The safest vehicles for teen drivers and how much they cost

Ready to hand over the car keys to a teenager for the first time? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports are out with a list of cars to help get them safely from point A to point B.

The annual ranking, released Wednesday, lists 96 of the safest new and used vehicles for teens based on crash protection, brakes, headlights, display systems and other features, such as how they handle in emergencies.

“We curate this annual list specifically for teens because driving holds extra risk for them,” Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Senior Research Scientist Rebecca Weast said in a statement.

The first batch of top-ranked cars includes 29 used vehicles priced below $20,000 and equipped with highly rated headlights and automatic emergency braking. A second grouping features 45 used cars priced under $10,000 that offer “good crash protection” for teen drivers, according to IIHS and CR. Model years for the used vehicles range from 2012 to 2025.

For those in the market for a new vehicle, the list also includes some two dozen 2026 models. These vehicles have all undergone IIHS’s most recent crash tests and have earned safety recognition from IIHS and CR.

The organizations left vehicles off their lists if they were judged to have excessive horsepower relative to their weight, or if cars were marketed for performance. The ranking also excludes minicars, which don’t offer adequate protection in crashes, according to IIHS and CR, as well as large SUVs and large pickups, which they say are more challenging to handle and pose greater risk to others on the road.

Top choices starting under $20,000

SMALL CARS

Mazda 3 (hatchback: 2019-25; sedan: 2020-25): $13,200
Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in Hybrid (2019-23): $13,600

MIDSIZE CARS

Nissan Maxima (2020-23): $15,200
Subaru Legacy (2020-25): $16,500
Nissan Altima (2021-24): $17,000
Toyota Camry (2019-25; including hybrid): $17,300
Kia K5 (2021-24; built after November 2020): $17,500
Subaru Outback (2020-25; built after October 2019): $18,700
Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2023-25): $19,400

LARGE CAR

Genesis G80 (2019-20): $19,700

SMALL SUVS

Mazda CX-5 (2018-25; built after March 2018): $13,100
Mazda CX-3 (2020-21): $13,600
Mazda CX-30 (2021-25; built after September 2020): $15,900
Subaru Forester (2019-25): $15,900
Chevrolet Trailblazer (2021-23): $16,700
Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2022-24): $16,700
Nissan Rogue (2021-23): $17,200
Subaru Solterra (2023-25): $17,700
Audi Q4 e-tron (2022-25): $18,100
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron (2022-24): $18,100
Ford Bronco Sport (2021-25): $18,100
Volkswagen Tiguan (2022-24): $18,200
Kia EV6 (2022-24; built after August 2022): $18,700
Hyundai Tucson (2022-25; including hybrid): $19,100

MIDSIZE SUVS

Mazda CX-9 (2020-23; built after December 2019): $16,200
Nissan Murano (2021-25): $18,000
Ford Explorer (2020-24): $18,400
Mitsubishi Outlander (2022-25; built after June 2021): $18,700
Acura RDX (2019-25): $19,600

Good choices starting under $10,000

SMALL CARS

Mini Countryman (2012-24): $4,600
Nissan Sentra (2015-25): $4,700
Chevrolet Sonic (2015-19; built after February 2015): $5,300
Kia Soul (2015-25): $5,300
Hyundai Elantra (2017-25): $6,100
Mazda 3 hatchback or sedan (2014-18; built after October 2013): $6,900
Hyundai Elantra GT (2018-2020): $8,000
Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon (2014-25): $8,000
Honda Civic coupe or sedan (2014-25): $8,100
Kia Forte (2019-24): $8,900
Subaru Crosstrek (2016-25): $9,000

MIDSIZE CARS

Chevrolet Malibu (2014-25): $5,800
Volvo S60 (2012-25): $6,700
Hyundai Sonata (2016-25; built after October 2015; including 2017-25 hybrid): $6,900
Nissan Altima (2016-20): $6,900
Subaru Legacy (2015-19): $7,700
Acura TL (2012-14; built after April 2012): $8,200
Honda Accord sedan (2013-25; including 2014-25 hybrid): $8,300
Mazda 6 (2016-18): $8,400
Ford Fusion (2017-20): $9,000
Alfa Romeo Giulia (2017-25; built after May 2017): $9,100
Audi A3 (2015-25): $9,100
Nissan Maxima (2016-19): $9,300
Lincoln MKZ (2017-20): $9,500
Audi A6 (2016-19; built after January 2015): $9,900