According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 83% of families that bought a vehicle for their teen drivers said they bought the vehicle used. The IIHS compiled a list of the safest used cars based on four primary principles:
- Stay away from high horsepower.
- Bigger, heavier vehicles offer better crash protection.
- Electronic stability control is a must.
- Vehicles should have the best safety rating possible (NHTSA 4 or 5 star and good or acceptable on IIHS crash tests).
The mean purchase price for a used car for a teen was $9,800, while the median was just $5,300. IIHS produced a list of acceptably safe models that cost less than $20,000 (see below) and another for vehicles that cost less than $10,000. Only three vehicles cost less than $5,300. It is a sure thing that 50% of the cars purchased by or for teens are not just those three models.
One of the issues when buying a car for a teen driver is the cool factor. A large car like a Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) Taurus ranks near the top of the IIHS list, as does the Buick LaCrosse from General Motors Co. (NYSE: GE). Neither one is likely to fire the imagination of a teenager in quite the same way that the cooler looking (and usually less safe and cheaper) small cars.
Among midsize cars, the Camry from Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) and the Accord sedan from Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) are good safe buys at around $14,000 while a Volkswagen Jetta at $8,200 is also a good choice.
Most of the listed used vehicles under $20,000 are from model years after 2009. The list of used vehicles under $10,000 includes model years as old as 2005.
ALSO READ: Is That Used Car a Good Value or a Scam?
BEST CHOICES:
Recommended used vehicles for teens starting under $20,000
Vehicles on this list earn good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. 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.
Prices, rounded to the nearest $100, were taken from Kelley Blue Book on July 1, 2014, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical mileage and private party purchase in Arlington, Va.
| LARGE CARS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Saab 9-5 sedan | 2010 and later | $17,500 |
| Lincoln MKS | 2009 and later | $15,500 |
| Buick Regal | 2011 and later | $13,500 |
| Ford Taurus | 2010 and later | $13,500 |
| Buick LaCrosse | 2010 and later | $12,900 |
| Volvo S80 | 2007 and later | $9,000 |
| MIDSIZE CARS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Toyota Prius v | 2012 and later | $19,100 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan | 2009 and later | $16,000 |
| Honda Accord sedan | 2012 and later; coupe 2013-14 | $14,400 |
| Audi A4 | 2009 and later | $14,300 |
| Toyota Camry | 2012 and later | $14,300 |
| Buick Verano | 2012 and later | $14,100 |
| Subaru Outback | 2010 and later | $14,000 |
| Lincoln MKZ | 2010 and later; built after April 2010 | $13,500 |
| Kia Optima | 2011 and later | $13,300 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2011 and later | $12,100 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2010 and later | $11,900 |
| Dodge Avenger | 2011 and later | $11,600 |
| Audi A3 | 2008 and later | $11,300 |
| Volkswagen CC | 2009 and later | $11,200 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2010 and later; built after November 2009 | $10,900 |
| Chrysler 200 sedan | 2011 and later | $10,700 |
| Mercury Milan | 2010-11; built after April 2010 | $10,700 |
| Ford Fusion | 2010 and later; built after April 2010 | $10,200 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2009 and later | $10,000 |
| Volvo C30 | 2008 and later | $9,800 |
| Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen | 2009 and later | $9,400 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2009 and later | $8,200 |
| SMALL SUVs | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Honda CR-V | 2012 and later | $18,100 |
| Kia Sportage | 2011 and later | $13,800 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 2010 and later | $13,100 |
| Subaru Forester | 2009 and later | $12,800 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2011 and later | $12,000 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 2009 and later | $10,200 |
| Honda Element | 2007 and later | $8,900 |
| MIDSIZE SUVs | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Volvo XC60 | 2010 and later | $18,000 |
| Saab 9-4X | 2011-12 | $17,800 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2008 and later | $17,100 |
| Toyota Venza | 2009 and later | $15,900 |
| Ford Edge | 2011 and later; built after February 2011 | $15,500 |
| Ford Flex | 2010 and later | $15,100 |
| GMC Terrain | 2010 and later | $14,900 |
| Kia Sorento | 2011 and later | $14,500 |
| Infiniti EX | 2008 and later | $14,400 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2010 and later | $13,700 |
| Dodge Journey | 2010 and later | $11,200 |
| Subaru Tribeca/B9 Tribeca | 2006 and later | $8,500 |
| Volvo XC90 | 2005 and later | $7,300 |
| LARGE SUVs | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Buick Enclave | 2011 and later | $19,900 |
| GMC Acadia | 2011 and later | $17,800 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 2011 and later | $16,600 |
| MINIVANS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Chrysler Town & Country | 2012 and later | $18,100 |
| Honda Odyssey | 2011 and later | $17,100 |
| Toyota Sienna | 2011 and later | $16,400 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 2012 and later | $15,200 |
| Volkswagen Routan | 2012 | $14,000 |
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