Best Used Cars for Teens

by: consumerreports.org

When choosing a car for a teen driver, it is important to look further down the road than just today's budget limitations to ensure you buy a good, reliable model that can safely transport your child for years to come.
Choosing the best used car for a young driver will usually involve compromises, from practical considerations to the wants of an image-conscious teen. Simply put: The best bet is to buy the newest, most reliable model with the most safety equipment you can afford.
Make sure the vehicle you buy has advanced safety features such as electronic stability control (ESC) and curtain airbags, as well as good crash-test results. The lifesaving assistance those systems can provide is worth every penny in an emergency situation, and they can be especially beneficial to an inexperienced driver. Do not even consider a car without antilock brakes.
Finding such a car now is simpler, because all cars are equipped with ESC since the 2012 model year. And ESC is readily available in models since 2010, but you do need to check the specific car you are considering, as it may have been optional.
Safety equipment carries much promise, but to fully access the safety of the car overall, do consider crash performance in tests conducted by the government and by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

As far as what type of vehicle is best, large pickups and SUVs are not recommended for young, inexperienced drivers because they are more prone to roll over than other vehicles. Sports cars increase the risk of speeding and have a higher rate of accidents, and consequently, they carry tuition-sapping insurance premiums.
Reliability is key when choosing a used car because it probably will not have the warranty protection common on new cars. Further, you may intend for your teen to drive this first car for years to come, while money is funneled to college and starting independent adult life. To provide insight on car reliability, Consumer Reports surveys its subscribers and shares their experiences. Our model pages feature reliability Ratings spanning 10 years, with data from more than 500,000 vehicles, to provide an invaluable look at how cars hold up over time.
But keep in mind that every used car gets treated differently. The older a car gets, the more its care and maintenance history will affect its overall performance and reliability. Once you have narrowed your shopping list to cars that are likely to be smart choices, have the specific car you are considering purchasing thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic before you make the purchase.

There many factors to consider in selecting the right car for your teen. To make this easier, we have created the following list with the best used cars the meet our criteria for being safe and reliable, and each has performed well in Consumer Reports tests. Some used cars below are differentiated by years depending on when ESC became standard or reliability performance.

 

Make and Model	Price Range
Acura TSX	$8,650 - $22,600
Buick Regal (2012-2013)	$11,675 - $19,450
Chevrolet Cruze (2014 or later)	$10,850 - $16,725
Chevrolet Equinox (4-cyl., 2012 or later)	$11,800 - $27,375
Chevrolet Malibu (non-turbo, 2010 or later)	$6,850 - $20,075
Chevrolet Sonic (2015 or later)	$9,875 - $15,325
Ford Edge (2016 or later)	$25,575 - $34,550
Ford Focus sedan (2010-2011)	$5,150 - $7,275
Ford Fusion (4-cyl. & hybrid 2010 and later)	$6,625 - $23,050
Honda Accord (4-cyl. 2008 or later)	$7,475 - $22,750
Honda Civic (non-turbo, non-SI 2012 -2015)	$7,650 - $20,850
Honda CR-V (2015 or later)	$18,825 - $30,675
Honda Fit (2011 and later)	$8,500 - $17,600
Honda HR-V	$19,175 - $25,500
Hyundai Elantra (2012 or later)	$8,775 - $14,850
Hyundai Santa Fe (V6, 2007-2009, 2011-2012; no third row )	$6,000 - $16,050
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (2014 and later)	$17,550 - $28,400
Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl., non-turbo, 2006-2010, 2013 or later)	$4,725 - $20,475
Hyundai Tucson (2010 or later)	$9,675 - $21,050
Kia Forte (2010 or later)	$5,200 - $14,800
Kia Optima (non-turbo, 2011 or later)	$9,075 -$17,650
Kia Soul	$6,000 - $16,050
Kia Sportage (4-cyl., non-turbo, 2011-or later)	$10,275 - $20,100
Mazda CX-3	$23,600 - $24,825
Mazda CX-5	$14,025 - $27,850
Mazda 3i Touring (2011 -2015)	$6,525 - $21,350
Mazda 6 (4-cyl., 2009 and later)	$6,750 - $25,475
Mitsubishi Outlander (2007 to 2013, no third-row)	$4,700 - $18,250
Nissan Altima (4-cyl., 2010 to 2012, 2014 and later)	$7,225 - $15,900
Nissan Rogue (2008-2013 and 2015 or later)	$6,050 - $25,775
Nissan Sentra (2011-2012, 2015)	$6,425 - $14,950
Scion iA	$13,875
Scion iM	$16,875
Scion xB (2008 or later)	$6,250 - $15,850
Scion xD (2010 or later)	$7,175 - $11,525
Subaru Crosstrek	$21,875 - $25,125
Subaru Forester (non-turbo, 2009 or later)	$8,700 - $27,575
Subaru Impreza (non-turbo, 2011 or later)	$9,975 -$20,475
Subaru Legacy (4 cyl., 2010 or later)	$9,150 - $21,175
Subaru Outback (4 cyl., 2009-2015)	$8,875 - $25,075
Toyota Camry (4 cyl. 2010 or later)	$8,075 - $22,025
Toyota Corolla (2010 or later)	$7,375 -$17,250
Toyota Matrix (2010 or later)	$8,025 -$13,450
Toyota Prius (2010 or later)	$9,750 - $19,775
Toyota Prius V	$14,375 -$19,575
Toyota RAV4 (4 cyl., no third row 2004 or later)	$5,519 - $27,750
Volkswagen Golf (2011-2012)	$8,275 - $22,325
Volkswagen Rabbit (2009)	$5,800 - $6,175
Volkswagen Jetta (2009-2013)	$5,000 -$17,300
Volkswagen Tiguan (2014 or later)	$15,000 - $26,875
Volvo S60 (2012-2014 and 2016)	$13,000 - $31,375

 

 

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