By Dave Bean, Content Editor, FMW
May 29, 2024
Cost-conscious parents looking to provide a safe vehicle for their teen driver seem to be in luck right now, at least according to an updated list compiled by IIHS and Consumer Reports. Not only is the selection robust, but all those vehicles on the list meet or exceed the stringent IIHS driver-side small overlap testing standards. They also scored highly on a number of other key safety criteria, including ADAS.
“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.”
For those families who are less budget conscious and are willing to spend more, there are also many new vehicles available that make the grade, including winners of the 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award.
“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.”
Interestingly, whether new or used, both IIHS and Consumer Reports opted not to include vehicles that were undersized, oversized or had too much firepower under the hood. It’s a list, they believe, that is exactly right for younger drivers who are just getting used to being on the road sans adult.
Further, the used vehicle list was split into two categories: ‘Best Choices’ and ‘Good Choices’, with ‘Best’ including slightly more vehicles. Both categories include vehicles priced under $10,000 and topping out at just under $20,000. While there are differences in various components between the two categories, all used vehicles on the list received high marks for reliability, emergency handling, braking and crash protection.
As for new vehicles – just like used vehicles – reliability, emergency handling, braking and crash protection were all highly rated. The new vehicles, however, were subject to the updated, more stringent testing criteria that has been adopted by IIHS in recent years.
A sample of ‘Best Choice’ Used Vehicles for Teens includes:
- Least Expensive: 2019 Toyota Camry ($9600)
- Most Expensive: 2022 or newer Mazda CX-30 ($19,900)
A sample of ‘Good Choice’ Used Vehicles for Teens includes:
- Least Expensive: 2014-2017 Mazda 3 ($5800)
- Most Expensive: 2017 Honda Odyssey ($14,400)
A sample of 2024 New Vehicles for Teens includes:
- Least Expensive: Suburu Imprezza ($23,400)
- Most Expensive: Mazda CX-90 ($38,800)
For more details and the complete list of all vehicles, new and used, that were selected by IIHS and Consumer Reports as top choices for teen drivers, visit the IIHS website by clicking here.
