When a teen gets their first driver's license in Boardman, Ohio, many look for a good used car. Pre-owned vehicles tend to be affordable, safe, and reliable. Choosing a quality used car, truck, or SUV lets you keep costs down and protect your teen from accidents. Many of these vehicles have good trade-in values as well. Continue reading to learn more about the best used cars for teenagers.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord sedan is known for its reliability and fuel efficiency. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) called it one of the safest used vehicles for teens. It has angular headlights, plenty of cargo space, and a sleek and sporty look. It also offers a smooth ride. This versatile vehicle works well when they go to college or commute to their first job. With the 2018 Honda Accord, you can choose LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, or Touring trim levels.
The base 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine produces 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, and it gets 30 mpg at lower speeds and 38 mpg on the highway. The 2.0-liter version gives 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It gets 22 mpg in urban areas and 32 mpg at higher speeds. Controls on the steering wheel help teens keep their eyes on the road. The Accord comes with Honda Sensing, a group of advanced safety features, which include:
- Automatic emergency braking with collision mitigation.
- Adaptive cruise control.
- Road departure mitigation.
- Lane-keeping assistance.
- A rearview camera.
- Forward collision warning.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert come with the EX and higher trims.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a compact sedan or hatchback with lots of standard features. As with the Accord, it's efficient and reliable. The newest 2020 model is available as a hybrid that gets up to 53 mpg. The standard version provides up to 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
The 2020 Corolla has an independent rear suspension and a lower center of gravity for better maneuverability. It has a smooth, quiet ride and many convenient features. You can choose from the L, LE, Hybrid LE, SE CVT, SE Six-Speed Manual, XLE, or XSE trim levels. On the front, the Toyota symbol connects the large, angular lower grille with the thin, curved upper grille for a sporty look.
The safety features are similar to the Accord, but the Corolla also has pedestrian detection and traffic sign recognition. A 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa is standard, and the LE and higher trims have an 8-inch touchscreen and keyless entry. The Hybrid LE uses the standard 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine with a battery system. You can select Normal, Eco, or Power driving modes. The SE CVT and higher trim levels use a 2.0-liter engine with Normal and Sport modes. It generates 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque.
You can add a power moonroof, an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and navigation. Teens can impress their friends and enjoy their favorite songs with the optional JBL nine-speaker 800-watt audio system. It includes horn tweeters and 6.7-inch door subwoofers.
The Mazda3
The Mazda3 is a compact car with an agile look, and it's on the IIHS list of the best used cars for teens. It's easy to handle, durable, and fun to drive, and many used models cost less than $10,000. A Mazda3 that's more than a decade old still looks sleek and modern, and you can choose a hatchback or a sedan. Trim levels include the 2.0, 2.5 S, and 2.5 Turbo.
The 2021 Mazda3 is more costly than older models, but it has luxurious features and plenty of power. Its curved profile and oval grille give it a refined look. Instead of a touch screen, a simple knob controls the 8.8-inch infotainment center. This can help teens keep their attention on traffic. You'll also get:
- Folding rear seats.
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
- An eight-speaker sound system.
- Lane-keeping assistance.
- Adaptive cruise control.
- Forward collision mitigation.
Drowsy-driver monitoring helps keep teens from falling asleep while driving. You can add a head-up display to help your teen avoid distractions. Also available are all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The standard motor gives 155 horsepower, which is still plenty for drives around Boardman or further afield.
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is a great choice for teens who enjoy off-road driving. This SUV's excellent capabilities and 8.7 inches of ground clearance can also help inexperienced drivers avoid or get out of ditches or potholes. That way, you won't need to pay for roadside help. The Outback was redesigned in 2020, and all-wheel drive is now standard. You get a choice of the Touring or Touring XT trims. An 182-horsepower engine with 176 lb-ft of torque is standard, and the Outback gets 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
You can choose an 11.6-inch infotainment center and a turbocharged engine that provides 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The optional driver-monitoring system is ideal for large households with more than one teen. It uses facial recognition software to recognize up to five people and save their preferences for seating positions, climate control, and other settings.
Hyundai SANTA FE Sport
The 2018 Hyundai SANTE FE Sport compact SUV has a comfortable, spacious interior, and it's easy and fun to drive. It's also part of the IIHS list of the best vehicles for teens. You can select the Sport, Sport 2.0T, or 2.0T Ultimate trim. This vehicle comes with a CD player, an MP3 player, and lumbar settings for the driver's seat.
The optional parking assistance is ideal for inexperienced drivers. All-wheel drive, heated side mirrors with memory settings, heated seats, and dual-zone climate control are also available. Choosing the universal garage door opener keeps your teen from misplacing a separate remote.
Learn More About the Best Used Cars for Your Teen
Deciding which vehicles are your first choice can make shopping easier. Think about the features you and your teen want most to narrow down the options, and then check out our online inventory of used vehicles, or visit us in person to find the right first car for your teen. We'll answer all of your questions about used cars and help you find the best ride for your needs.
Mazda 3 (2021) by Andrew Bone is licensed with CC BY 2.0