Raising Kids Money Buying a Car 6 Best Cars for Teen Drivers The best cars for new drivers put safety first. Whether you're shopping for a first car for your teen or an upgrade, these picks aced government crash tests and have extra appealing safety features. By Karen Cicero Updated on April 5, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email As much as we want our kids to stop growing up so fast, the time will come for them to get a learner permit and—eek!—a driver's license. What car will they use for their first ride behind the wheel? And what will they drive solo to school or practice? Art: Jillian Sellers. If you've been thinking about getting your teen a new car or buying a family car to eventually pass along to your teen, here's some help whittling down the options. Parents looked at the safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and standard safety features in more than 40 sedans and two-row SUVs. We're never going to stop worrying about our teens on the road, but these six picks will give you a little more peace of mind. Best Family Cars of 2021 01 of 06 Chevrolet Equinox Courtesy of Chevrolet Starting at $23,800Why You'll Like ItSix advanced safety features, like automatic emergency braking and lane departure warnings, come standard on all trims of the two-row SUV. The Equinox also includes General Motors' awesome Teen Driver Technology: You can set a speed alert, a volume limit, and track your teen's driving performance. Plus, teens won't be able to stream their music until passengers in the front seat are buckled.Why Teens Will Like ItThe Equinox's modern interior and practically effortless steering will appeal to teen drivers. Auto reporter Rob Stumpf notes that highway driving in the Equinox is "comfortable and low-noise" so teens won't feel as stressed when they venture onto busier roads. 02 of 06 GMC Terrain Courtesy of GMC Starting at $28,400Why You'll Like ItThis sporty two-door SUV also features the same General Motors' Teen Driver Technology as its sister brand the Chevrolet Equinox. And the Pro Safety Plus package now comes standard, including features like emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring at no extra charge.Why Teens Will Like It There's an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Need we say more? 03 of 06 Honda Civic Courtesy of Honda Starting at $21,250Why You'll Like ItThe high-tech Honda Sensing system comes standard on all trims of this sedan. Your teen will get an extra reminder of the speed limit and other road signs because they're displayed on the dash. Another feature will help new drivers feel more comfortable changing lanes on the highway. An indictor on the side mirrors flashes if a driver puts on a turn signal to change lanes and there's another vehicle in their blind spot.Why Teens Will Like ItIts smallish size and easy handling makes it a perfect car for learning to drive. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay enable teens to stream their fave tunes without touching their phone. 04 of 06 Honda Insight Courtesy of Honda Starting at $23,130Why You'll Like It Just like the Honda Civic, this hybrid sedan includes the Honda Sensing system. Plus, the hybrid components of the vehicle have an eight year or 100,000-mile warranty.Why Teens Will Like It They won't have to stop as often for gas. The Insight gets up to 55 mpg on the highway, saving money and natural resources at the same time. And there's a cool new color for 2021: radiant red metallic. 05 of 06 Toyota Camry Courtesy of Toyota Starts at $24,970 for gas-powered, $27,270 for a hybrid version Why You'll Like It Both the 2021 hybrid and gas-powered Camry received perfect ratings in all categories from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Camry's safety technology is also stellar. For instance, the "lane departure alert" will beep if your teen inadvertently veers out of the lane—a common occurrence for beginning drivers. Why Teens Will Like It Thanks to some styling updates this year—including a new bumper and grille—the Camry looks sportier than most mid-sized sedans and is easy to handle. The hybrid version can run more than 50 miles on a gallon of gas, a win-win for teens who are conscious of both the environment and their budget. 06 of 06 Subaru Impreza Courtesy of Subaru Starts at $18,795 Why You'll Like It The lowest-priced pick on the list, the 2021 Impreza received a perfect score in all categories from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. All wheel drive, a feature that provides better traction on wet roads, comes standard on all models. Plus, 97 percent of the Imprezas sold in the last 10 years are still on the road today so your teen will likely have the vehicle through college and beyond. (Or get a good price for a trade-in.) Why Teens Will Like It The Impreza fits all their stuff! When you fold down the back seats, there's so much room to haul belongings to college or sports equipment for a weekend adventure. More Best Family Car Winners Priscilla Gragg. Check out our overall top car picks for 2021 that scored a spot Parents' annual winners list, including the best minivans, SUVs, and sedans for families. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit