Top 10 Best Cars for Teenagers
This week, both Edmunds.com and Consumer Reports released their list of the top 10 best cars for teens.
Both sources agree that the best cars are those that rank well in crash tests, are large enough to offer adequete crash-worthiness, and should not be overly powerful.
Most of the recommended vehicles are family sedans, and both sources agree that SUVs should be avoided.
Here are the top 10 picks (vehicles in bold were recommended by both sources).
| Edmunds.com Picks | Consumer Reports Picks |
|---|---|
| 2009 Honda Accord | Chevrolet Malibu (4-cyl., 2008 or later) |
| 2009 Toyota Camry | Ford Focus sedan (2009-2011) |
| 2010 Chevrolet Malibu | Honda Accord (4-cyl., 2008 or later) |
| 2010 Volkswagen Jetta | Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl., 2006 or later) |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | Kia Optima (non-turbo, 2010 or later) |
| 2012 Honda Accord | Mazda3 i Touring (2009 or later) |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | Nissan Altima (4-cyl., 2010 or later) |
| 2012 Toyota Camry | Subaru Impreza (non-turbo, 2009 or later) |
| 2012 Volkswagen Jetta | Toyota Corolla (2010 or later) |
| 2013 Chevrolet Malibu | Volkswagen Jetta (2007-2010) |
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
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.
Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
May 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals May 21, 2026
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared May 2026 May 21, 2026
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars May 2026 May 21, 2026
- Real Prices of Compact Cars May 21, 2026
- Best 0% Finance Deals May 2026 May 14, 2026
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals May 14, 2026
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals May 14, 2026
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs May 14, 2026
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory May 01, 2026
- Best Car Deals by Category May 01, 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now May 01, 2026
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks May 01, 2026
April 2026
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Apr 24, 2026
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Apr 06, 2026
