Top Ten Cars for Teens
USAA has compiled a list of the top ten cars for teens based on a recent survey where parents determined their most important factors when choosing a vehicle for their teenager. Those factors were reliability, a high safety rating and affordable auto insurance.
At number 10 on the list of top 10 cars for teens is the Kia Forte, a compact offering from the Korean automaker that comes in two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and five-door hatchback form. Starting at $15,200 the Forte comes with either a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 156-hp and 144 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.4-liter with 173-hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. Both powerplants offer great fuel mileage as well, with the 2.0L automatic getting 26-mpg city, 36-mpg highway and the 2.4L netting 23-mpg city, 32-mpg highway.
Number 9 on the list of cars for teens is the Honda CR-Z hybrid, a sporty compromise between having fun and being green. The sporty hybrid coupe starts at $19,695 and gets 35-mpg city, 39-mpg highway when equipped with the CVT transmission. Those that want to have a tad more fun while driving the CR-Z can opt for the six-speed manual, sacrificing just a tad of fuel efficiency in exchange for a more sporty experience.
Powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder with 148-hp, the Hyundai Elantra boasts class-leading fuel economy at a nice starting MSRP of $16,695. It was recently named the 2012 North American Car of the Year while getting an impressive 40-mpg on the highway. Even though it’s a compact, the interior is quite roomy and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
The new Honda Civic hasn’t been a huge hit compared to its predecessors, but the popular Honda model lands as the number 7 pick on the list of cars for teens. At the end of the day, the Civic still offers reliability and affordability even if its recent styling isn’t the most attractive we’ve seen over the years. One of its selling points are all the variants available with various price ranges and engine choices.
The Toyota Yaris got itself a redesign and is a popular choice for teens thanks to its $14,115 starting MSRP and 30-mpg city, 38-mpg highway ratings. Under the hood is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder with 106-hp and 103 lb-ft of torque; clearly performance isn’t exactly at the top of the list for parents when they’re shopping for cars for their teenage kids.
One of two Scion models recently axed, the xB has become popular amongst enthusiasts looking for something different. The manual xB starts at $17,030 while the automatic is $17,980 and under the hood is a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder with a respectable 158-hp. Act quick though if you’ve been interested in getting an xB, as the funky box will soon head to its final resting place.
The other Scion model getting the axe is the xD, a sedan that never really caught on compared to the popular tC and xB models. The compact sedan has a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder with 128-hp and 125 lb-ft of torque under the hood while getting 27-mpg city and 33-mpg highway. Compared to newer models out on the market now, the xD’s fuel efficiency is a little bit lacking but its $16,075 starting price makes up for it.
The popular Honda Fit finds itself third on the list of cars for teens offering safety, reliability, and usability all in a nice attractive package. Fuel efficiency is respectable at 27-mpg city, 33-mpg highway but it’s starting MSRP of $15,325 makes it one of the most attractive options on the list. Performance isn’t impressive, but the 1.5-liter, four-cylinder i-VTEC engine does push out 117-hp which is comparable to the Scion xD, but is cheaper and arguably more fun to drive.
The other funky box-shaped car on the list is the Nissan Cube which has grown in popularity over the recent years. Similar to many of the other vehicles on the list, the Cube has a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder with 122-hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. The CVT transmission gives the Cube 27-mpg city, 31-mpg highway while those that opt for the six-speed manual will get 25-mpg city, 30-mpg highway. We reckon the Cube will be an even more popular choice once the Scion xB is discontinued forever.
Impressively, three of Scion’s models made it on the list of top ten cars for teens with the tC topping the chart. It’s a little more expensive than the rest of the cars on the list with a starting MSRP of $19,305 for a manual but offers plenty of fun thanks to the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder with 180-hp and 173 lb-ft of torque. It’s also a very attractive and sporty car while still getting 23-mpg city and 31-mpg highway.
The most surprising part of this list is the complete lack of an American automaker. Japanese and Korean automakers are apparently doing a great job building vehicles for teenagers, at least ones that parents feel safe to purchase for their kids.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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I'm 14 looking to buy a car when I turn 16, i will not let my parents even help me earn or save to buy the car i want (nissan 370z). I do almost anything to get money and i'm doing research on cars now to find a better car, price, gas, and parts wise. So if you can help comment. I didn't read the list cause of the comments.
get a cube