Consumer Reports (CR) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have updated their list of affordable, safe and reliable vehicles for teens for 2021, the organization announced.
“With used car prices so high this year, it may be tempting to have a newly licensed teen make do with a clunker or to buy them the smallest, cheapest new car available,” says IIHS President David Harkey. “As usual, we’re asking families to put safety at the center of this decision. Very old cars often lack adequate airbags and structure to protect their occupants. And minicars, even those that are brand new, can’t keep their occupants as safe in a crash when compared with a larger vehicle.”
“In compiling these lists, we found that some of the same models that were on last year’s lists are actually more expensive now even though they’re a year older,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. “This list is intended to point buyers toward vehicles that excel in performance and reliability ratings from CR’s tests and survey data and earn high marks for crash protection and crash avoidance from IIHS while staying within a defined budget.”
BEST CHOICES – USED CARS
SMALL CARS
- Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback (2014 or newer; built after October 2013) $8,100
- Toyota Prius (2014 or newer; built after November 2013) $8,600
- Hyundai Elantra GT (2018 or newer) $15,200
- Subaru Crosstrek (2017 or newer) $17,900
- Honda Insight (2019 or newer) $18,200
- Toyota Prius Prime (2017 or newer) $18,200
- Toyota Corolla hatchback (2019 or newer) $18,300
- Kia Niro (2019) $18,600
- Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon (2019) $19,400
MIDSIZE CARS
- Subaru Outback (2013 or newer; built after August 2012) $8,700
- Subaru Legacy (2013 or newer; built after August 2012) $8,800
- Mazda 6 (2014 or newer) $10,100
- Lincoln MKZ (2013, 2016, 2018 or newer) $10,300
- Honda Accord sedan or coupe (2013 or newer) $10,900
- Volkswagen Passat (2016-17) $11,400
- Toyota Prius v (2015-18) $11,600
- Volkswagen Jetta (2017) $12,900
- Volvo S60 (2016, 18) $14,100
- BMW 3 series (2017 or newer; built after November 2016; 4-cylinder only) $17,900
LARGE CARS
- Ford Taurus (2014) $9,600
- Hyundai Genesis (2016) $18,700
SMALL SUVS
- Mazda CX-5 (2014 or newer; built after October 2013) $9,300
- Nissan Rogue (2014, 2016-18, 2020) $10,100
- Subaru Forester (2016 or newer) $13,500
- Honda CR-V (2015 or newer) $14,800
- Kia Sportage (2017, 2018, 2020) $14,800
- Toyota RAV4 (2015 or newer; built after November 2014) $14,900
- Honda HR-V (2017 or newer; built after March 2016) $15,400
- Hyundai Kona (2018 or newer) $15,800
- Buick Encore (2018-19) $16,300
- Hyundai Tucson (2018 or newer) $16,800
- Mazda CX-3 (2019 or newer) $17,800
- Volvo XC60 (2017) $19,200
MIDSIZE SUVS
- Chevrolet Equinox (2017, 2019) $13,700
- Nissan Murano (2015 or newer) $14,800
- GMC Terrain (2017, 2019) $15,100
- Lexus NX (2015-16, 2018 or newer) $16,000
- Kia Sorento (2017-18) $16,500
- Hyundai Santa Fe (2017-19; built after March 2016) $18,700
- Ford Edge (2018 or newer) $19,600
- Mazda CX-9 (2017 or newer; built after November 2016) $19,600
- Audi Q5 (2016-19) $19,800
MINIVANS
- Toyota Sienna (2015-16) $13,900
- Honda Odyssey (2016) $15,400
- Kia Sedona (2017) $15,600
GOOD CHOICES – USED CARS
SMALL CARS
- Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback (2012-13) $6,400
- Toyota Prius (2011-13) $6,700
- Honda Civic sedan (2012-15) $6,900
- Toyota Corolla sedan (2014 or newer) $10,300
MIDSIZE CARS
- Toyota Prius v (2012-14) $8,300
- Toyota Camry (2012 or newer) $9,000
- Honda Accord sedan (2012) $9,300
LARGE CAR
- Ford Taurus (2011) $6,700
SMALL SUVS
- Hyundai Tucson (2012) $7,100
- Toyota RAV4 (2013-14) $12,164
MIDSIZE SUVS
- Toyota Venza (2009-15) $8,000
- Toyota Highlander (2008 or newer) $8,200
- Acura RDX (2013-16) $13,661
- Ford Edge (2014-15) $11,104
- Lexus RX (2010 and newer) $11,092
MINIVAN
- Toyota Sienna (2011-14) $8,300
RECOMMENDED NEW VEHICLES FOR TEENS (2021 MODELS)
SMALL CARS
- Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback $19,900
- Honda Insight $21,900
- Toyota Corolla sedan or hatchback (XLE/XSE sedan + Advanced Lighting; XSE hatchback + Preferred package) $23,600
- Honda Civic (Touring trim) $27,700
MIDSIZE CARS
- Subaru Legacy $22,300
- Kia K5 (built after November 2020) $23,400
- Mazda 6 $23,600
- Nissan Altima $23,600
- Toyota Camry $23,800
- Honda Accord $25,700
- Subaru Outback $26,100
- Hyundai Sonata (Limited or Hybrid Limited trims) $32,900
SMALL SUVS
- Mazda CX-3 $20,800
- Mazda CX-30 (built after September 2020) $21,700
- Subaru Forester $24,200
- Mazda CX-5 $25,200
- Chevrolet Equinox (LT trim) $27,300
- Hyundai Tucson (Ultimate, Sport or Limited trims) $27,700
- Honda CR-V (Touring, Hybrid Touring, Hybrid EX or Hybrid EX-L trim) $30,300
- Lexus UX (with Triple-Beam LED Headlights) $33,500
- Kia Sportage (SX Turbo trim) $34,600
- Toyota RAV4 (Hybrid Limited trim with Adaptive Front Headlight System) $36,900
MIDSIZE SUVS
- Mazda CX-9 $32,600
- Hyundai Palisade $32,700
- Nissan Murano $33,100
- Toyota Highlander $34,700
- Hyundai Santa Fe (Limited or Calligraphy trim) $38,000
- Kia Sorento (SX or SX Prestige trim) $39,500
MINIVAN
- Honda Odyssey $31,500