The safest vehicles for teen drivers and how much they cost

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May 27, 2026 / 12:01 AM EDT

/ CBS News

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Ready to hand over the car keys to a teenager for the first time? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports are out with a list of cars to help get them safely from point A to point B.The annual ranking, released Wednesday, lists 96 of the safest new and used vehicles for teens based on crash protection, brakes, headlights, display systems and other features, such as how they handle in emergencies. "We curate this annual list specifically for teens because driving holds extra risk for them," Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Senior Research Scientist Rebecca Weast said in a statement. The first batch of top-ranked cars includes 29 used vehicles priced below $20,000 and equipped with highly rated headlights and automatic emergency braking. A second grouping features 45 used cars priced under $10,000 that offer "good crash protection" for teen drivers, according to IIHS and CR. Model years for the used vehicles range from 2012 to 2025.For those in the market for a new vehicle, the list also includes some two dozen 2026 models. These vehicles have all undergone IIHS's most recent crash tests and have earned safety recognition from IIHS and CR. The organizations left vehicles off their lists if they were judged to have excessive horsepower relative to their weight, or if cars were marketed for performance. The ranking also excludes minicars, which don't offer adequate protection in crashes, according to IIHS and CR, as well as large SUVs and large pickups, which they say are more challenging to handle and pose greater risk to others on the road.Top choices starting under $20,000SMALL CARSMazda 3 (hatchback: 2019-25; sedan: 2020-25): $13,200Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in Hybrid (2019-23): $13,600MIDSIZE CARSNissan Maxima (2020-23): $15,200Subaru Legacy (2020-25): $16,500Nissan Altima (2021-24): $17,000Toyota Camry (2019-25; including hybrid): $17,300Kia K5 (2021-24; built after November 2020): $17,500Subaru Outback (2020-25; built after October 2019): $18,700Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2023-25): $19,400LARGE CARGenesis G80 (2019-20): $19,700SMALL SUVSMazda CX-5 (2018-25; built after March 2018): $13,100Mazda CX-3 (2020-21): $13,600Mazda CX-30 (2021-25; built after September 2020): $15,900Subaru Forester (2019-25): $15,900Chevrolet Trailblazer (2021-23): $16,700Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2022-24): $16,700Nissan Rogue (2021-23): $17,200Subaru Solterra (2023-25): $17,700Audi Q4 e-tron (2022-25): $18,100Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron (2022-24): $18,100Ford Bronco Sport (2021-25): $18,100Volkswagen Tiguan (2022-24): $18,200Kia EV6 (2022-24; built after August 2022): $18,700 Hyundai Tucson (2022-25; including hybrid): $19,100MIDSIZE SUVSMazda CX-9 (2020-23; built after December 2019): $16,200Nissan Murano (2021-25): $18,000Ford Explorer (2020-24): $18,400Mitsubishi Outlander (2022-25; built after June 2021): $18,700Acura RDX (2019-25): $19,600Good choices starting under $10,000SMALL CARSMini Countryman (2012-24): $4,600Nissan Sentra (2015-25): $4,700Chevrolet Sonic (2015-19; built after February 2015): $5,300Kia Soul (2015-25): $5,300Hyundai Elantra (2017-25): $6,100Mazda 3 hatchback or sedan (2014-18; built after October 2013): $6,900Hyundai Elantra GT (2018-2020): $8,000Subaru Impreza sedan or wagon (2014-25): $8,000Honda Civic coupe or sedan (2014-25): $8,100Kia Forte (2019-24): $8,900Subaru Crosstrek (2016-25): $9,000MIDSIZE CARSChevrolet Malibu (2014-25): $5,800Volvo S60 (2012-25): $6,700Hyundai Sonata (2016-25; built after October 2015; including 2017-25 hybrid): $6,900Nissan Altima (2016-20): $6,900Subaru Legacy (2015-19): $7,700Acura TL (2012-14; built after April 2012): $8,200Honda Accord sedan (2013-25; including 2014-25 hybrid): $8,300Mazda 6 (2016-18): $8,400Ford Fusion (2017-20): $9,000Alfa Romeo Giulia (2017-25; built after May 2017): $9,100Audi A3 (2015-25): $9,100Nissan Maxima (2016-19): $9,300Lincoln MKZ (2017-20): $9,500Audi A6 (2016-19; built after January 2015): $9,900LARGE CARSVolvo S80 (2012-15): $5,600Acura RLX (2014-20): $9,700SMALL SUVSChevrolet Equinox (2014-24): $5,700Fiat 500X (2016 -18; built after July 2015): $5,700Nissan Rogue (2014-20): $5,900Hyundai Tucson (2016-21): $7,100Audi Q3 (2015-25): $7,200 Jeep Compass (2017-22; built after December 2016): $7,600Kia Niro Hybrid (2017-22): $7,800Mazda CX-5 (2014-17; built after October 2013): $8,400BMW X1 (2016-25): $8,600Kia Sportage (2017-25): $8,600Mazda CX-3 (2016-19): $9,000Nissan Rogue Sport (2017): $9,100MIDSIZE SUVSVolvo XC90 (2013-24): $6,000GMC Terrain (2014-20): $6,400Volvo XC60 (2013-21): $6,400Nissan Murano (2015-20): $8,100Kia Sorento (2016-18): $8,200Audi Q5 (2015-25; built after January 2015): $9,800New vehicles for teens (2026 models)SMALL CARS Mazda 3 hatchback or sedan Toyota PriusSMALL SUVSHyundai Ioniq 5 Hyundai KonaHyundai Tucson (including hybrid) Mazda CX-30 Mazda CX-50 (including hybrid)MIDSIZE CARSHyundai SonataToyota CamryMIDSIZE SUVSFord ExplorerHonda PassportHyundai Palisade (built after November 2025; including hybrid)Hyundai Santa Fe (including hybrid)Kia Sorento (built after September 2025; including hybrid)Mazda CX-70Mazda CX-70 PHEVMazda CX-90Nissan MuranoNissan PathfinderSubaru AscentVolkswagen AtlasVolkswagen Atlas Cross Sport