The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is updating its annual list of recommended vehicles for teens. The list, made up of both used and new vehicles, spotlights what it calls "good buys with solid safety credentials." Researchers say the updated list shows that safety doesn’t have to take a back seat even amid rising concerns about affordability.
Used Vehicles
IIHS teamed up with Consumer Reports (CR) to identify 45 used vehicles starting under $10,000 that offer good crash protection and are suitable for teen drivers. Another 29 vehicles priced under $20,000 also have highly rated headlights and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
“We curate this annual list specifically for teens because driving holds extra risk for them,” said IIHS Senior Research Scientist Rebecca Weast. “That said, the suggestions are suitable for drivers of any age looking to balance affordability with crash protection and crash avoidance.”
“A teen’s first car is a major milestone. Whether you’re buying them a vehicle or deciding which family car they should begin driving, these lists help parents make those choices with confidence, and without compromising on safety,” said Emily A. Thomas, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports.
A note about used electric vehicles. While you'll find some on the IIHS-CR list, EVs can accelerate faster than gas-powered models due to their electric motors which give drivers immediate access to all the vehicle's power. Researchers say parents should keep this in mind if considering an EV for the teen driver in the household.
New Vehicles
For families who are looking for buy new, IIHS and CR recommend getting the most state-of-the-art safety that money can buy.
Twenty-two new vehicles make the list for their "excellent crashworthiness" and advanced safety features that are on the less expensive end of the new-car spectrum. The list consists of winners of the 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ award that also earn a CR Safety Verdict of Best.
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The IIHS awards mean these vehicles have good ratings in the Institute’s newer, more challenging crash tests and have standard good or acceptable headlights and standard high-performing AEB.
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A CR Safety Verdict of Best means the vehicles also have standard highway-speed AEB, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning.
The recommended new vehicles also earn Good ratings from IIHS for seat belt reminders. The IIHS says that young drivers are less likely to buckle up than others, and loud, persistent reminders have been shown boost belt use substantially.
What teens should avoid
As in years past, here's what you won't find on the list: Any vehicles with excessive horsepower relative to weight or anything marketed for performance. However, researchers say many seemingly benign vehicles come in high-horsepower versions, so even when shopping from the IIHS-CR list, families should make sure to stick to the base engine. The danger is that powerful vehicles can entice young drivers to take risks or lead them to speed inadvertently.
You also won't find Minicars, (or anything under 2,750 pounds), on the list since even though they tend to be popular with young drivers, the IIHS says they can’t protect their occupants adequately in crashes with bigger vehicles.
Large SUVs and large pickups are also absent from the list. IIHS says neither are a good choice for inexperienced drivers because they can be hard to handle and take longer to stop. IIHS also says they also pose more risk to others on the road, including pedestrians, bicyclists and people in smaller vehicles.
Making the cut
IIHS Crash tests and CR scoring both come into play when it comes to recommended used and new vehicles.
On the CR side of things, all used and new vehicles on the list have average or better scores (3 out of 5) from CR for braking and for emergency and routine handling. They also have usability scores of at least 2 out of 5 for controls and displays - the bottom line here is that models with the most confusing and distracting setups are excluded.
On the IIHS side of things, listed vehicles provide strong protection in a crash, based on IIHS crash testing. Used vehicles on the list needed a good rating in the driver-side small overlap front test introduced in 2012. The IIHS says this test was one of the final evaluations in the original series of IIHS crashworthiness tests, which also looked at side crash protection, roof strength and head restraints.
The IIHS says it recent years most of the original tests were phased out — and in some cases replaced with more challenging ones. However, the small overlap remains in the current IIHS test line-up, which it says makes it a good proxy for comparing overall crashworthiness of vehicles of different ages.
Additionally, when it comes to features that help avoid a crash, all listed vehicles have standard electronic stability control, which has been mandatory since the 2012 model year.
Models in the top tier of used vehicles, designated as 'Best Choices', also have: Headlights that earn a good or acceptable rating from IIHS across all trim levels and standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection that performs well in daytime IIHS track tests. IIHS says that AEB doesn't just reduce the risk of a pedestrian crash, but it also helps drivers avoid rear-ending another vehicle - technology that's particularly helpful for young, inexperienced drivers, who may be prone to distraction.
Other considerations
The IIHS-CR list focuses on safety and price. However, researchers point out that families may also want to consider a vehicle’s reliability and the cost of insurance. Always call your insurance provider for a premium quote before buying. You can also check out thee IIHS-affiliated Highway Loss Data Institute, which publishes insurance losses by make and model. The list can provide a sense of which vehicles could cost more to insure.
When it comes to vehicle reliability, CR maintains ratings for its members.
To see the list of recommend new and used cars for teens, click here.
