There is no official IIHS ranking of the 10 best cars for teenagers. This shortlist offers 10 models worth considering, based on available crash-safety evidence and practical fit—not a head-to-head test or guarantee that every model year and trim is equally safe. IIHS and Consumer Reports’ May 1, 2025 recommendations covered model-year 2025 new vehicles and used vehicles; their current list was updated May 27, 2026, so current recommendations and prices should not be mistaken for the 2025 edition. IIHS’s 2025 release and its current teen-vehicle list provide useful starting points, but families should check the exact year, trim, build date, condition, price, and local availability before buying.
How to use this shortlist
These are editorial candidates, not a ranked top 10 and not a claim that each appeared in the same 2025 teen-vehicle recommendation tier. Several are included because they earned a 2025 IIHS safety award; some also appear on IIHS and Consumer Reports’ current teen-vehicle list. Award status and teen-list eligibility are different things: an award is one safety signal, not a complete measure of suitability for a young driver.
In its 2025 recommendations, IIHS and Consumer Reports excluded performance-oriented vehicles and minicars or vehicles weighing less than 2,750 pounds. The organizations also cautioned that large SUVs and pickups can be harder to handle and take longer to stop. More size is not automatically better: consider crash protection alongside the driver’s ability to control the vehicle, see around it, brake confidently, and use its controls. IIHS says its awards identify choices within vehicle size categories, and a smaller award winner may not protect occupants as well as a larger vehicle that did not win. See the 2025 IIHS award list.
Comparable curb weights, braking distances, handling test results, and control-usability findings are not available here for all 10 candidates. Those should be checked for the exact vehicle rather than inferred from a model name or safety award. Test-drive candidates with the teen driver and assess visibility, seating position, brake feel, steering, parking, and whether key controls are easy to operate without distraction.
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10 cars to consider for a teen driver
1. Mazda3
The Mazda3 appears on IIHS and Consumer Reports’ current new-vehicle list and as a used Best Choice. The 2025–26 Mazda3 also earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition. Treat those as separate facts: confirm the exact model year, body style, trim, and award coverage, and check whether the used car’s equipment and condition match what you expect.
2. Toyota Camry
The 2025–26 Camry earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition and appears on the current new-vehicle teen list. The current used Best Choice entry covers 2019–25 Camrys, including hybrid versions. The range spans different generations and powertrains, so compare the specific car’s features, history, and price rather than assuming all listed years are identical.
3. Honda Civic
The 2025–26 Civic hatchback earned Top Safety Pick+; IIHS’s 2025 list shows the Civic sedan as a Top Safety Pick. Current IIHS and Consumer Reports used Good Choices include 2014–25 Civic coupes and sedans. Body style and model year matter, so verify the specific vehicle’s eligibility and safety equipment before relying on either award or used-list status.
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4. Toyota Prius
The 2025–26 Prius earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition and appears among the 2026 new teen-vehicle choices. That makes it a current safety-award example, not evidence that it appeared on the historical 2025 teen list. Check the exact model year and trim when comparing vehicles.
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The 2025–26 Kona earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition and appears on the current teen list’s new-vehicle choices. Its compact crossover format may suit families seeking a higher seating position than a sedan, but do not treat body style as a substitute for checking visibility, handling, and fit during a test drive.
6. Hyundai Tucson
The 2025 Tucson earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition. The current teen list includes it as a new choice and as a used Best Choice for eligible 2022–25 model years. Confirm model year, trim, build date, and condition; the recommendation is not a blanket guarantee for every Tucson.
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7. Mazda CX-30
The 2025–26 CX-30 earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition and appears on the current new-vehicle teen list. Current used Best Choice eligibility covers 2021–25 models with a stated build-date boundary, so check the certification label near the driver’s door against the current list.
8. Subaru Forester
The 2025 Forester, excluding Wilderness trim, earned IIHS Top Safety Pick recognition. The current used Best Choice years are 2019–25. The Wilderness exclusion is important: verify trim rather than relying on the nameplate alone.
9. Hyundai Sonata
The 2025–26 Sonata earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recognition subject to a build-date caveat. The current new teen list includes the Sonata, including hybrid versions, and used Good Choices cover eligible 2016–25 versions. Check the build date and specific configuration before treating an award or recommendation as applicable.
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10. Toyota Corolla Cross
The 2025–26 Corolla Cross earned IIHS Top Safety Pick recognition. It is included here as an award example, not as a claim that it appears on the cited current teen recommendation list. As with the other candidates, compare the exact vehicle and do not use award status alone to decide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 2025 recommendations and current prices do—and do not—tell you
IIHS and Consumer Reports’ May 1, 2025 release listed 74 used vehicles priced at $10,000 or less, another 48 models under $20,000 with automatic emergency braking and highly rated headlights, and 22 new model-year 2025 recommendations. Those counts describe that 2025 release; they are not current inventory or a guarantee of what a family can buy at those prices.
The current IIHS page reports used-price examples based on Black Book data obtained in April 2026. They are rounded to the nearest $100 and represent median retail prices across trims for the earliest applicable model year—not 2025 prices, quotes for every year, or local transaction guarantees.
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| Vehicle | Current-page used-price example | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | $13,100 | Black Book April 2026 data; median retail price across trims for the earliest applicable model year. |
| Mazda3 | $13,200 | Black Book April 2026 data; median retail price across trims for the earliest applicable model year. |
| Subaru Forester | $15,900 | Black Book April 2026 data; median retail price across trims for the earliest applicable model year. |
| Toyota Camry | $17,300 | Black Book April 2026 data; median retail price across trims for the earliest applicable model year. |
These examples are not prices for every model in this shortlist, and the CX-5 is included as a price reference rather than one of the 10 candidates above. Consult the current IIHS page for its latest eligibility and pricing context; compare local listings and have any used car inspected before purchase.
Check recalls and the individual car before buying
Safety recognition applies to specified vehicles or configurations; it does not establish that a particular used car is free of defects or safe in its current condition. Before purchase, check the VIN or license plate for outstanding recalls using the recall resource linked from the IIHS teen-vehicle page. That page relays NHTSA’s advice to check for new recalls about every six months. For year or build-date exceptions, use the certification label near the driver’s door and compare it with the eligibility details.
- Verify model year, trim, body style, and build date against the applicable safety award or teen-list entry.
- Review the vehicle history and maintenance records, and arrange an independent inspection for a used car.
- Test visibility, braking feel, steering, parking, and control placement with the teen who will drive it.
- Budget for insurance, fuel or charging, maintenance, and repairs—not just the purchase price.
Build safe driving habits alongside the car choice
NHTSA reports that 752 teen drivers died in crashes in 2024, and 2,320 teen drivers were involved in crashes in which someone died. Among teen drivers involved in fatal crashes that year, speeding was a factor for 33%, and 22% had been drinking. These national figures describe risk; they do not show that any one model prevents crashes. See NHTSA’s guidance for parents of teen drivers.
Reinforce buckling up on every trip, putting away distractions, never driving after alcohol or drugs, controlling speed, and getting adequate sleep. Follow local graduated-driver-licensing rules on passengers and nighttime driving; requirements vary by state. A suitable car can help with protection and driver assistance, but it cannot replace sound habits, supervision, or compliance with the law.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
