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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Shopping for a car is hard.
It’s even harder when that car is for your teen driver, as most parents obviously want to get something safe, but don’t want to break the bank on their kid’s first ride.
Couple that with the ongoing microchip shortage that has limited inventories and driven prices through the roof, and finding the right car at the right price can feel like a nightmare.
Luckily for prospective buyers, Consumer Reports has teamed up with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to create a list of the safest, most affordable used cars for teen drivers.
“We know firsthand how difficult it is to find the vehicle you want these days because we buy most of the vehicles that we crash-test from dealers just like everyone else,” said IIHS Chief Research Officer David Zuby. “We hope this list takes some of the stress out of car shopping by identifying lots of safe, reliable options at reasonable prices.”
The list of 49 vehicles, ranging from approximately $6,000 to $19,900, includes Good Choices and Best Choices, with the Best Choices offering slightly more safety than the Good Choices.
However, all vehicles in the Good Choices or Best Choices categories meet the following requirements: standard electronic stability control (ESC); above-average reliability based on Consumer Reports surveys; average or better score on the Consumer Reports emergency handling test; dry braking distances of less than 145 feet from 60 mph in Consumer Report’s brake tests; four or five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; good ratings in four IIHS crashworthiness tests — moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.
“As the pandemic has altered both the way people travel and the way they spend, demand for reliable used cars is notably high — meaning it may be more challenging to make your budget meet your needs,” said Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. “This list is designed to help you stretch your dollars further.”
No sports cars were included on the list due to the potential temptation of the high horsepower, with mini-cars left off due to safety concerns, and large SUVs not included due to their increased handling difficulty.
Here’s a look at the safest, most affordable used cars for teen drivers, according to Consumer Report and IIHS:
BEST CHOICES
Small cars
Ford C-Max Hybrid – 2014-2015 – $8,400
Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback – 2014 or newer – $8,700
Chevrolet Volt – 2014 – $10,500
Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon – 2015, 2018-2020 – $11,000
Toyota Corolla hatchback – 2019 or newer – $18,700
Honda Insight – 2019 or newer – $19,800
Subaru Crosstrek – 2018 or newer – $19,900
Midsize Cars
Subaru Legacy – 2013 or newer; built after August 2012 – $8,300
Subaru Outback – 2013 or newer; built after August 2012 – $8,800
Volkswagen Passat – 2015, 2017 – $10,400
Mazda 6 – 2014-2019 – $10,800
Toyota Prius v – 2015-2017 – $12,400
Lincoln MKZ – 2015 or newer – $13,200
Volvo S60 – 2018 – $19,100
Audi A6 – 2016-2019 – $19,400
Large cars
Toyota Avalon – 2015 or newer – $15,700
Hyundai Genesis – 2016 – $18,100
Small SUVs
Mazda CX-5 – 2014 or newer; built after October 2013 – $10,200
Honda CR-V – 2015 or newer – $14,900
Hyundai Kona – 2018, 2021 – $18,100
Mazda CX-3 – 2019 – $19,200
Volvo XC60 – 2017 – $19,400
Midsize SUVs
Ford Edge – 2015, 2020; built after May 2015 – $12,900
Nissan Murano – 2015 or newer – $14,700
Chevrolet Equinox – 2017 – $15,600
GMC Terrain – 2017 – $16,000
Lexus NX – 2015 or newer – $16,700
Hyundai Santa Fe – 2017-2019; built after March 2016 – $17,800
Toyota Highlander – 2014 or newer – $17,800
Minivans
Toyota Sienna – 2015-2018 – $14,700
Kia Sedona – 2017 – $15,200
Honda Odyssey – 2017, 2020 or newer – $17,100
GOOD CHOICES
Small cars
Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback – 2011-2013; built after December 2010 – $6,000
Honda Civic sedan – 2012-2015, 2019 or newer – $7,100
Toyota Prius – 2011 or newer – $8,100
Chevrolet Volt – 2013 – $8,800
Toyota Corolla sedan – 2014 or newer – $10,900
Lexus CT200h – 2012-2013 – $11,100
Midsize cars
Toyota Prius v – 2012-2014 – $8,500
Toyota Camry – 2012 or newer – $9,400
Honda Accord sedan – 2012 or newer or coupe 2013 or newer – $9,900
Volkswagen Jetta – 2016 – $10,900
Ford Fusion – 2015, 2018 – $12,200
BMW 3 series sedan – 2016 – $14,500
Nissan Altima – 2017, 2020 – $14,700
Large cars
Ford Taurus – 2011 – $6,300
Hyundai Genesis – 2011 – $6,900
Toyota Avalon – 2011-2014 – $9,400
Small SUVs
Nissan Rogue – 2014-2020 – $11,000
Prices are provided by Kelley Blue Book, rounded to the nearest $100, as of Apr. 28.
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