the used cars parents can trust for their teen drivers BEST CHOICES Small cars Model years Price Mazda 3 hatchback: 2019-25; sedan: 2020-25 $13,200 Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in Hybrid 2019-23 $13,600 Midsize cars Model years Price Nissan Maxima 2020-23 $15,200 Subaru Legacy 2020-25 $16,500 Nissan Altima 2021-24 $17,000 Toyota Camry 2019-25; including hybrid $17,300 Kia K5 2021-24; built after November 2020 $17,500 Subaru Outback 2020-25; built after October 2019 $18,700 Hyundai Ioniq 6 2023-25 $19,400 Large cars Model years Price Genesis G80 2019-20 $19,700 Small SUVs Model years Price Mazda CX-5 2018-25; built after March 2018 $13,100 Mazda CX-3 2020-21 $13,600 Mazda CX-30 2021-25; built after September 2020 $15,900 Subaru Forester 2019-25 $15,900 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2021-23 $16,700 Hyundai Ioniq 5 2022-24 $16,700 Nissan Rogue 2021-23 $17,200 Subaru Solterra 2023-25 $17,700 Audi Q4 e-tron 2022-25 $18,100 Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron 2022-24 $18,100 Ford Bronco Sport 2021-25 $18,100 Volkswagen Tiguan 2022-24 $18,200 Kia EV6 2022-24; built after August 2022 $18,700 Hyundai Tucson 2022-25; including hybrid $19,100 Midsize SUVs Model years Price Mazda CX-9 2020-23; built after December 2019 $16,200 Nissan Murano 2021-25 $18,000 Ford Explorer 2020-24 $18,400 Mitsubishi Outlander 2022-25; built after June 2021 $18,700 Acura RDX 2019-25 $19,600 2026 Toyota Camry SE Nightshade: All the Details The Best Used Cars For Teen Drivers The IIHS divides its recommendations into two categories: "Best Choices" and lower-cost "Good Choices." To qualify, vehicles must meet a fairly strict list of requirements. Every recommended model needs to weigh more than 2,750 pounds, earn strong crash-test ratings in IIHS small overlap testing, and score well for braking and emergency handling in Consumer Reports evaluations. The top-tier "Best Choice" vehicles also require highly rated automatic emergency braking systems and acceptable or good-rated headlights. Some of the strongest bargains on the updated list are surprisingly modern. Among small cars, the Mazda3 continues to stand out as one of the best all-around options for young drivers, with used examples starting around $13,200. The Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in Hybrid also made the cut thanks to its strong safety performance and SUV-like practicality. In the midsize category, familiar names dominate. The Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, and Kia K5 all earned recommendations, with pricing generally ranging between $15,000 and $18,000 depending on model year and trim. For families looking at SUVs - which is where many buyers end up these days - there are even more options. The Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, Ford Bronco Sport, and Volkswagen Tiguan all landed on the "Best Choices" list. Interestingly, several EVs also qualified, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Subaru Solterra. That reflects how quickly modern EVs have improved in crash safety and driver-assistance technology, though IIHS still emphasizes that buyers should carefully consider charging access and insurance costs before handing one to a teenager. GOOD CHOICES Small cars Model years Price Mini Countryman 2012-24 $4,600 Nissan Sentra 2015-25 $4,700 Chevrolet Sonic 2015-19; built after February 2015 $5,300 Kia Soul 2015-25 $5,300 Hyundai Elantra 2017-25 $6,100 Mazda 3 hatchback or sedan 2014-18; built after October 2013 $6,900 Hyundai Elantra GT 2018-20 $8,000 Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon 2014-25 $8,000 Honda Civic coupe or sedan 2014-25 $8,100 Kia Forte 2019-24 $8,900 Subaru Crosstrek 2016-25 $9,000 Midsize cars Model years Price Chevrolet Malibu 2014-25 $5,800 Volvo S60 2012-25 $6,700 Hyundai Sonata 2016-25; built after October 2015; including 2017-25 hybrid $6,900 Nissan Altima 2016-20 $6,900 Subaru Legacy 2015-19 $7,700 Acura TL 2012-14; built after April 2012 $8,200 Honda Accord sedan 2013-25; including 2014-25 hybrid $8,300 Mazda 6 2016-18 $8,400 Ford Fusion 2017-20 $9,000 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2017-25; built after May 2017 $9,100 Audi A3 2015-25 $9,100 Nissan Maxima 2016-19 $9,300 Lincoln MKZ 2017-20 $9,500 Audi A6 2016-19; built after January 2015 $9,900 Large cars Model years Price Volvo S80 2012-15 $5,600 Acura RLX 2014-20 $9,700 Small SUVs Model years Price Chevrolet Equinox 2014-24 $5,700 Fiat 500X 2016-18; built after July 2015 $5,700 Nissan Rogue 2014-20 $5,900 Hyundai Tucson 2016-21 $7,100 Audi Q3 2015-25 $7,200 Jeep Compass 2017-22; built after December 2016 $7,600 Kia Niro Hybrid 2017-22 $7,800 Mazda CX-5 2014-17; built after October 2013 $8,400 BMW X1 2016-25 $8,600 Kia Sportage 2017-25 $8,600 Mazda CX-3 2016-19 $9,000 Nissan Rogue Sport 2017 $9,100 Midsize SUVs Model years Price Volvo XC90 2013-24 $6,000 GMC Terrain 2014-20 $6,400 Volvo XC60 2013-21 $6,400 Nissan Murano 2015-20 $8,100 Kia Sorento 2016-18 $8,200 Audi Q5 2015-25; built after January 2015 $9,800 One of the biggest takeaways from the IIHS recommendations is that small doesn't necessarily mean safer. While compact cars remain popular first vehicles for teenagers, the institute generally favors slightly heavier vehicles because they tend to offer better crash protection in multi-vehicle collisions. That's why many of the top picks lean toward compact SUVs and midsize sedans rather than subcompacts. IIHS also warns parents against handing teens high-horsepower performance vehicles. Even if a car performs well in crash testing, excessive power can become a liability for inexperienced drivers. That's part of the reason why practical vehicles like the Camry, CX-5, and Forester continue showing up on these lists year after year. They're predictable, stable, and equipped with increasingly advanced crash-avoidance systems. Recalls Still Matter The IIHS also reminds buyers that safety ratings alone aren't enough. Parents shopping used vehicles should always check for open recalls before purchasing any car. That's especially important because some vehicles on the list only qualify for recommendation if they were built after specific production dates, often due to mid-cycle safety updates or revised headlights. The organization recommends checking the vehicle identification number through NHTSA's recall database and continuing to monitor recall notices regularly after purchase. The Full List Keeps Growing One of the more encouraging trends in this year's update is just how many affordable vehicles now qualify. A decade ago, finding a genuinely safe used car under $20,000 often meant sacrificing modern driver-assistance tech. Today, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and strong crash structures are becoming increasingly common even on mainstream vehicles. Nissan Terrano PHEV Concept: All the Details