So, your teenager is about to get their driver’s license. This is a huge step for them in terms of their independence and responsibility. But it is arguably one of the most nerve-wracking moments in parenting. Not only will you spend every moment worrying when they are out and about, but there are some big decisions to make, especially when it comes to what car they are going to drive.
It can be helpful for caregivers to check out Kelley Blue Book’s (KBB) new list of the Best Cars for Teens. KBB, which has been offering information about vehicles since 1926, broke its list down for the best cars for every budget.
Parents got the inside scoop on not only the cars you should be looking at for your teen but also the critical safety features from Brian Moody, the executive editor for Kelley Blue Book.
What Parents Should Look for in a Car for Their Teen
Safety, safety, safety.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), teenagers drive less than almost everyone, except for the oldest of the driving population. But the number of car accidents and deaths is much higher. IIHS reports the crash rate for those 16-19 years old is nearly four times the rate for drivers older than 20. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports car crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 18-year-olds in the United States.
We all want our kids to be safe on the road, but that’s also kind of up to them right? Still, there are some safety features parents can look for in a car for their teen.
There are two main things Moody says parents should look for in a car. “Always get a car with airbags—head curtain airbags are even better. Look for a car with stability control and traction control. These features can be found on cars costing as little as $8,000,” he says.
KBB also recommends parents should look for things like anti-lock breaks, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring as well as some other features.
- Outboard mirrors with turn-signal indicators
- LED headlights and taillights
- Automatic high beams
- Hill-start assist
- Infotainment system with voice recognition
- Airbags, at least six
- Auto on/off headlights
- 360-degree cameras
- Some car models even have some type of built-in monitoring for your teen driver.
Of course, all of these features come with a price tag.
Top Cars For Teens Under $10,000
Kelley Blue Book
Some of the most budget-friendly cars are also some of the older cars on the list. It’s a risk some parents might not be comfortable with, but Moody shares this advice when buying older or used cars.
“Always look for open recalls on the NHTSA website,” Moody explains. “Having addressed recalls is OK so long as there aren’t 20 or more different recalls. That’s probably a sign of a troubled model. Recalls are addressed for free at the dealership. Avoid cars with a ‘Branded’ or ‘Salvaged’ title. This means the car was deemed a total loss by an insurance company.”
The 2014 Mazda3 takes the top spot for the best car for teens under $10,000. “The Mazda 3 is reliable, fun to drive, and economical,” Moody tells Parents about why he likes this car.
KBB says this model also includes six airbags standard as well as anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and hill launch assist. The Touring model also includes blind-spot monitoring.
Here’s KBB’s top five in this category:
- 2014 Mazda3
- 2013 Toyota Corolla
- 2009 Toyota RAV4
- 2010 Honda Element
- 2011 Toyota Avalon
Top Cars for Teens Under $15,000
Kelley Blue Book
The top car for teens under $15,000 is the 2018 Kia Sportage. KBB reports that it is reliable and scored well in crash tests. Some models even feature automatic high beams, fog lights, and a windshield wiper de-icer.
“SUVs are popular but the Kia Sportage isn’t so high off the ground as to make it as risky as a full-size SUV or pickup,” Moody says.
He goes on to explain the risks with larger SUVs or pickup trucks.
“Cars with a high center of gravity are easy to roll over. New drivers may not have the experience to avoid hard swerving or panicking moves,” he says
Here are KBB’s top 10 picks for cars under $15,000:
- 2018 Kia Sportage
- 2019 Kia Soul
- 2017 Toyota Corolla
- 2018 Mazda3
- 2016 Honda CR-V
- 2016 Mazda CX-5
- 2015 Toyota Prius
- 2013 Honda Accord
- 2013 Toyota Camry
- 2015 Honda Civic
Top Cars for Teens Under $20,000
Kelley Blue Book
When it comes to the best cars for teens under $20,000, it seems there is a clear favorite for KBB.
“The Toyota RAV4 simply does it all,” Moody says. “It’s reliable, useful, and efficient. Toyota’s reputation for reliability means years of trouble-free driving, new or used.”
KBB reports the Toyota RAV4 earned the IIHS accolade of Top Safety Pick+ and every model comes with a suite of safety features.
Here’s KBB’s top 10 in this category:
- 2017 Toyota RAV4
- 2018 Mazda CX-5
- 2017 Honda CR-V
- 2020 Toyota Corolla
- 2019 Mazda3
- 2017 Honda Accord
- 2017 Toyota Prius
- 2020 Honda Civic
- 2019 Chevrolet Equinox
Moody also offers this tip for buying a car under $20,000, if this is within your budget.
“Look at some luxury models as they likely have the latest safety features (when new) that make it safer. Brands like Acura, BMW, Lexus, and Tesla often have more safety features than other brands. The difficult part is to balance that with price and mileage.”
Top Cars for Teens Under $30,000
Kelley Blue Book
The top cars in this category are all new cars, either from model year 2024 or 2025.
“A new car will have all the latest safety features and a warranty,” Moody says. “Just avoid high-horsepower cars. Electric cars are also not perfect for young drivers because they are powerful and charging or ‘refueling’ can be challenging and public chargers are not often served by human attendants.”
But KBB’s pick in this category is a hybrid—the 2024 Toyota Prius. They named it Best New Model of 2024, and the IIHS named it to its Top Safety Pick+ list.
“The main reason for the Prius pick is efficiency and reliability. It’s a good-looking car and gets excellent fuel economy. Usually, fuel efficiency means a boring car but not so with the Prius,” Moody says.
But every model also comes with emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring just to name a few.
Moody also tells Parents there are several good choices in this category.
“Nissan alone has 6 models that start under $30,000. When considering interest rates, some new cars might be more affordable than a lightly used car,” explains Moody.
Here’s KBB’s top 10 cars under $30,000:
- 2024 Toyota Prius
- 2025 Honda Civic
- 2024 Toyota Corolla
- 2025 Kia Seltos
- 2024 Subaru Crosstrek
- 2025 Hyundai Kona
- 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2025 Nissan Kicks
Cars Parents Should Avoid Buying Their Teens
Moody says there are some types of cars that should be a hard “no” for parents, “High-performance sports or muscle cars, large pickups (especially with a lift kit), big truck-based SUVs, and very old cars without airbags or modern safety systems like anti-lock brakes or power steering.”
He explains a big reason why parents should avoid sports cars: “All cars can go fast but only some can go fast quickly—that is dangerous for an inexperienced driver.”
