Best Cars for Teen Drivers

Safety, reliability, affordability and practicality are all important considerations for households with teenagers looking to get behind the wheel. The best cars for teens that we highlight in this list combine all of these positive attributes into one well-rounded and desirable package. Let’s not forget the ever-important aspect of style, and some degree of utility is helpful as well.

We’ve compiled 10 of the best cars for new drivers, ranging from four-door sedans to compact SUVs and even a small truck. All of these selections offer top safety marks from government regulators (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA) or the insurance industry (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS).

Jump to: Our top picks for teen drivers

Mazda 3
Subaru Impreza
Honda Civic
Honda Accord
Chevrolet Volt
Toyota Prius
Toyota Camry
Hyundai Tucson
BMW 3 Series
Hyundai Santa Cruz

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is offered in both sedan and hatchback designs. Some may prefer the more traditional trunk, but we like the hatchback’s sleek design and increased utility. The interior is surprisingly refined for an affordable car, and while we wouldn’t describe the Mazda 3 as fast, it’s certainly fun to drive with predictable handling and a lively feel. From 2020 on, the latest version of the Mazda 3, pictured above, earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. For a sizable savings, the previous version from 2014 through 2017 was also on the Top Safety Pick list, making it one of the best used cars for teens if affordability is a top consideration.

Subaru Impreza

The compact Impreza comes with standard all-wheel drive, making it a strong option for buyers who live in snowy regions. Like some other cars on this list, the Impreza can be found in both sedan or hatchback styles for extra utility. Models from 2017 to 2021 (2017 pictured above) received Top Safety Pick+ status from the IIHS, and the entire generation from 2017 through 2024 got five-star NHTSA ratings. The Subaru Crosstrek is similar to the Impreza, but it features a slightly lifted suspension and looks more like a crossover, which may be seen as more stylish to your teen. As such, the Crosstrek would also be a good choice.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is easy to recommend. We particularly like EX and Sport models that feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that was available up until the 2025 edition, but all Civics are safe, efficient, fun to drive, relatively affordable and have a well-earned reputation for reliability. The most recent version of Honda’s stalwart compact can be found in sedan and hatchback flavors. Every Civic from the 2020 model year (pictured above) up was awarded as an IIHS Top Safety Pick, and it also received five stars from the NHTSA.

Honda Accord

Like the smaller Civic, the Honda Accord is a great option for teen drivers. Reliable and practical, the Accord has long been seen as one of the most desirable midsize cars in America. From 2018 (pictured above) onward, the Honda Accord was awarded as a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, and its additional size compared to its compact sibling, the Civic, might be desirable for families who prioritize interior space or are looking for some more mass around their teen driver. 

Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt was an innovative car when it was introduced in 2011. By the time production ended in 2019, it was one of the best cars in America. Perhaps the strongest argument in the Volt’s favor is its electric range of about 50 miles. After the battery is depleted, the Volt switches to its four-cylinder gas engine, allowing the driver to continue on, filling the gas tank up like a traditional car. It earned five stars from the NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety pick in 2017 and 2018. Chevy’s Teen Driver technology lets parents set limits on driving behavior, a potentially useful feature.

Toyota Prius 

The Toyota Prius is a bit like the Chevy Volt. It’s both a hybrid of design — part sedan, part hatchback — and power. Unlike the Volt that runs solely on electricity until its battery is depleted, the Prius always operates as a hybrid. Regardless, it’s very efficient, returning around 50-plus mpg. That makes it a smart choice for families looking to cut gas costs. Jelly bean-shaped hybrids like all Prius models built before 2023 aren’t exactly stylish in many circles, but reliability and efficiency are strong selling points. The fourth-generation Prius that debuted in 2016 and is pictured above earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.

Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry has long been one of the most popular cars in America. The version that debuted in 2018, pictured above, was more fun to drive than its predecessors but still just as practical, safe and reliable. Its roomy interior and spacious trunk are benefits all families can enjoy. Its base four-cylinder is adequate, the optional hybrid is very efficient, and its range-topping V6 boasts more than 300 horsepower if quick acceleration is high on the list of buying priorities. From 2018 to 2023, the Camry was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and all models through the current year receive five stars from the NHTSA.

Hyundai Tucson

It seems like everyone wants to drive a crossover these days, and if that’s part of the purchase decision, the Hyundai Tucson is a strong option. Tucsons built since 2018 have a smooth and more modern appearance than older versions and also have Top Safety Pick designations and five-star safety NHTSA ratings. Every Tucson since 2022, pictured above, has an edgier design and comes with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which teen drivers will appreciate.

