by Sharlyn Petit
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released an updated list of recommended used vehicles for teen drivers. The good news: parents looking for a safe and affordable vehicle have more choices than just a year ago.
The list has grown by 50 percent over past year, with the IIHS urging parents not to compromise on these three points:
- High horsepower should be avoided.
- Bigger, heavier vehicles are safer.
- Electronic stability control is a must.
The IIHS breaks down its list into two tiers: "best choices," priced under $20,000 with good ratings in the Institute's four oldest crashworthiness tests; and "good choices," priced under $10,000 with less-than-perfect ratings in some tests.
The least expensive vehicle earning an IIHS “best choice” rating is a 2005 Volvo XC90, priced by Kelley Blue Book at $4,600.
New this year, several pickups made this list. IIHS found in a recent survey that 14% of teenagers drive pickups. The least expensive vehicle earning an IIHS “good choice” rating is a 2006 Honda Ridgeline, priced by Kelley Blue Book at $7,700.
Is your teen’s car on the list? Check out all of the IIHS recommendations.
