Top Picks for Teen Drivers: Advice From a Dealer

The CDC warns Americans that the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teen drivers aged 16-19 than in any other age group. They are three times as likely to be in a fatal accident than drivers aged 20 or older. Even without this dire warning, you already know that the new teen driver in your house needs to be even more careful behind the wheel than anyone else.

Do you wish to keep your first-time driver safe, despite the statistics? There is one thing you can do, purchase a car known for its high safety ratings. (FYI: Kia is on top of this list!) We have created a list of automobile brands below, so you don’t have to worry about which birthday car to purchase for your brand-new teen driver. Keep reading to learn more about the best cars for new drivers.

Kia Soul and Forte

U.S. News & World Report awarded the 2019 Kia Forte “Best Car for Teens $25k to $30k” and the 2020 Kia Soul “Best SUV for Teens $25k to $30k. Kia’s iconic Soul also earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating.

If you are looking for a car on a budget and want to ensure that your teen remains safe and sound behind the wheel, then you can’t go wrong with this choice. Not only that but Kia’s commitment to delivering world-class vehicles and the “Give It Everything” spirit reflects well in these cars. 

These are some excellent features that these cars come with:

• Kia Drive Wise advanced driver assistance technologies
• Eight-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay support
• Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT)
• UVO hands-free infotainment system

Since your teen driver is probably still a bit uncomfortable behind the wheel, their reaction times will be slower. That’s normal. But with the advanced driver assistance technologies from Kia, your teen driver can get the additional support they need while driving. Also, the hands-free infotainment system ensures they aren’t fiddling around with their music player and getting distracted when they should be extra-focused on the road. 

Kia Soul also has a well-appointed and comfortable cabin space, so your teenager can feel cozy and safe. You can’t always be in the car with them when they are driving, but you can buy a safe vehicle, like a Kia, to ensure they are protected. This ultimately makes the Kia Soul and Forte two of the best cars for new drivers. 

Related: 6 Question to Ask When Buying a Used Car 

Honda Insight

Even though Kia makes the safest and best cars for new drivers, we have included some other options as well. One of these is the Honda Insight. It’s a smaller car and a 4-door sedan, but it earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating (For the 2019-2022 models only). It’s not as exciting of a car as the Kia ones, but it will keep your teen driver safe when they’re out and about. Also, it has excellent fuel economy, so you won’t have to fork out hundreds of dollars monthly for your teenager’s gas costs, especially since gas prices are exorbitantly high.

It’s not a very fast car (8.1 seconds to cover 0-60 mph) which might not appeal to your teen driver but will make you very happy. No need to buy a car that can turn them into a speed racer, right?

The one con drivers noted was that the gas engine did sound coarse at times, and the pedal feels a bit disconnected during hard braking, but overall, it’s a good buy for your teenager as well. 

Mazda 3

If your teen is the picky sort and wants a car that’s fun to drive and kind of sporty looking, then you can compromise with them and get the Mazda 3. It’s not as great as the Kia Soul or Forte when it comes to style, comfort, or price, but it will do.

Get the 2014 model or older, as they are safer, and the best cars for new drivers. It’s also reasonably cheap, so you can get an excellent safe car for your teenager without pulling too much from your savings. It has an optional all-wheel drive, so you can upgrade to that if your child would do better with that available. The turbocharged engine enhances this automobile’s performance, making your teenager happy zooming about town. 

One con is that this model has the worst rear visibility among compact hatchbacks. This is because Mazda focused on the curvaceous design of the car over improving sightlines. Make sure to inform your child of this, and ensure that they use their rear-view mirrors as often as possible. 

Audi A6

If you are working with a bit of a bigger budget, you could look at the Audi A6 as a safe, comfortable, and luxurious option for your teen driver. It also comes with lots of high-tech gear, which should make your teenager quite happy to drive around in this car. It has stylish glossy trims and a large infotainment display, through which you can control standard sat-nav, smartphone mirroring, and even the climate control systems. There’s lots of space in the Audi A6 for tall drivers to stretch out and sit comfortably, something to consider if your teen driver is growing as fast as a beanstalk.

The rear-wheel steering feature makes it easy to maneuver this car about town, and the fuel efficiency is also pretty on point. But many add-ons are expensive and will eat into your budget quickly. The touchscreens can also be slightly fiddly. 

Get a Kia for Your Teen Driver Today

New drivers are more nervous and anxious behind the wheel than others. It takes them time to develop that intuition of smoothly manipulating a car through traffic without any issues. 

If you are worried about your teenager who has just received their driver’s license, get a Kia Forte or Soul for them, so you don’t have to sit at home worrying about their safety. View our available inventory online, or visit us here at Battleground Kia for a test drive. Use the button below to contact our team!