When picking an automobile for a young driver, it is essential to buy a reliable, good model which will ensure your child has a safe transport for many years to come. This is important because teens are at a higher risk for car collisions than other drivers. Coupled with inexperience, bad driving habits frequently involve teens in car accidents.
Your best bet is to buy a new model which comes with plenty of high-grade safety features and equipment. But not all parents can afford it. Choosing the used car for a teen driver means some compromises. While teens may want an athletic or luxurious car, parents need to prioritize reliability and safety after everything else.
Read on for five safe, smart, well-equipped vehicles you should definitely consider purchasing for your teenager.
Ford Focus (2010-2011)
Being one of Ford’s best-selling vehicles ever, the Ford Focus is a great option for new drivers. This is a good sized vehicle for teenagers. Most importantly, it is fuel efficient and safe while still being pretty fun to drive. All of this makes the Focus a smart choice for new keen drivers. It comes in two versions – as a sedan and hatchback.
Buick Verano 2013
The 2013 Buick Verano is deemed to be the best small car for teenagers. It’s a good choice for new drivers since it addresses two major concerns – reliability and safety. A rearview camera is a standard equipment. Other available features worth mentioning include a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross traffic alert, and parking sensors.
Toyota Tundra (2007-2010)
Toyota Tundra is a perfect choice for price-conscious parents whose teen is keen on driving. It provides all the necessary stability and safety controls an average teen driver needs, including side impact scores and small overlap crashes. Roof fortitude, head restraints, and seat construction scored pretty well during testing.
Buick Enclave (2012+)
If you’re looking for a pre-owned midsize SUV for your teen, look no further than the 2012 Buick Enclave. This cute vehicle boasts one of the highest ratings when it comes to the reliability. Moreover, the Enclave has earned a 5-star NHTSA rating and reputable IIHS top safety pick status. It offers plenty of seating space as well as ample cargo room. You can outfit it with rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. Because this is a relatively older vehicle, it lacks a lot of the advanced features that come with the latest SUVs. Yet, it is still worth the buy.
Jeep Cherokee (2014+)
Why choose this vehicle? Because it is known for its slick interior touches, off-road versatility, and practicality. This is especially true for the Trailhawk trim. Most important of all, it has respectable scores as an extremely safe vehicle for young teen drivers. Another great feature is an all-wheel-drive system, which can help your child get home in a bad weather condition like snowstorm or downpour.
Do you live in Encino? If so, make sure to check the used cars in Encino for sale. There’s a huge selection of pre-owned vehicles, so the chances are high that you will find a good used car for your child.
Written by Jen Brenner