volvo S80
Year: 2007 and newer
Estimated Price: $3,900
Classification: Large Car
© Volvo Cars North America
Volvo V60
Year: 2015 and newer
Estimated Price: $14,800
Classification: Midsize Car
© Volvo Cars North America
© Volvo Cars North America
