The 2017 Toyota Corolla was named the best car for teens under $20,000.
As teenagers ready to head back to school this fall, they’ll be looking for school supplies, new clothes and, in some cases, a car to get back and forth each day and to ferry them to afterschool activities as well.
For a select few, that first vehicle will also be their first new vehicle, but what is the best choice among new vehicles? How big an engine should a newly minted driver be trusted with? Small car or large SUV?
Fortunately for those making that big decision, U.S. News & World Report has put together its annual best new vehicles for teens list sorted by classification and price with important features in mind for young drivers.
“While driving is a rite of passage for many teens, it’s also a major source of worry for parents,” said Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. “We selected cars with top-of-the-line safety features, including accident prevention and crash protection technologies, as well as features that allow parents to track their new drivers.”
The Chevy Cruze is considered the best 2017 offering in the $20,000 to $25,000 range for teen drivers.
(States considering taxing autonomous vehicles. For the story, Click Here.)
The best 2017-model cars for teens include:
- Toyota Corolla (under $20,000)
- Chevy Cruze ($20,000 – $25,000)
- Hyundai Elantra ($25,000 – $30,000)
- Chevy Malibu ($30,000 – $35,000)
- Toyota Avalon ($35,000 – $40,000)
The cars have a variety of parent-friendly features. The Hyundai Elantra has a smartphone app that send parents alerts when a car goes over a set speed, outside a set geographic area or is driven after a certain time of day. The Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Cruze include a Teen Driver system that gives parents a report card on their teen’s actions behind the wheel.
The 2017 Honda CR-V is the top crossover or SUV offering for teen drivers in the under $30K range.
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To be named one of the Best New Cars for Teens, the site says a vehicle must have the best combination of reliability ratings, crash test scores, available advanced driver assistance features and top critics’ recommendations in the U.S. News Best Cars rankings in its price category.
The top SUVs and crossovers for 2017 include:
- Honda CR-V ($25,000 – $30,000)
- Subaru Outback ($30,000 – $35,000)
- Kia Sorento ($35,000 – $40,000)
The Subaru Outback has automatic rear braking, which can stop a car automatically prior to a collision while reversing.
All of the vehicles on the lists have forward collision warning and automatic braking, which can slow or stop a car when a potential collision is detected as well as lane departure warning, which alerts the driver if the car strays out of its lane.
(To see why teens are three times more likely to die in auto crashes, Click Here.)
Another important safety feature available on the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Malibu, Subaru Outback and Toyota Avalon is Lane keeping assist, which can also help keep the car in its lane.