Best Cars Under $20K for Teens
April 20, 2017
This week, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) compiled a list of the best used cars to consider for teen drivers, with an emphasis on safety. All of the vehicles on the list can be purchased for $20,000 or less, with one going for as low as $2,500 (2005 or newer Volvo XC90).
You can see the top recommendations below, and check out their full article to see the full list including "good" cars that are less than $10,000.
As always, I recommend using TrueCar No Haggle and Edmunds Price Promise to see the lowest prices your local dealers are willing to offer.
| LARGE CARS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Volvo S80 | 2007 and newer | $4,000 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2015 and newer | $18,800 |
| Infiniti M37/M56/Q70 | 2013 and newer | $19,800 |
| MIDSIZE CARS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Dodge Avenger | 2011-14 | $5,300 |
| Chrysler 200 sedan | 2011 and newer | $5,900 |
| Kia Optima | 2011 and newer | $7,600 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 2013 and newer; built after October 2012 | $8,700 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2015 and newer | $9,200 |
| Nissan Altima sedan | 2013 and newer; built after November 2012 | $9,500 |
| Ford Fusion | 2013 and newer; built after December 2012 | $9,600 |
| Volvo S60 | 2011 and newer; price is for 2012, which had lower trim level available | $9,800 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2013 and newer; built after August 2012 | $10,700 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2014 and newer | $10,900 |
| Honda Accord sedan and coupe | 2013 and newer | $11,100 |
| Toyota Camry | 2014 and newer; built after December 2013 | $11,200 |
| Mazda 6 | 2014 and newer | $11,400 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2015 and newer | $11,900 |
| Acura TL | 2012-14; built after April 2012 | $12,400 |
| Lincoln MKZ | 2013 and newer | $13,300 |
| Subaru Outback | 2013 and newer; built after August 2012 | $13,600 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Limited | 2016 | $13,700 |
| Toyota Prius v | 2015 and newer | $16,300 |
| Volvo V60 | 2015 and newer | $18,400 |
| Audi A3 | 2015 and newer | $18,500 |
| Infiniti Q50 | 2014-15 | $19,100 |
| SMALL SUVS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2011 and newer | $6,900 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2014 and newer | $10,700 |
| Chevrolet Trax | 2015 and newer | $11,800 |
| Fiat 500X | 2016 and newer; built after July 2015 | $12,600 |
| Nissan Rogue | 2014 and newer | $12,900 |
| Buick Encore | 2015 and newer | $13,800 |
| Subaru Forester | 2014 and newer | $14,900 |
| Honda CR-V | 2015 and newer | $15,600 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 2016 and newer | $16,000 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 2015 and newer | $16,000 |
| Mazda CX-3 | 2016 and newer | $16,600 |
| MIDSIZE SUVS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Volvo XC90 | 2005 and newer | $2,500 |
| Ford Flex | 2010 and newer; built after January 2010 | $7,200 |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 2014 and newer | $12,100 |
| GMC Terrain | 2014 and newer | $13,300 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 2015 and newer | $15,800 |
| Kia Sorento | 2016 and newer | $16,500 |
| Volvo XC60 | 2013 and newer | $16,500 |
| Ford Edge | 2015 and newer; built after May 2015 | $17,400 |
| Nissan Murano | 2015 and newer | $19,100 |
| MINIVANS | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Kia Sedona | 2015 and newer | $14,700 |
| Honda Odyssey | 2014 and newer | $16,100 |
| Toyota Sienna | 2015 and newer | $18,100 |
| PICKUP | MODEL YEARS | PRICE |
| Toyota Tundra extended cab (Double Cab) | 2014 and newer | $15,600 |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, Edmunds Price Promise, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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