Buying a car for teenagers is not as easy as it sounds. Sure, everyone wants a new, powerful, shiny vehicle, but it’s not a good idea to spend a fortune on a machine that’s likely to be driven in just a few years. A used car might be a better idea and iSeeCar have selected some of the best used cars for teens on the market based on their safety, reliability and fuel efficiency ratings.
In a new study published earlier this month, the agency determined which models are the safest and most reliable for teens across different vehicle segments. All models cost $25,000 or less and score 8.5 or more based on iSeeCar own methodology. Safety ratings are taken from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
All cars in the list below include at least basic safety features such as electronic stability control and front airbags as standard across all trim levels. Many vehicles have more advanced safety systems but not in all model classes. Also, each model has a combined fuel efficiency of over 20 miles per gallon.
Below is a list of the best used cars for teens in various categories according to iSeeCars.
| Vehicle Category | Vehicle | Safety and Reliability Score | Average Price of a Used Car |
| Best Small Car | 2017 Honda Civic (Coupe) | 9.6 | $22,785 |
| Best Small Luxury Car | 2017 Volvo S60 | 9.4 | $23.135 |
| Best Medium Car | Honda Accord 2017 | 9.5 | $21,851 |
| Best Midsize Luxury Cars | Lexus ES 350 2015 | 9.5 | $24.252 |
| Best Big Car | 2015 Toyota Avalon | 9.9 | $21,017 |
| Best Luxury Big Cars | 2015 Acura RLX | 8.9 | $22,682 |
| Best Small SUV | Outback Subaru 2017 | 9.2 | $24,894 |
| Best Midsize SUV | 2015 Honda Pilots | 9.3 | $21,060 |
| Best Luxury Midsize SUV | 2015 Acura MDX | 9.0 | $23.924 |
| The best minivans | 2015 Honda Odyssey | 8.7 | $21,889 |
| Best Train | Subaru Impreza 2019 | 8.5 | $23.784 |
| Best Luxury Trains | 2015 Volvo V60 | 8.8 | $18,252 |
| Best Hybrid Cars | Toyota Prius 2017 | 8.8 | $24,967 |
| Best Luxury Hybrid Cars | 2015 Lexus ES 300h | 9.3 | $24,052 |
If you are indeed in the market for a used vehicle for teens, be sure to also check out other recent surveys on the same topic. IIHS and Consumer Reports collaborated this summer on a list of cars you should consider for your teen, which has a different recommended model compared to iSeeCar study.
