August 20, 2019—U.S. News & World Report unveiled the Best Cars for Teens.
"Inexperienced teen drivers are more at risk for an accident, and the car they drive can either contribute to or help mitigate that risk," said Jamie Page Deaton, executive editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "The Best Cars for Teens have top-of-the-line safety features, including accident prevention and crash protection technologies, as well as features that allow parents to track their new drivers. All that tech can not only protect teens but also help them develop safe driving skills."
All 2019 Best New Cars for Teens have available forward collision warning and forward automatic emergency braking. Nearly every winner has lane departure warning—which alerts the driver if the car strays out of its lane—and lane keeping assist, which can help keep the car in its lane.
Almost all winners also have teen driver controls or available smartphone apps that send parents alerts when the car goes over a set speed or is driven outside a set geographic area or after a certain time of day. These features allow parents to set limits for teen drivers and have an ongoing conversation with their teens about responsible driving habits.
Best New Cars for Teens
- Car under $20K: 2019 Hyundai Accent
- Car for $20K to $25K: 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
- SUV for $20K to $25K: 2019 Honda HR-V
- Car for $25K to $30K: 2019 Kia Forte
- SUV for $25K to $30K: 2020 Kia Soul
- Car for $30K to $35K: 2019 Toyota Camry
- SUV for $30K to $35K: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Car for $35K to $40K: 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- SUV for $35K to $40K: 2019 Toyota RAV4
Best Used Cars for Teens
- Large cars: 2016 Buick LaCrosse
- Midsize cars: 2016 Toyota Camry/Camry Hybrid
- Midsize SUVs: 2015 Chevy Traverse
- Small cars: 2018 Toyota Prius
- Small SUVs: 2016 Hyundai Tucson
To be named one of the Best New Cars for Teens, a vehicle has to have the best combination of predicted reliability ratings, crash test scores, available advanced driver assistance features and top critics' recommendations in the U.S. News Best Cars rankings in its price category.
To be named a Best Used Car for Teens, a vehicle must be from the 2014 through 2016 model years and have the best combination of dependability and safety ratings, ownership costs, positive reviews from critics when the vehicles were new, and available tech that can help prevent crashes or lessen their severity.
