The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan was named one U.S. News & World Report's best cars for teens.
As teenagers across the country return to school, many will be looking for a vehicle to get them to and from school as well as their extracurricular activities or afterschool jobs.
Some young drivers will enjoy the benefits of getting new car while others will have to settle for something that’s already seen some road miles. Parents looking to find a vehicle for their new road warriors are looking at a variety of factors when it comes to making that purchase.
They range from having the latest safety technologies to high rankings in crash tests to affordability. U.S. News and World Report compiles an annual list of “Best Cars for Teens” to help make that selection easier.
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Below are the magazine’s recommendations for 2018. They cover a variety of types and categories of vehicles. The new vehicle list includes:
The 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid was named best midsize sedan for teen drivers.
- 2019 Honda Fit | Best New Car for Teens Under $20k
- 2018 Hyundai Ioniq | Best New Car for Teens $20k to $25k
- 2018 Toyota Camry | Best New Car for Teens $25k to $30k
- 2018 Kia Sportage | Best New SUV for Teens $25k to $30k
- 2018 Hyundai Tucson | Best New SUV for Teens $30k to $35k
- 2018 Toyota Prius Prime | Best New Car for Teens $30k to $35k
- 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid | Best New Car for Teens $35k to $40k
- 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan | Best New SUV for Teens $35K to $40K
All of the magazine’s recommended vehicles above have available forward collision warning, lane departure warning – which alerts the driver if the car strays out of its lane – and lane keeping assist, which can also help keep the car in its lane.
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Except for a few used cars, all Best Cars for Teens have available automatic braking, which can slow or stop the car when it detects a potential collision.The best used cars on the company’s list includes:
- 2014-15 Buick Verano | Best Used Small Car for Teens
- 2014 GMC Terrain | Best Used Small SUV for Teens
- 2015 Toyota Camry | Best Used Midsize Car for Teens
- 2015 Chevrolet Traverse | Best Used Midsize SUV for Teens
- 2015 Buick LaCrosse | Best Used Large Car for Teens
The 2018 Hyundai Tucson is one of best new cars for teens for 2018.
“While driving is a rite of passage for many teens, it’s also a major source of worry for parents,” says Jamie Page Deaton, executive 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 Best New Cars for Teens must have the best combination of reliability ratings, crash test scores, available advanced driver assistance features and top critics’ recommendations in its price category.
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The vehicle also must be from the 2013 through 2015 model years and have the best combination of dependability and safety ratings, ownership costs, positive reviews from critics when the vehicles were new, and available tech that can help prevent crashes or lessen their severity.