Every year, between 1.8 and 2.8 million new drivers hit the road. A report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports highlights the safest vehicles for newly licensed teens.
The annual rankings identify vehicles at three price points, with 74 models costing under $10,000.
Forty-eight models come with automatic emergency breaking and highly-rated headlights for under $20,000.
A third premier batch includes 22 new 2025 vehicles equipped with the latest crash prevention and safety technology, including a seat belt reminder.
“It’s a really important thing for teens because we know teens are less likely to buckle up,” said Jessica Jermakian, IIHS senior vice president of vehicle research. “Parents should be looking to buy as much safety as they can afford. We’re looking for vehicles that will protect the teen in the event of a crash and also help them prevent the crash in the first place.”
The vehicles range from small sedans to large cars, small and medium-sized SUVs and minivans. Each earned a good crash rating from IIHS in five tests: original moderate overlap front, original side, driver-side small overlap front, roof strength and head restraints.
Vehicles that are not on the report’s list for new drivers include minicars, sports cars, large SUVs and pickups. They also urge caution with starting a new driver out in an electric car because they have a lot of available power and can hit a high rate of speed quickly.
Here are the vehicles included in the rankings:
Best Choices — starting under $20,000
Small cars
- Toyota Corolla sedan (2017-19; 2023 or newer): $9,500
- Honda Insight (2019-22): $11,600
- Mazda 3 hatchback (2019 or newer): $12,100
- Toyota Prius (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after August 2016): $12,600
- Mazda 3 sedan (2020 or newer): $13,000
- Toyota Prius Prime (2017 or newer): $16,200
- Honda Civic hatchback (2022 or newer): $19,200
- Honda Civic sedan (2022 or newer): $19,200
- Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (2019): $19, 300
Midsize cars
- Toyota Camry (2018 or newer): $13,100
- Mazda 6 (2019-21; only vehicles built after June 2019): $14,000
- Subaru Legacy (2020 or newer): $15,700
- Nissan Maxima (2020 or newer): $16,900
- Kia K5 (2021 or newer; only vehicles built after November 2020): $17,000
- Lexus IS (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after June 2017): $17,000
- Subaru Outback (2020; only vehicles built after October 2019): $17,400
- Volvo S60 (2021-22): $17,500
- Hyundai Sonata (2023 or newer; only vehicles built after December 2022): $18,100
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2019 or newer; except 2021 models built before February 2021): $19,100
- Honda Accord (2021 or newer): $19,800
Large cars
- Genesis G80 (2017-20): $12,200
- Genesis G90 (2017-22): $12,400
- Acura RLX (2018-20): $16,700
Small SUVs
- BMW X2 (2019-or newer): $12,200
- Mazda CX-3 (2020-21): $12,900
- Subaru Forester (2019 or newer): $13,000
- Mazda CX-5 (2020 or newer): $15,400
- Chevrolet Trailblazer (2021 or newer): 17,300
- Ford Bronco Sport (2021 or newer): $17,500
- Nissan Rogue (2021 or newer): $17,500
- Hyundai Tucson (2022 or newer): $17,600
- Mazda CX-30 (2022 or newer): $18,000
- Kia EV6 (2022 or newer; only vehicles built after August 2022): $19,800
- Mitsubishi Outlander (2022 or newer; only vehicles built after June 2021): $19,800
- Toyota Corolla Cross (2022 or newer): $19,800
Midsize SUVs
- Acura MDX (2017-20): $13,100
- Volvo XC90 (2018 or newer; only vehicles built after March 2018): $14,600
- Lexus NX (2018 or newer): $14,900
- Honda Pilot (2019 or newer): $16,000
- Ford Explorer (2020 or newer; only vehicles built after May 2020): $16,600
- Volkswagen Tiguan (2022 or newer): $16,600
- Toyota Highlander (2017 or newer): $17,000
- Honda Passport (2019-21; only vehicles built after June 2019): $18,100
- Nissan Murano (2021 or newer):$18,400
- Mazda CX-9 (2021 or newer): $18,500
- Audi Q4 e-tron (2022 or newer): $18,600
- Acura RDX (2019 or newer): $19,400
- Subaru Ascent (2021 or newer): $19,900
