Parents looking for the safest and most affordable options when it comes to their teenage drivers now have some help from Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
They teamed up to update this year’s list of recommended cars for teens, and there are options for every budget.
For the first time, all of the recommended cars have a good or acceptable rating in the driver-side small overlap test, which means the driver is less likely to be killed in a front-impact crash.
It also has passing marks for braking, handling and reliability from Consumer Reports.
In the small used-car category, the report recommends a 2017 Toyota Corolla or a 2019 hatchback model or the same model year for a Toyota Prius. Rounding out the top 3 are the 2021 to 2022 model Mazda 3 sedans and hatchbacks.
Bumping up to a mid-sized car actually leads to lower prices. The highest rated in this category for teenage drivers is the 2018 or newer Toyota Camry and the 2017 or 2021 models of the Volvo S-60 and Volvo V-60.
If you’re looking at smaller SUVs, the safest and most affordable options are the 2020 or 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, the Kia Sportage, if it’s a 2020 or newer model, and a 2017 or newer Toyota RAV4.
Another first this year is that there is one all-electric model on the list: the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Parents are warned, though, that unlike gas engines, electric motors give drivers access to all of the vehicle’s power at once.
Whatever your budget, Consumer Reports recommends you follow a modified Goldilocks principle: not too small, not too big and definitely not too fast.
When it comes to younger, newer drivers, you’re encouraged to avoid mini and microcars because these smaller cars do not provide enough protection in a crash.
High horsepower cars, including sports cars and anything with excessive horsepower relative to its weight, and larger vehicles -- including pick-up trucks and larger SUVs -- are also discouraged.