To ensure the safety of your young driver on the road, you need to look for the best safe cars for teenagers. As soon as teens get their driver’s licenses, they all want to get behind wheels and enjoy the perks they have just earned.
However, the idea of inexperienced and immature kids getting behind the wheel is scary. Thus, as a parent, you must be extra careful while buying cars for your teens. You need to ensure the vehicle is safe, reliable, and comes under your affordability radar.
There are several great options in brand-new and used car markets to explore and get a ride to ensure your teenager’s safety on the road. In this buying guide, we bring you the top 9 good first cars for 17-year-olds and fellow teens in 2024 that can be a gift to remember.
9 Affordable Brand-New Safest Cars For Teenagers In 2024
Teenage years are when kids become more & more rebellious and want a hold of their life. They want every experience to be the best and unforgettable. And owning their first car is a crucial task that no parent can take lightly.
Teenagers are bound to be reckless on the road, given their age. Thus, you need a ride that offers them the desired fun and keeps them safe.
Driving a good first car for a teenager is an experience that will live with them forever. Below, we have reviewed the nine best cars for teenagers that you can consider buying for your teen in 2024.
1. 2024 Toyota Corolla
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $22,050
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 169 hp
- MPG: Up to 32 city / 41 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick
The 2024 Toyota Corolla is one of the best and most affordable cars for teenagers. This compact ride is well-built & versatile and will get your teen from place to place with little to no fuss. This car offers supple ride quality, good gas mileage, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and plenty of standard features.
The uninspired engine and cramped rear row are a little letdown. But for your teen, the offered space is more than enough. Toyota has equipped the 2024 Corolla with many standard & optional advanced driver assistance features for safety.
Standard Safety Features
- Rearview camera
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic-sign recognition
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Rear-seat alert
2. 2024 Subaru Impreza
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $22,995
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 152 to 182 hp
- MPG: Up to 27 city / 34 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick+
If you want safe, reliable, and affordable cars for teens, look no further than the 2024 Subaru Impreza. This compact car is well-rounded, offering spacious seating in both rows, standard all-wheel drive, and balanced handling.
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The model is fully redesigned for 2024. Its compact size makes it easy to maneuver, even for your teenager. The safety of your young driver is guarded with Corolla’s standard driver assistance features. However, features like blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic emergency braking are optional.
Standard Safety Features
- Rearview camera
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear-seat alert
- Automatic high-beam headlights
3. 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $23,860
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 169 hp
- MPG: Up to 31 city / 33 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick
If you want to know which safest cars for teens 2024 has for the buyers, then the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross is one of the best choices. The 2024 Corolla Cross is one of the safest SUV for teens. This subcompact SUV offers a spacious cabin, comfortable ride quality, good fuel efficiency, user-friendly technology, and many standard features.
The affordability is another great quality you can not ignore. The 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross is the ideal ride for teens going off to college. The space and features it offers will greatly help your kid in the new place. 2024 Corolla Cross is a safe ride as dictated by the 5-Star and Top Safety Pick rating from NHTSA and IIHS.
Standard Safety Features
- Rearview camera
- Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Traffic-sign recognition
- Rear-seat alert
4. 2024 Honda Civic
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $23,950
- Engine: 1.5 L 4-cylinder, 2.0 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 158 to 180 hp
- MPG: Up to 31 city / 33 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick
Another best car for teens 2024 has for responsible parents is the 2024 Honda Civic. This compact car is available as a sedan or hatchback. It offers a luxury-grade interior, lively performance, excellent fuel economy, and many standard features.
Standard infotainment features include a 7-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a four-speaker stereo. Your kid’s safety is ensured by a host of driver assistance features that have earned the 2024 Civic a 5-star safety rating from NHTSA and the Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS.