BMW 3 Series

We wouldn’t recommend just any BMW 3 Series for teen drivers. We’d suggest limiting your search to models built between 2016 and 2018 (2016 pictured above) and looking for a four-cylinder in 320i, 328i or 330i flavor. BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system is optional and may be desirable for families who live in the snow belt. The 3 Series is both a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star scorer from the NHTSA. Regardless of the year, a BMW 3 Series is an upscale choice, which means it might be a bit pricier than other used cars on this list. But for drivers who appreciate its excellent refinement and a sporty driving experience, the trade-off may be worth it.

Hyundai Santa Cruz

If your teen really wants a truck — or you think you might be able to have one car do double duty for your teen and your own occasional runs to the hardware store — the Hyundai Santa Cruz might fit the bill. It’s only been on the market since 2022, but it shares a lot of its structure and powertrains with other cars from Hyundai, including the compact Tucson crossover that’s also on this list. It’s on both the IIHS Top Safety Pick and NHTSA five-star lists, which is not something that can be said about its most obvious competitor, the Ford Maverick.

What about electric cars?

Electric cars have been on sale long enough that there are some good used options available at a price point that won’t shock the family budget. The Chevrolet Bolt, the Edmunds Top Rated EV of 2023, is the best option. The Bolt “combines everything you need and plenty of what you want in an affordable, attainable package,” we wrote back then, and that’s all still true today on the used market. Typical EV caveats apply. Teens who like to take long road trips may be better off with a hybrid, a home charger is necessary for maximum usefulness, and range will drop by a significant margin in the winter. But if around-town driving or commuting to school is the primary function, an EV like the Bolt may be just the ticket for your teen.

Safety is paramount

Remember, today’s cars are multiple times safer than your first car. That’s especially true for new cars, but even 5- to 10-year-old cars typically come with impressive safety ratings and technology. Only cars that got top marks from federal regulators, the insurance industry or both were considered for this list.

One question lingers: Are bigger cars inherently safer? Most experts agree that larger mass affords better protection, but with some caveats. The IIHS, for example, recommends larger, heavier midsize sedans and SUVs, while the Automobile Association of America (AAA) advises against SUVs for teen drivers but does recommend midsize sedans. Both groups agree that small subcompact cars, even those with high crash safety scores, aren’t ideal for new drivers, which is one reason our list starts with compacts and goes up in size from there.

Large SUVs and trucks may appeal to anxious parents, but they are also heavier, require longer braking distances, and are harder to control for new drivers still developing spatial awareness on the road. Older SUVs are also more prone to rollover risk given their taller heights and higher center of gravity. A 2020 NHTSA study found that SUVs were involved in more than 40% of fatal rollover crashes. Today’s compact and midsize crossover SUVs pose less rollover risk thanks to lower heights and more balanced weight distribution.

Ideally, look for the sweet spot in a compact or midsize sedan, hatchback or SUV. 

How much engine is enough?

Many automakers are phasing out six-cylinder engines, and many of today’s new cars feature four-cylinder engines, with or without a turbocharger for quicker acceleration. Some make impressive power, but most offer modest punch. The majority of the cars on our list make just enough power for new teen drivers to confidently navigate the highway, without too much to tempt reckless driving. Four-cylinders are also usually more efficient than larger engines. While a six-cylinder engine typically offers more power than new drivers need, we wouldn’t reject one if it came with a promising used car prospect. We’d avoid any V8-powered options. In most cases, it’s too much, too soon.

Old reliable 

When it comes to reliability, don’t fixate on the age of a car. Many models between 8 and 12 years old offer solid performance and low maintenance costs. CarMD’s Vehicle Health Index suggests that only 2% of cars from 2019 have concerns sufficient enough to illuminate the check engine light, while the number is still less than 8% for cars from 2015.

It’s also worth visiting a site like J.D. Power if you’ve narrowed in on a promising used car. J.D Power’s reliability ratings measure the dependability of cars three years after initial purchase. New cars certainly appeal with attractive warranties, but many cars today are built to remain relatively trouble-free beyond those initial five-year/50,000-mile periods.

What's the real cost?

Keep in mind that expenses for a teen driver’s car don’t end with the purchase. Higher insurance rates, fuel, maintenance and repairs all factor into the total cost of ownership. Edmunds' True Cost to Own tool estimates a model’s buying, ownership and operating costs over a five-year period. Feed these numbers into the TCO calculator and a proprietary algorithm crunches the numbers, also factoring in depreciation and any interest on financing and tax credits, if applicable, and forecasts it into five years of total ownership cost.

Edmunds says

Parents looking to help their teens with a new or used car purchase have a lot of things to consider, from reliability to safety and fuel economy. The vehicles we picked as the best for teens should give prospective shoppers a good place to start.