How can parents rest easy knowing they bought the right car?
It is an exciting and worrisome time when teenagers first get their driver’s licence. Parents want to empower their children, while teaching them to be safe and responsible behind the wheel, starting with a good driver’s education program, car insurance, and an appropriate car.
Picking the right car can be the most challenging part, as many factors are considered. From credit reports, car loans, the quality of the car, its reliability, etc.
Which are the best cars for new teen drivers?
To make the cut and be considered among the best new cars for teens, vehicles must have:
- A Consumer Reports recommendation, meaning that it meets the standards for reliability, safety, and road-test performance.
- Good ratings in four IIHS crashworthiness tests: Moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.
- Standard forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
- A designation as either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus by the IIHS based on the model’s performance in a crash, accident avoidance, and headlight tests.
- A rating of Good or better by CR for controls that are easy to use.
The best small car model for new teen drivers
Toyota Corolla
If stellar fuel economy, strong brand reliability, and standard advanced safety features are high on your checklist, the Corolla Hybrid could be the choice for you.
It has an impressive 48 mpg overall. The non-hybrid Corolla achieved a competitive 33 mpg overall, according to the test drives.
Both versions tackle corners more skillfully than the Corolla did before, thanks to well-weighted steering and limited body lean.
The Corolla provides the perfect balance between price and features. Although teens might rather drive cars they think are cooler or more stylish than a sensible Toyota, they can’t argue with its practicality.
Looking for something bigger?
Nissan Altima
The Altima’s finer points include a quiet cabin, easy controls, a big trunk, a roomy and comfortable rear seat. And, for the first time, the Altima is available with all-wheel drive.
The engine is now a turbo four-cylinder. Both acceleration and fuel economy are improved with the base 2.5-litre engine.
The Altima’s suite of safety features helps to address one of the most widespread problems for teen drivers; parallel parking. With the Altima’s available Intelligent Around View Monitor, such parking anxiety is a thing of the past.
The Altima’s front, rear, and side-view cameras work together to give the driver an overhead composite view of their parking situation, making it easier than ever to squeeze into tight spaces without the tried-and-true “reverse until you bump into something” method.
Who says teens can’t drive an SUV?
Ford Escape
The Escape can be equipped with lane departure warning and blind-spot warning. It has an available system that can automatically park the crossover in a parallel or perpendicular spot and even help exit spots without scraping the corners.
The Ford Co-Pilot 360's advanced suite of features will provide a safer driving experience for teen drivers. The suite includes a lane-keeping system, a rearview camera, and auto high-beam headlamps.
The pre-collision assists with an automatic emergency braking system and scans the road to detect pedestrians or other vehicles that may be in your path, and sends an alert. If you don’t react immediately, the brakes will automatically be applied.
The experts in cars, credit and loans
All these cars have many safety features, strong reliability reputations and are one of the best in the market for teenagers. Any of these will help keep your teen safe.
If you are interested in any of them, you can request a test drive through the House of Cars website and talk with our experts so you can rest assured that your teen’s car is the safest and smartest choice.
We understand that most families are budget-conscious, factoring in the likelihood of dings and dents in their car selection.
But then comes the problem of looking for vehicles that can help avoid collisions and limit injuries should a crash happen. That’s why families choose what works best for their budget and needs.
Teens nowadays want an aesthetic car that can show off to their friends and look cool. Since they are (usually) not paying, they have a long list of demands.
Here’s where the parents don’t have to worry. They can still comply with their teen’s needs without spending a lot of money.
If you live in the Calgary or the Alberta area and are looking for a trustworthy company to get a car loan or financing, make sure to check House of Cars.
They have several finance options, you can also talk with a sales consultant, and they guide you through the several options they have to offer until you find the one that’s best suitable for you regardless of credit history.
