Getting a license and driving one’s first car remains an important rite of passage. Even if a teen driver chooses a more rational model over, say, a racy sport coupe, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Arlington, Va., suggests many teens are driving models that don’t offer sufficient crash protection and lack important safety technology.
Among the 500 parents queried, just over half reported buying cars for use by teen drivers that were from the 2006 model year or earlier; if it was a model that was passed down from parents or an older sibling, two thirds were eight years old or more. That’s significant because vehicles of that vintage are far less likely to include safety features such as electronic stability control (ESC) and side airbags than newer models.
What’s more, 28 percent of parents/teens picked minicars or small cars that inherently fare worse in a collision than do larger and heavier models. A separate IIHS study shows that teenagers killed in crashes are more likely than adults to have been behind the wheel of small vehicles and older vehicles.
While it’s possible to choose a safer car for young drivers and still stay within a reasonable budget, parents may find they have to dig deeper into their savings accounts to properly protect their offspring. “Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to get a safe vehicle for a teenager at the prices most people are paying,” says Anne McCartt, IIHS senior vice president of research. “Our advice to parents would be to remember the risks teens take and consider paying a little more.”
For its part the IIHS has compiled a list of “best choices” for first-time drivers that provide “good” protection in each of its rating criteria, including moderate overlap front crashes, side crash protection, head restraints and seats for rear crash protection and roof strength to protect occupants in rollover crashes; all are based on IIHS testing from prior model years. We’re featuring the IIHS’ recommendations in the accompanying box, though for the sake of brevity we’ve culled the list to models valued at $15,000 or less. The full list, along with additional secondtier choices at lower price points, can be found on the Institute’s website, iihs.org
Otherwise, the IIHS advises parents shop for a teen driver’s car based on four main criteria:
Stay away from high horsepower models that can tempt teens to test their limits.
Bigger and heavier vehicles protect their occupants better in a crash than do smaller models.
Choose a car that’s fitted with electronic stability control, which helps a driver maintain control of the vehicle in sudden steering maneuvers and over slippery roads.
Consider a model that has the best safety ratings possible; separate crash-test ratings from past model years can be found on both the IIHS’ website and on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s safercar.org site.
© CTW Features
Safest used cars for teen drivers under $15,000
Midsize Cars
Honda Accord, 2012/later, $14,400
Audi A4, 2009/later, $14,300
Toyota Camry, 2012/later, $14,300
Buick Verano, 2012/later, $14,100
Subaru Outback, 2010/later, $14,000
Lincoln MKZ, 2010/later, $13,500
Kia Optima, 2011/later, $13,300
Hyundai Sonata, 2011/later, $12,100
Subaru Legacy, 2010/later, $11,900
Dodge Avenger, 2011/later, $11,600
Audi A3, 2008/later, $11,300
Volkswagen CC, 2009/later, $11,200
Chevrolet Malibu, 2010/later, $10,900
Chrysler 200 sedan, 2011/later,
$10,700
Mercury Milan, 2010-11, $10,700
Ford Fusion, 2010/later, $10,200
Volkswagen Passat, 2009/later,
$10,000
Volvo C30, 2008/later, $9,800
Volkswagen Jetta, 2009/later, $8,200
Large Cars
Buick Regal, 2011/later, $13,500
Ford Taurus, 2010/later, $13,500
Buick LaCrosse, 2010/later, $12,900
Volvo S80, 2007/later, $9,000
Small SUVs
Kia Sportage, 2011/later, $13,800
Hyundai Tucson, 2010/later, $13,100
Subaru Forester, 2009/later, $12,800
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport,
2011/later, $12,000
Volkswagen Tiguan, 2009/later,
$10,200
Honda Element, 2007/later, $8,900
Midsize SUVs
GMC Terrain, 2010/later, $14,900
Kia Sorento, 2011/later, $14,500
Infiniti EX, 2008/later, $14,400
Chevrolet Equinox, 2010/later,
$13,700
Dodge Journey, 2010/later, $11,200
Subaru Tribeca, 2006/later, $8,500
Volvo XC90, 2005/later, $7,300
Minivans
Volkswagen Routan, 2012, $14,000
Prices noted are based on Kelley Blue Book used car values as of July 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. Source: IIHS.