I’m a Mom of a Teenager Getting His Driver’s License – What’s the Safest Car for Them to Drive?

My wife and I have a teenage son, and he’s just about to turn 16. He has a part-time job already, and he’s been asking to get a car. We’re looking for something reasonably priced, but even more important than the cost is finding the safest car possible. We trust our son to drive carefully to work and to obey the traffic laws, but it’s the other drivers that are our chief concern. You may be a mother who also has a teenager, and you want to know what vehicle to buy. We’re here to help.

Luckily, there are many safe vehicles currently on the market. Many of them are the popular sedans that you’ve known about for years, such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. There are also some vehicles that may not immediately scream “safety,” like the Toyota Avalon and the Subaru Forester. The fact is that many newer cars are loaded with safety features, so do your research and you’ll find something suitable for the whole family.

Honda Civic

When you’re looking for a safe and dependable car, look no further than the Honda Civic. Look for one made after 2021. That’s when the company really got serious about safety and added all the necessary bells and whistles. In addition to being safe, the car has great fuel economy, a spacious interior, and easy handling.

What Makes the Car Safe?

Newer Honda Civics are among the safest cars you can buy. The models have been rated as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) for both 2022 and 2025 models. A few of the great safety features include rearview cameras, adaptive cruise control, advanced vehicle stability assist, electronic brake distribution, and plenty of airbags. You can feel confident when your children leave the driveway in a Civic.

Toyota Camry

The safety experts recommend any Toyota Camry from 2018 and beyond. This is a great and dependable car with a lot going for it. The Camry has great fuel economy, and it’s very spacious, providing room for four people comfortably. Just make sure that your teen doesn’t pack too many friends in the car at once, as it can be a distraction.

What Makes the Car Safe?

As far as safety features, the Toyota Camry has a lot going for it. Most importantly, it has a pre-collision system that uses a camera to track nearby vehicles and pedestrians so the driver stays out of their way. The car also has an advanced cruise control that uses tech to maintain a safe following distance. It also has lane departure alerts.

Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is a safe and affordable midsize sedan. While many new models will have the safety bells and whistles, experts recommend the 2020 version, which has it all. In addition to safety, the car has a strong engine that will get your teen to work on time. It also has a very spacious interior for your teen and their sports equipment.

What Makes the Car Safe?

The newer Honda Accords have great safety features. There’s a windshield camera that identifies road markings so your car can stay on a safe path. It also has strong forward collision warnings so your teen doesn’t run into the car in front of them. Finally, it has traffic sign recognition, which recognizes speed limit signs so your teen doesn’t get his first ticket.

Mazda CS-5

The more recent models of the Mazda CS-5 have been top safety picks for the last several years, so your teen has many choices. The SUV has tons of interior space for friends or equipment. It also has a strong engine that will last a long time and get your teen where they’re going with ease. The interior is also very quiet, so you won’t hear a lot of road noise.

What Makes the Car Safe?

The Mazda CX-5 has many ideal safety features. New models will have blind spot monitoring, lane assist alerts, adaptive front lighting, high beam control, and more. One of the best features is the driver attention alert, which can tell if your teen is feeling fatigued or distracted and will sound an alert or provide assistance to keep them safe.

Toyota Prius

If your teen is interested in an electric vehicle, then look no further than the classic Prius. The Prius has had some design updates over the years, and now it’s more sleek than ever. In addition to being incredibly safe, the newer Prius models also have a lot more interior space and great mileage. Your teen will save money while helping the environment while going far on a single charge.

What Makes the Car Safe?

The IIHS recommends any Prius going back to 2017. To be as safe as possible, go with the Prius Prime. The model includes automatic high beams so your teen can see in the dark. It also features a proactive driving assist, which can help your youngster navigate tricky turns. There’s even Hill Start Assist Control, which can help the car get moving while on a hill. There’s even a door alarm that alerts you if there’s someone near when you open the car door.

Toyota Highlander

Another safe and high-quality SUV is the Toyota Highlander. This has been one of the safest vehicles for a number of years. In fact, any model going back to 2017 is a great choice. The Highlander provides a very quiet ride and a comfy interior. It is also a pretty snazzy ride that will allow your teen to drive carefully on many different road surfaces.

What Makes the Car Safe?

The Toyota Highlander is an incredibly safe vehicle. One of the big perks is the Toyota Safety Sense, which uses cameras and sensors to protect the driver and others from collisions. The road sign assist option helps your teen to see all necessary road signs. There are also many airbags to protect during a crash and seatbelt pretensions that keep the safety belt in the right place.

Subaru Forester

Buy any Subaru Forester from 2021-2024, and you’ll have a safe vehicle for your teenager. This is a powerful vehicle that a powerful motor and all-wheel drive. The inside of the vehicle is very roomy, which leaves a lot of room for friends or cargo. Though it’s a solid vehicle, the acceleration is a little slow, which is probably a good thing if you don’t want your teens speeding.

What Makes the Car Safe?

The Subaru Forester has a lot of unique safety features. The vehicle has a ring-shaped reinforced frame that includes several layers of steel that strengthen the vehicle and keep your teen safe in the case of a collision. The Forester also features several airbags, blind-spot detection, cross-traffic alerts, and LED daytime running lights, so your teen won’t miss a thing.

Toyota Avalon

You may not have heard of the Avalon in the past, but it’s a dependable and safe sedan. Any model from 2017-2022 is considered amongst the safest that you can buy. It looks small from the outside, but the inside is very roomy and the seats are comfortable. Technically, the sedan was discontinued in 2022, so you’d probably be purchasing this car used, which could save money.

What Makes the Car Safe?

The Toyota Avalon comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense suite, which has many useful features. One of those is lane tracing, which gently steers a car back into its lane if your teen gets distracted. Another great gadget is the various pre-collision warning alerts, which tell the driver well in advance if there’s a chance of a collision.

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