Good Choices — starting at $10,000 or less
Small cars
- Nissan Sentra (2015 or newer): $4,400
- Mini Countryman (2011 or newer): $4,600
- Mazda 3 sedan (2014-19; only vehicles built after October 2013): $5,000
- Kia Soul (2015 or newer): $5,100
- Mazda 3 hatchback (2014-19; only vehicles built after October 2013): $5,400
- Subaru Impreza wagon (2014 or newer): $5,700
- Subaru Impreza sedan (2014 or newer): $5,800
- Volkswagen Golf (2015-21): $6,300
- Kia Niro Hybrid (2017-22): $6,600
- Honda Civic sedan (2014-21): $6,800
- Volkswagen Golf SportWagen (2015-19): $6,900
- Subaru Crosstrek (2014 or newer): $7,300
- Honda Civic coupe (2014-21): $7,900
- Volkswagen Golf Alltrack (2017-19): $8,000
- Chevrolet Volt (2016-19): $9,500
- Chevrolet Bolt (2017-21): $9,800
- Acura ILX (2016-22): $10,000
Midsize cars
- Volvo S60 (2012-20): $4,900
- Volkswagen Jetta (2015 or newer): $5,300
- Hyundai Sonata (2016-22; only vehicles built after October 2015): $5,900
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2015-18): $6,500
- Chrysler 200 (2015-17): $6,700
- Volkswagen Passat (2016-22): $7,100
- Subaru Legacy (2015-19): $7,200
- Mazda 6 (2016-18): $7,300
- Volvo V60 (2015-20): $7,300
- Acura TL (2012-14; only vehicles built after April 2012): $7,500
- Audi A3 (2015 or newer): $7,500
- Ford Fusion (2017-19): $7,500
- Subaru Outback (2015-19): $7,600
- Honda Accord sedan (2013-20): $8,200
- BMW 2 series (2014-21): $ 8,400
- Nissan Maxima (2016-19): $8,600
- Toyota Camry (2015-17): $8,800
- Lincoln MKZ (2017-19): $8,900
- Honda Accord coupe (2015-17): $9,200
- Toyota Prius v (2015-17): $9,300
Large Cars
- Volvo S80 (2012; 2015-16): $4,800
- Hyundai Genesis (2015-16): $8,400
- Kia Cadenza (2017-20): $8,500
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2014-19; only vehicles built after January 2014): $8,800
- Audi A6 (2016 or newer; only vehicles built after January 2015): $9,300
Small SUVs
- Buick Encore (2015-22): $5,100
- Fiat 500X (2016-18; only vehicles built after July 2015): $5,300
- Nissan Rogue (2014-20): $5,300
- Subaru Forester (2014-18): $6,000
- Mitsubishi Outlander (2014-21): $6,100
- Jeep Compass (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after December 2016): $6,700
- Mazda CX-3 (2016-2019): $6,800
- Mazda CX-5 (2014-2019; only vehicles built after October 2013): $7,200
- Hyundai Tucson (2016-21): $7,700
- Kia Sportage (2017 or newer): $7,700
- BMW X1 (2016 or newer): $8,900
- Audi Q3 (2015 or newer): $9,100
- Hyundai Kona (2018 or newer): $9,600
- Honda CR-V (2015 or newer): $9,800
Midsize SUVs
- GMC Terrain (2014 or newer): $5,200
- Volvo XC60 (2013-21): $5,200
- Chevrolet Equinox (2014 or newer): $5,300
- Volvo XC90 (2013-17): $6,000
- Nissan Murano (2015-20): $7,100
- Kia Sorento (2016 or newer): $7,500
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (2017-18): $8,300
- Chevrolet Traverse (2018 or newer): $8,500
- Hyundai Santa Fe (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after March 2016): $8,500
- Audi Q5 (2015 or newer; only vehicles built after January 2015): $8,700
- Lincoln MKX (2016-18): $9,200
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class (2014-15; only vehicles built after August 2013): $9,200
- Acura MDX (2014-16): $9,300
- Volkswagen Tiguan (2018-21): $9,700
- Mazda CX-9 (2017-20; only vehicles built after November 2016): $9,800
Minivans
- Kia Sedona (2015-21): $5,400
- Honda Odyssey (2014 or newer): $7,300
- Chrysler Pacifica (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after August 2016) : $9,100
New vehicles for teens (2025 models)
Small cars:
- Honda Civic sedan
- Mazda 3 hatchback
- Mazda 3 sedan
Small SUVs
- Honda HR-V
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Hyundai Kona
- Hyundai Tucson
- Mazda CX-30
- Mazda CX-50
- Subaru Forester (excludes Wilderness trim) Subaru Solterra
Midsize cars
- Honda Accord
- Hyundai Ioniq 6
- Toyota Camry
Midsize SUVs
- GMC Acadia (built after January 2025)
- Honda Pilot
- Hyundai Santa Fe (built after November 2024)
- Kia Telluride
- Lexus NX
- Mazda CX-70
- Mazda CX-90
- Subaru Ascent
