When selecting a car for a teenager, safety is important. Compact cars are often a preferred choice due to their affordability, fuel efficiency and ease of handling. However, making sure the car has top safety ratings provides peace of mind. Here’s a guide to some of the best compact cars that combine top safety features with the practicality required for teenage drivers.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a standout in the compact car segment, renowned for its reliability, fuel efficiency and impressive safety features.
- Safety Ratings: The Honda Civic consistently receives high safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It often earns a “Top Safety Pick+” designation from the IIHS.
- Safety Features: Standard safety features include Honda Sensing, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation and collision mitigation braking. These features work together to help prevent accidents and protect young drivers.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is another excellent choice for teenagers, offering a blend of reliability, efficiency and top-notch safety.
- Safety Ratings: Like the Civic, the Corolla frequently earns high marks from the NHTSA and the IIHS, often securing the “Top Safety Pick+” rating.
- Safety Features: Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard on the new Toyota for sale, providing features such as a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams and road sign assist. These advanced safety features help decrease risks and enhance driver confidence.
Mazda3
The Mazda3 combines sporty handling with a sleek design, making it a favorite among young drivers who don’t want to compromise on safety.
- Safety Ratings: The Mazda3 boasts excellent safety ratings, earning the IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” designation and high scores from the NHTSA.
- Safety Features: The Mazda3 comes equipped with i-Activsense, a suite of safety technologies that includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist and smart brake support. These features provide comprehensive protection and help prevent accidents.
Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza is known for its all-wheel-drive capability, making it a great choice for teenagers who might encounter diverse driving conditions.
- Safety Ratings: The Impreza consistently receives high safety ratings, including the “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and top marks from the NHTSA.
- Safety Features: Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is standard on the Impreza, offering features like pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure and sway warning and lane-keep assist. The all-wheel-drive system also enhances stability and traction, adding an extra layer of safety.
Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra is a compact car that combines affordability with a robust set of safety features, making it ideal for teenage drivers.
- Safety Ratings: The Elantra often receives high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with some models achieving the “Top Safety Pick” designation.
- Safety Features: Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite includes forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot collision warning, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning and rear cross-traffic collision warning. These features are designed to provide comprehensive protection and assist in accident prevention.
Safety and Peace of Mind
When choosing a compact car for a teenager, prioritizing safety, the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Subaru Impreza and Hyundai Elantra all offer top safety ratings, advanced safety features and the reliability needed for new drivers. These vehicles provide peace of mind for parents and a secure driving experience for teens.