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Standard Safety Features
- Rearview camera
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic-sign recognition
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Rear-seat alert
5. 2024 Mazda3
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $24,170
- Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 191 to 227 hp
- MPG: Up to 27 city / 37 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick+
The 2024 Mazda3 is one of the good first cars for teenagers. This compact four-door car is well-rounded. It features an upscale cabin, athletic handling, engaging driving dynamics, and practicality.
You also get user-friendly tech and an infotainment system featuring an 8.8-inch display, wired Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, HD Radio, voice command, Bluetooth, and two USB ports.
In addition, more standard safety features will ensure your teens’ safety on the road. The 2024 Mazda3 has a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS.
Standard Safety Features
- Rearview camera
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Driver-attention monitoring
- Stop-and-go adaptive cruise control
- Forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Adaptive headlights
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear-door alert
6. 2024 Mazda CX-30
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $24,995
- Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 191 to 227 hp
- MPG: Up to 26 city / 33 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick+
The next name on our list of safe, affordable cars for teens is the 2024 Mazda CX-30. This subcompact sport utility vehicle is of great size for teens, is fun to drive, and has impressive interior qualities.
The turbo engine is potent, making your kid’s everyday chores drive fun. The agile handling and numerous standard features make it a great first ride.
The 2024 Mazda CX-30 has received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS, ensuring its safety for teens and drivers from other groups.
Standard Safety Features
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Driver-attention monitoring
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Rearview camera
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear-seat alert
7. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $25,195
- Engine: 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 152 to 182 hp
- MPG: Up to 27 city / 34 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick
If you are exploring safe top 10 cars for 16 year-olds, then the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is a choice you can not miss. The 2024 Crosstrek is a great subcompact SUV filled with practicality on the side of ruggedness, making it a complete package.
The model lineup is fully redesigned for 2024, which has improved many issues dangling in the outgoing model. The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek boasts a spacious cabin, comfortable seating, standard all-wheel drive, and composed ride & handling.
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This third-generation Crosstrek has earned a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, placing it among the best safe cars for teenagers in 2024.
Standard Safety Features
- Rearview camera
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Adaptive headlights
- Evasive-steering assist (helps steer the vehicle to avoid collisions)
8. 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $23,100
- Engine: 1.2 L 3-cylinder, 1.3 L 3-cylinder
- Horsepower: 137 to 155 hp
- MPG: Up to 29 city / 33 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: 5 Star
- IIHS: GOOD
Another affordable and brand-new safe car for teenagers that will not burn a hole in your pocket is the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer. This subcompact SUV offers a sharp-looking exterior, spacious interior, and fun-to-drive dynamics.
Your kids can use this ride for everyday commutes and on country roads. Plenty of upgraded tech and infotainment features, basic driver assistance technology, and available advanced safety features make the 2024 Trailblazer a safe car for teenagers.
Standard Safety Features
- Rearview camera
- Lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist
- Forward collision warning with pedestrian detection
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Teen Driver (lets you do things like set audio volume and speed limits for secondary drivers)
- Rear-seat alert
9. 2024 Kia Sportage
Key Specifications
- MSRP: From $27,190
- Engine: 2.5 L 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 187 hp
- MPG: Up to 25 city / 33 highway
Safety Ratings
- NHTSA: Yet To Be Rated
- IIHS: Top Safety Pick+
When there is talk of safe cars for teenagers, how can we not have a Kia on our list? The next vehicle on our list is the 2024 Kia Sportage. This compact SUV features an upscale & spacious interior, composed handling, a huge cargo hold, and a long list of easy-to-use standard features.
You can buy its brand-new base variant for a starting price of $24,600. However, if you wish to buy cars for teens under 10k, you can look for Sportage models from previous release years in the used car market.
With 2024 Sportage, your teen will enjoy standard features like an 8″ touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, voice recognition, BlueTooth, 6-speaker stereo, and more.
This compact SUV is a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. But it has yet to be tested by NHTSA. The 2023 Kia Sportage got 5 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, so we have no doubt that the latest model also features the same safety qualities.
