One: Honda Civic
The Honda Civic appeals to teens with a sporty design and modern features. Parents love the car’s reliability, fuel efficiency, and budget price.
Here’s why we place it at the top of our list of cars for teen drivers:
- The Civic is budget-friendly. You can get a good used Civic for $15k to $25k.
- Civics retain their value well. When it’s time to sell your used Civic, you’ll get top dollar for it.
- The Civic is very safe to drive. The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Civic its Top Safety Pick designation. Its Honda Sensing Suite includes advanced driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
- The Civic gets great gas mileage. With fuel economy often exceeding 30 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway, this car goes easy on your pocketbook.
- The Civic lasts a long time. With proper maintenance, Civics go for 200,000 miles or more. Your teen can drive it through high school, college, and beyond.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Two: Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla attracts teens with its sleek design and advanced technology, while parents appreciate its exceptional reliability, impressive fuel efficiency, and affordable price.
Here’s why we place the Corolla second on our list of cars for inexperienced drivers:
- The Corolla comes with the Toyota Safety Sense package which includes advanced driver assistance features such as a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and lane departure alert with steering assist.
- Toyota Corolla is very fuel-efficient. With it exceeding over 30 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on highways, the Corolla goes easy on your pocket.
- It can last a long time. A Corolla can easily go for 200,000 miles or more.
- A used Corolla typically costs between $12k and $22k, which makes it a great budget-friendly choice.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Three: Mazda 3
If your teen wants something sporty, the Mazda 3 fits the mold. As a parent, you can appreciate its reliability, affordable price, and fuel efficiency.
Here’s why we’ve selected the Mazda 3 for this article:
- Price: a well-maintained Mazda 3 doesn’t break the bank; expect to pay between $10k and $24k.
- Safety: Mazda i-Activsense includes advanced driver assistance such as blind-spot monitoring, smart brake support system, and rear cross-traffic alert.
- Mileage: with fuel economy often exceeding 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, your teen should be able to afford gas.
- Resale: the Mazda 3 retains its value quite well. When it’s time to sell your used car, you should get top dollar for it.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Four: Toyota Camry
This midsize sedan has modern features and a sleek look. Here is why the Camry made our list:
- Price: you can get a good used Camry for $12k to $30k.
- Resale: Camrys hold their value fairly well.
- Safety: the Toyota Safety Sense™suite includes advanced driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
- Fuel economy: the Camry gets 30 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway.
- Durability: on average a Camry lasts up to 20 years. Camrys that are well-loved go for 200,000 miles or more.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Five: Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is great for teens who want a car with a sporty design and lots of modern features. You’ll love the car’s reliability, fuel efficiency, and budget-friendly price.
Here’s why the Accord is a top choice for young drivers:
- Price: You can get a well-loved Accord for $10k to $35k.
- Resale: Accords are in high demand, so resale for a great price should be a cinch.
- The Accord is safe. Its Honda Sensing Suite includes advanced driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
- The Accord gets great gas mileage. With fuel economy often exceeding 29 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway, this car goes easy on your pocketbook.
- Accords last 15–20 years. With proper maintenance, the Accord goes for 200,000 miles or more.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Six: Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza caters to teens who like a robust, sporty car. As a parent, you will love its budget price tag, reliability, and fuel efficiency:
Here is why the Impreza made it on our list:
- Traction and safety: the Impreza has all-wheel drive standard, which provides added security and control, especially in bad weather or snowy conditions. EyeSight® driver assist technology has features such as pre-collision braking and rear-vision camera assists.
- Price: the Impreza is easy on your wallet. A good used Impreza will cost you anywhere from $8k to $28k.
- Longevity: with proper maintenance, the Impreza can easily perform for more than 200K miles.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Seven: Toyota Prius
The Prius appeals to teens (and parents) who want to lessen their carbon footprint. Parents love it because it has low maintenance costs, reliability, and a low price tag.
Here’s why we think a Prius is a great choice for teen drivers:
- Price: you can get a good used Prius for $10k to $32k.
- Resale: the Prius retains value.
- Safety: Toyota Safety Sense includes advanced driver assistance features such as a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist.
- Fuel economy and environmentalism: with its hybrid technology, the Prius reduces fuel consumption and emissions, which is very good for your wallet and the environment.
- Durability: Priuses last a long time.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Eight: Kia Seltos
The Kia Seltos is great for teens who like sleek designs and modern features. As a parent, you’ll be a fan of the car’s reliability, fuel efficiency, and reasonable price.
Here’s why the Seltos is a great choice for your teen:
- Price: you can find a well-maintained used Seltos for $18k to $28k.
- Safety: the Seltos has DriveWise. It includes advanced driver assistance features such as a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and lane-keeping assist.
- Mileage: while not as fuel-efficient as some of the other cars in this list (25 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway), the Seltos is far from a gas guzzler.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Nine: Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek brings all-wheel-drive sportiness and style in a convenient package.
- AWD: the Crosstrek is great for snowy conditions, bad weather, and light off-roading.
- Price: you can get a good used Crosstrek for $15k to $30k.
- Safety: EyeSight Driver Assist Technology includes advanced driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
- Durability: Subarus, including the Crosstrek, are nearly indestructible. Expect 200K–300K miles before it bites the dust.
- Resale: Subarus are in high demand in the second-hand car market. The Crosstrek is no exception.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
Ten: Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf appeals to eco-conscious teens and parents.
- Price: you can snag a decent used Leaf for anywhere between $8k to $25k, depending on its age and condition.
- Resale: electric vehicles such as the Leaf retain their value well.
- Safety: ProPILOT Assist system includes intelligent cruise control and steering assist.
- Longevity: with some TLC, the Leaf should last for 300,000 miles or more.
- Parking: the Leaf’s compact body makes it easy for new drivers to maneuver tight parking spaces.
- Fuel economy: with around 100 miles to the gallon, parents and teens both love how cheap the Leaf is to drive.
2013 Nissan LEAF
S • 74,000 miles
Greensboro, NC
$3,000
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest car for a 16 year old?
While there’s no single safest vehicle, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla get consistently high marks as being extraordinarily safe for teens.
What's the best first car for boys?
While it’s tempting to think about some flashy sports car for your teenage boy, you’re better off keeping it real and focusing on the important stuff: safety, reliability, and practicality. The Mazda 3 has a sporty look with a high safety rating.
What is the #1 safest car in the world?
The safest car is one that combines strong crash test ratings, advanced safety features, and is appropriate for the driver’s skill level. Cars with the highest safest rating are newer model year Toyotas, Mazdas, and Subarus.
What size of car is safest?
The ideal size for safety follows a “modified Goldilocks principle”—-not too small, not too big. Midsize vehicles offer a good balance of protection and maneuverability.
What is a good car for under $5k for a teen driver?
Here are some good car options for teen drivers under $5,000:
– Honda Civic (mid to late 2000s models)
– Toyota Corolla (2005–2008)
– Mazda 3 (2008–-2011)
– Honda Accord (2005–2009)