Purchasing for a automobile or truck may be tense, and that is doubly true if you’re purchasing on your teen son or daughter. These on the lookout for info on one of the best automobiles to purchase for his or her teenage drivers have any variety of respected sources that supply stable suggestions. Fortuitously, the safety-minded Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security, a corporation that focuses on crash-testing automobiles and reporting the outcomes to American customers, has run the numbers on moderately priced automobiles for teen drivers.
The IIHS partnered up with Client Studies to publish an inventory of automobiles which are anticipated to be each dependable and secure, incomes good scores in its personal average overlap entrance, facet, roof energy and head restraint exams, and a very good or acceptable ranking within the driver-side small overlap entrance take a look at. Additionally they cross-referenced their picks with crash-test information from the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration to make sure any really helpful automobiles obtained both four- or five-star outcomes from the federal security company.
Armed with that information, we break down a few of our personal options primarily based on what’s necessary to oldsters and/or their children. In spite of everything, with effectively over 40 automobiles in each measurement and form making the record from the IIHS, we determine some dad and mom might wish to slim down the sphere a bit. With out additional ado, listed below are our options for one of the best automobiles for teenagers accessible for an affordable $20,000 price range.
Finest automobiles for teenagers:
2014-2020 Mazda3
Plenty of lists for one of the best automobiles for teenagers will focus in on the Toyota Corolla, and for good cause. It’s been probably the most dependable automobiles ever bought in America for many years, it’s moderately reasonably priced, and there’s sure to be dozens of them on used automobile tons inside just a few miles of anybody’s house. However let’s say you’re an automotive fanatic who believes the apple doesn’t land removed from the tree. In case you prefer to drive and suppose your child will comply with in your footsteps, think about a Mazda3 as an alternative. It’s much more enjoyable to drive than a Corolla and even most Honda Civics, with communicative steering and a journey/dealing with steadiness that leans to the sporty facet.
To be able to get essentially the most security tools and finest styling, we’d recommend aiming for a 2017 or later mannequin if you will discover one in your value vary.
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2013-2019 Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is greater than only a fuel-sipping different to the Toyota Prius (Word that the Prius Prime was once on this record, however was eliminated as its value has crept up too excessive). As a result of it has a plug, the Volt’s giant(ish) onboard battery pack can retailer sufficient juice to energy the automobile for greater than 30 miles per cost. After that, the Chevy Volt nonetheless operates as an environment friendly hybrid automobile. Regardless of its sedan-shaped shell, the Volt is definitely a four-seat hatchback.
The Chevy Volt is likely one of the finest used-car bargains in America, whether or not you are looking for a teen or simply wish to park a stable commuter automobile in your driveway.
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2018 Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon
In case you reside within the snowbelt or another space that commonly offers with inclement climate or muddy circumstances, the Subaru Impreza could also be a very good guess on your teen driver. It comes normal with Subaru’s well-regarded Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive expertise and gives good visibility. It’s not as environment friendly as a few of its rivals, nevertheless, which suggests its dirty-duty capabilities don’t come with out some sacrifice.
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2014-2019 Subaru Outback
Subaru’s long-running and much-loved lifted all-wheel-drive wagon obtained a significant replace and an all-new stiffer chassis for the 2014 mannequin 12 months, and that’s the place we’d begin our search.
Not like the smaller automobiles on this record, the Subaru Outback is obtainable with a variety of engine choices. The bottom 2.5-liter four-cylinder is probably going loads highly effective sufficient for brand new drivers, although its constantly variable automated transmission does drone below regular acceleration. A 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine can be accessible.
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2017-2019 Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat gives one of many roomiest interiors of any sedan in America. In actual fact, the Passat straddles the road between midsize and fullsize, with a rear seat that compares favorably with a variety of automobiles which have far more sizable exterior dimensions.
In case you determine the Passat is the proper selection on your teen driver, we’d suggest on the lookout for a 2018 or 2019 mannequin with the two.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and six-speed automated transmission. Older variations of the engine, shared between VW and Audi, had issues that had been addressed within the third technology of the engine present in these Passat fashions.
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2014-2019 Mazda6
Like many Mazdas, the midsize 6 sedan is likely one of the most fun-to-drive automobiles in its phase. For any variety of causes, although, Mazda merchandise simply do not have the identical type of stellar status amongst used-car consumers as competing merchandise from the likes of Honda and Toyota. Which means a reasonably good Mazda6 might fall into the under-$20,000 price range of this record. It is price noting that the final time we regarded over selections, the Honda Accord featured prominently. It appears that evidently used Accords are getting priced out of this fascinating value vary.
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2018 Kia Niro
Kia made a very good move when it launched a crossover automobile that prioritized gasoline effectivity and a number of powertrain choices with enticing styling and affordable pricing. The Niro is out there in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electrical varieties. The one we’re highlighting right here is the PHEV, which may run round 26 miles on a completely charged battery earlier than its gasoline engine switches on the maintain the automobile shifting. In the true world, we discovered the Kia Niro PHEV a compelling package deal when it was new again in 2018, and it stays a stable selection as a primary automobile on your teen.
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2015-newer Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V has been on the best-sellers record for so long as most of us can bear in mind, and for good cause. It strikes wonderful balances between roominess and exterior dimensions, sportiness and effectivity. It is also fairly dependable, in keeping with sources that monitor that type of information. Actually, should you discover a well-priced and well-equipped CR-V in your space, having a look at it’s a no-brainer.
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2016 or newer Toyota Tacoma
There’s just one pickup truck on the record that matches the standards set out by the IIHS and Client Studies, and, not surprisingly, it is the Toyota Tacoma. With a well-earned status for reliability and sturdiness (older fashions had points with body rust, however that is much less probably with a 2016 or newer truck), the Tacoma has lengthy been the midsize pickup truck gross sales chief in America. To discover a used Tacoma for lower than $20,000, you would possibly want to contemplate pickups with larger miles than you would possibly favor. You may additionally have to have a look at base or SR5 trims as an alternative of the higher or TRD fashions. We additionally recommend taking a Toyota Tacoma for a take a look at drive earlier than committing to a purchase order — the inside dimensions are awkward for some drivers, with cramped headroom and a legs-forward seating association that is not comfy for some individuals.
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Can you purchase a brand new automobile for lower than $20,000 on your teen driver?
Sure, technically, you may. However we would not actually suggest it. There are at present three new automobiles on sale in America with a retail value under the $20,000 threshold: the Nissan Versa, the Kia Rio and the Mitsubishi Mirage. Of the three, we predict the Nissan Versa might be one of the best purchase. However one of many used fashions listed above is prone to be a safer guess for the same, or probably even smaller, sum of money.
On the lookout for shopping for recommendation on different moderately priced automobiles? Finest New Vehicles Underneath $20,000