The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports have released an updated list of recommended vehicles for teenage drivers.
The annual list is meant to provide a balance of safety features and reasonable budget for new drivers. It ranks used vehicles by their crash test performance, braking and handling performance and prices.
The list is further separated into small, midsize and large cars and small and midsize SUVs.
Top picks for 2025 range from $9,500 to nearly $20,000. They include:
- 2017-19 and 2023 or newer Toyota Corolla
- 2019-2022 Honda Insight
- 2018 or newer Toyota Camry
- 2020 or newer Subaru Legacy
- 2019 or newer BMW X2
- 2017-20 Acura MDX
The list also includes recommendations for certain new cars, so long as they meet or exceed IIHS's safety pick criteria and cost less than $45,000. They include:
- 2025 Honda Civic
- 2025 Honda Accord
- 2025 Mazda 3
- 2025 Toyota Camry
- 2025 Honda HR-V
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“Putting a young driver out on the road can be scary enough, and you really can’t control who they’re sharing the road with,” said Jennifer Stockburger, the director of operations at Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. “The one item you have some control over is what car they’re in.”
Stockburger referred to the updated list as a “Goldilocks” list, one that would help consumers with varying budgets and needs find the car that’s just right for them.
“We intentionally make the list very broad, so that it can meet a number of budget points, but as we always say, ‘buy as much safety as you can afford,’” she said. “Often, that means buying the newest car you can afford because as we know safety features roll in over time, so the newest car is actually often the safest car.
According to the report, the best vehicles on the list have “average or better scores from Consumer Reports for braking and for emergency and routine handling.”
“What we’re looking for are vehicles that are going to protect the teen in the event of a crash and also help the teen avoid a crash in the first place,” said Jessica Jermakian, the senior vice president for vehicle research at IIHS.
Stockburger said the list can be used by people who are older, but it is geared toward young drivers. “This is a great list of safe cars for anyone shopping for a used car,” she said.
