Find the Best Car Deals Near You ⤵
The Safest Used Cars for Teens
February 1, 2018
If you're looking to buy a used car for your teenager, Consumer Reports recently put together a list of what they consider the best (and safest) used cars for teens.
All of the following vehicles performed well in road tests, have advanced safety features such as electronic stability control (ESC) and curtain airbags, as well as good crash-test results.
On the list are popular models such as the 2008 or later Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra (2012 or later), and Toyota Corolla (2010 or later).
Top Used Car Recommendations
| Make and Model | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Acura TSX | $5,750-$21,275 |
| Chevrolet Equinox (4-cyl., 2012-2017) | $9,575-$22,295 |
| Chevrolet Malibu (nonturbo, 2009 or 2016) | $5,225-$21,700 |
| Chevrolet Sonic (2014 or later) | $6,800-$14,100 |
| Ford Edge (2016 or later) | $19,300-$30,025 |
| Ford Focus sedan (2010-2011) | $4,450-$6,375 |
| Ford Fusion (4-cyl. & hybrid, 2009-2016) | $4,775-$21,350 |
| Honda Accord (4-cyl., 2008 or later) | $6,175-$26,450 |
| Honda Civic (nonturbo, non-SI, 2012-2017) | $7,000-$21,700 |
| Honda CR-V (2015 or later) | $16,250-$28,850 |
| Honda Fit (2011 and later) | $7,300-$17,775 |
| Honda HR-V | $17,850-$22,900 |
| Hyundai Elantra (2012 or later) | $7,275-$13,250 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe (V6, 2007-2009, 2011, or later; no third row ) | $5,175-$29,400 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Sport | $13,875-$25,650 |
| Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl., nonturbo, 2006-2010, 2012, or later) | $3,175-$15,350 |
| Hyundai Tucson (2010-2015) | $8,600-$18,525 |
| Kia Forte (2010 or later) | $4,950-$12,725 |
| Kia Optima (nonturbo, 2012 or later) | $8,450-$25,375 |
| Kia Soul | $5,175-$16,775 |
| Kia Sportage (4-cyl., nonturbo, 2011-2012, 2014, or later) | $8,050-$23,625 |
| Mazda CX-3 | $16,775-$22,350 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $11,175-$25,300 |
| Mazda 3 (2011 or later) | $5,450-$18,650 |
| Mazda 6 (4-cyl., 2009 or later) | $5,900-$22,225 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander (2007 to 2013, no third row) | $4,500-$15,150 |
| Nissan Altima (4-cyl., 2010-2012, 2015, and later) | $6,025-$20,325 |
| Nissan Rogue (2009 or later) | $6,225-$23,375 |
| Nissan Sentra (2011-2012, 2016) | $5,700-$14,525 |
| Scion iA | $11,850 |
| Scion iM | $14,625 |
| Scion xB (2008 or later) | $5,800-$15,350 |
| Scion xD (2010 or later) | $6,200-$9,775 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | $20,625-$23,225 |
| Subaru Forester (nonturbo, 2009 or later) | $7,275-$26,975 |
| Subaru Impreza (nonturbo, 2011-2016) | $7,825-$19,075 |
| Subaru Legacy (4 cyl., 2010 or later) | $7,125-$23,100 |
| Subaru Outback (4 cyl., 2010 or later) | $8,600-$28,425 |
| Toyota Camry (4 cyl., 2010 or later) | $7,700-$22,075 |
| Toyota Corolla (2010 or later) | $6,850-$15,875 |
| Toyota Matrix (2010 or later) | $7,200-$11,875 |
| Toyota Prius (2010 or later) | $8,950-$19,650 |
| Toyota Prius V | $12,625-$21,775 |
| Toyota RAV4 (4 cyl., no third row, 2004 or later) | $5,100-$27,675 |
| Volkswagen Golf (2012-2014) | $8,025-$14,050 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan (2014 or later) | $11,400-$23,825 |
| Volvo S60 (2012-2014 and 2016) | $10,250-$27,075 |
Signup for The Weekly Newsletter
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
June 2025
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Jun 12, 2025
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Jun 12, 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Jun 12, 2025
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Jun 12, 2025
- Best 0% Finance Deals June 2025 Jun 05, 2025
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars June 2025 Jun 05, 2025
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Jun 05, 2025
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Jun 05, 2025
May 2025
- Best Car Deals by Category May 29, 2025
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now May 29, 2025
- Real Prices of Large SUVs May 29, 2025
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates May 29, 2025
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared May 2025 May 22, 2025
- Best Car Deals Around the Country May 22, 2025
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks May 22, 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals May 15, 2025
- Cars With the Largest Rebates May 15, 2025
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars May 15, 2025
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs May 08, 2025
- Real Prices of Compact Cars May 01, 2025
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy May 01, 2025
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals May 01, 2025
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!
