With the end of the school year approaching quickly, many teenagers are on the hunt for a summer job. This means many parents — and teens — are hunting for a vehicle to get them to and from work and the rest of their lives. IIHS and Consumer Reports teamed up to provide a slew of good options.
The 2018 (or newer) Toyota Camry topped the list of Best Midsize Cars for Teens compiled by IIHS and Consumer Reports.
A quick review of the “2025 Best Vehicles for Teens” reveals that Toyota, Mazda and Subaru not only make great vehicles for adults, the things that make those brands good for grown ups also makes them good for teen drivers.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports partnered to develop their annual list of the top choices and the aforementioned brand typically finished in the top three of each category in the “Best” group.
“Given consumers’ economic anxiety and the uncertainty around future vehicle prices, the availability of a wide range of safe, affordable used options is welcome news,” said Jessica Jermakian, IIHS senior vice president for vehicle research. “Helping your kid achieve a milestone of independence shouldn’t require compromising on safety.”
What to look for
The 2019 Honda Insight was named among the Best Small Cars for Teens for 2025.
Parents typically want the “safest” vehicle possible for their new drivers, but what that means isn’t as simple as putting them in a big SUV and hoping for the best. Budgets and technology play critical roles in making a good choice.
IIHS and Consumer Reports have created a list of 74 used vehicles priced at $10,000 or less. Another 48 models that come with automatic emergency braking and highly rated headlights can be found for under $20,000.
“This list is designed to help buyers narrow their search to vehicles that can help drivers avoid crashes and also protect vehicle occupants in the event that a crash does occur,” said Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. “That combination increases the odds of keeping new drivers safe as they gain experience.”
Teen drivers are already at heightened risk because of inexperience and immaturity, so vehicle choice is particularly important for this demographic. Fortunately, as this year’s list shows, there are many reasonably priced options with a high level of safety. Parents of younger children might also consider using the list to find a family car that could be passed along to a teenager later.
More Safety News
- IIHS Tightens Requirements for Safety Picks
- Automakers Make Major Strides in Reducing or Preventing Frontal Crashes
- New Study Finds Bigger isn’t Always Better in a Crash
The choices
Today’s digital clusters can display safety messages, whether advising a driver to buckle up or flashing to show they’re exceeding the speed limit.
The annual list of best teen vehicles, which CR and IIHS have produced jointly since 2020, is intended to help families prioritize safety without busting their budgets. Below are the top three choices in each of the “best” categories.
Best Small Cars
- Toyota Corolla sedan — 2017-19; 2023 or newer ($9,500)
- Honda Insight — 2019-22 ($11,600)
- Mazda3 hatchback — 2019 or news ($12,100)
Best Midsize Cars
- Toyota Camry — 2018 or newer ($13,100)
- Mazda6 — 2019-21; only vehicles built after June 2019 ($14,000)
- Subaru Legacy — 2020 or newer ($15,700)
Best Large Cars
- Genesis G80 — 2017-20 ($12,200)
- Genesis G90 — 2017-22 ($12,400)
- Acura RLX — 2018-20 ($16,700)
The 2020 Acura RLX was among the top large sedans making Best Large Cars list.
The groups also compiled lists of small and midsize SUVs, which was topped by the BMW X2 (2019 or newer) and Acura MDX (2017-20). Large SUVs were not recommended by either group as they can be difficult for new drivers to handle.
Toyota, Honda and Mazda each had six vehicles on the five “best” lists, with Toyota and Mazda’s vehicles typically finishing in the top three. Additionally, five Subarus made the lists as well.
What else to know
The two groups also created lists for “good” used vehicles as well as group of 22 new vehicles that should be considered. To see the full list, click here.
As in past years, the list doesn’t include anything with excessive horsepower relative to weight or anything marketed for performance, they noted. Such vehicles can entice young drivers to take risks or lead them to speed unintentionally.
The list also doesn’t have any minicars or anything that weighs less than 2,750 pounds. Although many smaller models are popular with young drivers, they can’t protect their occupants as well in crashes with other vehicles.
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