This December, some new drivers may wake up Christmas morning to find keys to a car in their stocking. As they prepare to move out of the home and on to college, parents are buying their kids used cars, more and more, as their ‘starter’ car.
If you’ve been thinking of a car to pair with your new driver, U.S. News and World Report has done a very comprehensive look at the best used cars for new drivers. Here’s a look at what they found out!
The features most parents want their kids’ first car to have are very safety-focused:
- Driver Assistance features - forward collision warning automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and teen driver controls (with notifications for parents)
- Strong predicted reliability ratings
- Excellent crash test scores
The things that we most important to avoid were the unsafe elements:
- Sports cars - showy cars that go to drivers’ heads
- High seating capacity - More passengers, more potential distractions
- Too small cars - MINIs, SmartCars with no crumple zone
- Too big cars - trucks, SUVs with big blind spots
- Too powerful - Could tempt a young driver to drive past their skill level
With the criteria set out, here’s the cars U.S. News most appreciated for teen drivers, and why:
Best Used Large Car for Teens:
- 2017 Kia Cadenza
- Top safety pick
- Rearview Camera
- Kia's UVO system (speed checks. curfew alerts)
- Highly dependable
Best Used Midsize Car for Teens:
- 2016 Toyota Camry/Camry Hybrid
- Safe and Dependable
- Comfy and well-built
- Backup camera
- Great mileage
- Top safety and reliability ratings
Best Used Midsize SUV for Teens:
- 2017 Kia Sorento
- Safe
- Spacious
- Rear-view camera
- 2017 Top Safety Pick
- Dependable
Best Used Small Car for Teens:
- 2016 Toyota Prius
- Top Safety Pick+ award
- Good ratings in every crash test
- Economical/good mileage
- Hatchback
- Rearview camera
Best Used Small SUV for Teens:
- 2017 Hyundai Tucson
- Safety/Reliability
- Rearview Camera
- Quiet ride
- Good scores in every crash test
As you can see, each car has specific virtues-- the commonest one being safety-- that made parents most likely to pick it. And Asian import cars completely dominated their list, because of the commitment these manufacturers have made to safety and efficiency. If you’re considering buying a used car as your teen driver’s first car, consider these models for the virtues they possess! Click this link to schedule an appointment today. We’re located at 7171 Ronson Rd Ste B, San Diego, CA 92111 and we’re open Mondays through Fridays, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.