Standard Safety Features
- Forward collision warning
- Forward automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Lane-tracing assist
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Driver-attention monitoring
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Rear parking sensors
- Rearview camera
Top FAQs About Best Safe Cars For Teenagers
Are there any cheap cars for teenage drivers under 5000?
If you are under a tight budget and are looking for cars for teens under 5k, then it is not something to be ashamed of.
Many American parents buy their teen kids second-hand rides as their first cars.
And if your budget is as low as $5k, we have a list of some good first cars under $5,000 that you can explore.
- 2004 Volkswagen Golf
- 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
- 1996 Honda Civic
- 2006 BMW-325i
- 2004 Acura TSX
- 2005 Infiniti G35 Sedan
- 2008 Mazda 3
- 1995 Mazda MX5 Miata
Is there any such thing as the safest used cars for teens?
YES. Cars possess their original qualities, whether they are used or brand new.
Look for the used variant of a ride that has scored a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.
It will be a safe ride compared to a new one with no such ratings from these trusted platforms.
The only thing you need to remember while buying a used car is that it is in great shape.
Have a trusted professional inspect this ride for you, and only make the purchase when you are sure there is nothing wrong with it.
What are the best cars for teens in 2024?
The best cars are also the top safe cars for teenagers. Parents of young drivers are always anxious regarding their safety on the road.
Parents can not stop caring about their children. However, they can surely control their anxiety by buying the safest cars for teens 2024 has in the market.
A vehicle filled with plenty of advanced safety features as standard and many others as optional gives a sense of security to the parents regarding their child’s safety.
If, in 2024, your mission is to get a safe ride for your rebellious teen, here we have the top nine choices you can go for without worrying too much.
- 2024 Toyota Corolla- From $22,050
- 2024 Subaru Impreza- From $22,995
- 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer- From $23,100
- 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross- From $23,860
- 2024 Honda Civic- From $23,950
- 2024 Mazda3- From $24,170
- 2024 Mazda CX-30- From $24,995
- 2024 Subaru Crosstrek- From $25,195
- 2024 Kia Sportage- From $27,190
Does a teenager need car insurance?
YES. If the car is driven by a legal driver, they must have car insurance per American law.
While buying a safe car for your teenager, you can add them to your car insurance or buy them a new one. Doing this will raise your car insurance premium overall.
But if your kid is an average or above-average student at school and has taken a driving safety course, you can get a good discount from insurance providers.
Also, if your teen works part-time, they can contribute towards the insurance payment.
Overall, your teen does need car insurance. However, you can decide the type and level of coverage based on your financial abilities.
What type of cars to avoid for teenagers?
Teen years are the most rebellious years of a person’s life. We tend to do everything better than the others and wish for the best things available.
And the same applies to cars. Many teenagers wish to own a sports car, full truck, or spacious SUV.
However, going for such vehicles is not a great decision for a teenager.
Strong engine output, huge car size, potent engines, and fast acceleration all seem tempting.
But these are the features that even skilled and experienced drivers sometimes can not handle.
Thus, as a parent, you should not give in to every unnecessary demand of your teen.
Buy them a ride that delivers the main purpose of being a medium of transportation that safely takes your kid from place to place.
What should I look for when buying a car for my teenager?
There are a lot of things that you must consider and look out for when buying a car for your teen kid.
- Firstly, check out its safety scores
- Price available in the market
- Insurance safety
- Weight of the vehicle
- Electronic stability control
If the car has these basic features, you are good to go.
Conclusion
Teenagers want everything that matches their style & expectations and gets them acknowledged by their peers. However, giving in to your teens’ demands may not be a great idea as safety is their least concern.
So, as a parent, it becomes your duty to buy your kid a safe vehicle, which is up to the bar that your kid does not reject. This article covers the nine best affordable and safe cars for teenagers, filled with advanced technological and safety features.
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