Safety
Best Used Cars for Teen Drivers
Ranked from the IIHS & Consumer Reports Safe Vehicles for Teens (Best Choices / Good Choices, used) (2026). CarOutlay adds the ownership-cost lens — what each result means for the real 5-year cost of owning the car.
The ranking
Selected IIHS & Consumer Reports 'Best Choices' used vehicles for teens, with model-year range and starting price (Black Book, April 2026). All have standard AEB and good crash ratings. Updated May 27, 2026.
- Mazda CX-5 (small SUV) Most affordable Best Choice 2018–25, built after March 2018. $13,100
- Mazda 3 (small car) Hatchback 2019–25; sedan 2020–25. $13,200
- Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in Hybrid (small car) 2019–23. $13,600
- Mazda CX-3 (small SUV) 2020–21. $13,600
- Nissan Maxima (midsize car) 2020–23. $15,200
- Mazda CX-30 (small SUV) 2021–25, built after Sept 2020. $15,900
- Subaru Forester (small SUV) 2019–25. $15,900
- Mazda CX-9 (midsize SUV) 2020–23, built after Dec 2019. $16,200
- Subaru Legacy (midsize car) 2020–25. $16,500
- Chevrolet Trailblazer (small SUV) 2021–23. $16,700
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 (small SUV, EV) 2022–24. $16,700
- Nissan Altima (midsize car) 2021–24. $17,000
- Nissan Rogue (small SUV) 2021–23. $17,200
- Toyota Camry (midsize car) 2019–25, including hybrid. $17,300
- Kia K5 (midsize car) 2021–24, built after Nov 2020. $17,500
- Nissan Murano (midsize SUV) 2021–25. $18,000
- Ford Bronco Sport (small SUV) 2021–25. $18,100
- Ford Explorer (midsize SUV) 2020–24. $18,400
- Subaru Outback (midsize car) 2020–25, built after Oct 2019. $18,700
- Hyundai Tucson (small SUV) 2022–25, including hybrid. $19,100
Cheapest 'Good Choices' for tighter budgets
The most affordable IIHS/CR 'Good Choices' used vehicles for teens. These earn good crash ratings but may lack standard automatic emergency braking. Prices from Black Book, April 2026.
- Mini Countryman (small car) Cheapest pick 2012–24. $4,600
- Nissan Sentra (small car) 2015–25. $4,700
- Chevrolet Sonic (small car) 2015–19, built after Feb 2015. $5,300
- Kia Soul (small car) 2015–25. $5,300
- Volvo S80 (large car) 2012–15. $5,600
- Chevrolet Malibu (midsize car) 2014–25. $5,800
- Chevrolet Equinox (small SUV) 2014–24. $5,700
- Nissan Rogue (small SUV) 2014–20. $5,900
- Volvo XC90 (midsize SUV) 2013–24. $6,000
- Hyundai Elantra (small car) 2017–25. $6,100
Why this matters for your cost of ownership
For a household adding a teen driver, the smart-money play is a moderately priced, highly-rated used car — and the same traits that make these vehicles safe also help control cost. Strong crash protection and automatic emergency braking reduce the frequency and severity of claims, which is a major factor in the (already high) insurance a teen brings to a policy. Avoiding high-horsepower and luxury models keeps both repair costs and insurance surcharges down, and the $13,000–$19,000 Best Choices depreciate gently from an already-absorbed used price. Put a candidate teen car through our TCO calculator with a teen-driver insurance quote to see the real five-year cost before you buy.
Open the 5-Year TCO calculatorHow this ranking is measured
IIHS and Consumer Reports jointly screen used vehicles for teen-driver safety. Every recommended model must have a curb weight over 2,750 pounds, a 'good' IIHS rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test, and at least average Consumer Reports scores for braking and handling. The list excludes high-horsepower or performance-marketed vehicles, minicars, and the largest SUVs and pickups, which are harder for inexperienced drivers to control or stop. 'Best Choices' add a higher bar: standard automatic emergency braking that earns an advanced/superior IIHS pedestrian rating, plus headlights rated 'good' or 'acceptable.' 'Good Choices' meet the core crash and handling criteria at lower prices but may not have standard AEB. Prices are median retail figures from Black Book (April 2026) for the earliest qualifying model year.
Source: IIHS & Consumer Reports, Safe Vehicles for Teens (Best Choices / Good Choices, used) (2026). IIHS/CR list updated May 27, 2026: recommended used vehicles split into 'Best Choices' (with standard automatic emergency braking) and lower-priced 'Good Choices.' Prices are median retail from Black Book, April 2026, for the earliest applicable model year. View the original study ↗
Frequently asked questions
What is the best used car for a teen driver?
IIHS and Consumer Reports don't name a single 'best' car but publish a 2026 list of 'Best Choices' used vehicles, all with standard automatic emergency braking and strong crash protection. The most affordable Best Choices start around $13,100–$13,200 (Mazda CX-5 and Mazda 3). The right pick depends on your budget and needs, but every vehicle on the list clears the same safety bar.
How much should I spend on a teen's first car?
The IIHS/CR list spans from about $4,600 (the cheapest 'Good Choice,' a Mini Countryman) to nearly $20,000 for the safest 'Best Choices.' If budget allows, a Best Choice with standard automatic emergency braking offers the most crash-avoidance technology. On a tighter budget, a Good Choice still meets the core crash-protection and handling standards. Avoid high-horsepower, performance, or very large vehicles regardless of price.
Do safe teen cars cost less to insure?
Generally, the safety traits IIHS and CR require help. Strong crash ratings and automatic emergency braking reduce claim frequency and severity, and steering teens away from high-horsepower or luxury models avoids the steepest insurance surcharges and repair bills. Insuring a teen is expensive no matter what, but choosing a sensible, well-rated car is one of the few levers parents control — and it shows up directly in your cost of ownership.
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