Kids grow up fast. From walking to riding a bicycle, to driving a car, these moments can speed by in a hurry. Before you know it, you find yourself asking “what is the best vehicle for my teen driver?” The options can be overwhelming. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has made this decision a little easier.
IIHS publishes its list of safest vehicles that meet important safety criteria for teen drivers every year.
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The recommendations by IIHS are guided by four main principles:
1) Young drivers should stay away from high horsepower. More powerful engines can tempt them to test the limits.
2) Bigger, heavier vehicles are safer. They protect better in a crash, and HLDI analyses of insurance data show that teen drivers are less likely to crash them in the first place. There are no minicars or small cars on the recommended list. Small SUVs are included because their weight is similar to that of a midsize car.
3) Electronic stability control (ESC) is a must. This feature helps a driver maintain control of the vehicle on curves and slippery roads. It reduces risk on a level comparable to safety belts.
4) Vehicles should have the best safety ratings possible. At a minimum, that means good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side and head restraint tests and four or five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The following table is based on the safest vehicles for each car size, with the MSRP price for 2019 car models provided.
The vehicles on this list are considered because of their good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and good or acceptable ratings in the driver-side small overlap front test. If rated by NHTSA, they earn 4 or 5 stars overall or 4 or 5 stars in the front and side tests under the old rating scheme. All come with standard ESC.
For a complete list of vehicles recommended for your teen driver visit the IIHS website.
Best Vehicles For Your Teen Driver
| Size | Model | MSRP |
| Small Cars | ||
| Hyundai Elantra | $17,200 | |
| Kia Soul | $17,490 | |
| Subaru Impreza | $18,595 | |
| Midsize Cars | ||
| Hyundai Sonata | $22,650 | |
| Kia Optima | $22,990 | |
| Subaru Outback Wagon | $26,345 | |
| Toyota Camry | $24,095 | |
| Midsize Luxury Cars | ||
| BMW 3 Series | $40,250 | |
| Lexus ES 350 | $39,750 | |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | $41,400 | |
| Large Cars | ||
| Kia Stinger | $32,990 | |
| Toyata Avalon | $35,650 | |
| Large Luxury Cars | ||
| Audi A6 | $54,100 | |
| BMW 5 Series | $53,400 | |
| Genesis G70 | $34,900 | |
| Lincoln Continental | $46,145 | |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | $53,500 | |
| Small SUVs | ||
| Hyundai Kona | $19,990 | |
| Mazda CX-5 | $24,350 | |
| Subaru Forester | $24,295 | |
| Toyota RAV4 | $25,650 | |
| Midsize SUVs | ||
| Hyundai Santa Fe | $25,750 | |
| Kia Sorrento | $26,290 | |
| Subaru Ascent | $31,995 | |
| Midsize Luxury SUVs | ||
| Acura RDX | $37,400 | |
| BMW X3 | $41,000 | |
| Hyundai Nexo | $58,300 | |
| Lexus NX | $36,485 | |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC | $40,700 | |
| Large SUVs | ||
| Audi e-tron | $74,800 | |
| Pickup Trucks | ||
| Ram 1500 | $33,440 |
Additionally, while looking for the best vehicle for your teen driver, check recalls prior to purchasing. Incidentally, this can be done by looking at the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at the National Highway Safety Administration recall list.
As a father himself, Thomas Creech understands the importance of keeping teens safe on the road. If your teen driver is seriously injured in an accident, please don’t hesitate to contact us through the form below.