Getting a driver’s license is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in a teenager’s life—and one of the most stressful for parents. When parents and teens go car shopping, they face a dilemma: parents want a car that’s safe and affordable; teens want one that’s stylish. But with so many safe and affordable vehicles on the market, who says teens and parents can’t have it all?
To help parents choose wisely, CarMax, America’s largest used car retailer, and Driver’s Edge, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young drivers, produced a list of the best vehicles for teen drivers. Each vehicle on this list is rated on affordability, style, and has at least a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in each of the past three years.
The list, in alphabetical order by manufacturer, includes:
- Chevrolet Malibu (2008 only)
- Dodge Caliber (models with optional side airbags and ABS)
- Ford Fusion
- Honda Civic
- Hyundai Sonata
- Nissan Altima
- Pontiac G6
- Subaru Legacy
- Toyota Corolla
- Volkswagen Jetta
If you look closely, you’ll notice that the cars on this list are cool, but they aren’t fast. The old adage “speed kills” is true, especially when applied to teenagers. At over 3,500 fatalities per year, car crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths.
When it comes to vehicle safety, bigger often means better—at least in a collision with another vehicle. While there are no large vehicles on this list, none of the vehicles are tiny either. Because large trucks and SUVs are so popular, a compact car driven by an inexperienced teen is a fatality waiting to happen. Yet, of insurance rate comparison site InsWeb.com’s teen customers, the most popular vehicle is the Chevrolet Cobalt—a subcompact with limited safety features.
Older vehicles are cost-effective, but they don’t always have basic safety features like airbags or anti-lock brakes. If an older vehicle is all you can afford, bigger is usually better.
Not every family can afford a brand new luxury vehicle for their teen driver, but you can’t put a price tag on your child’s life. Purchasing a safe, affordable vehicle to keep your teen protected is well worth the investment.
Contacts:
Jonathon D. Tudor, 916-853-3386
