X

The best new and used cars for teens, according to US News

Safety is critical for teen drivers, which is why US News & World Report's list of the best cars focuses on safety and safety-enhancing tech. Here are this year's best choices for new drivers.

andrewkrok.jpg
andrewkrok.jpg
Andrew Krok
2018-honda-fit-promo
1 of 26 Nick Miotke/Roadshow

2019 Honda Fit: Cars, $20,000 and under

The 2019 Honda Fit (2018 shown) is the most affordable car on the US News list.

2018 Honda Fit
2 of 26 Nick Miotke/Roadshow

2019 Honda Fit: Cars, $20K and under

It packs a number of standard safety features, including automatic braking.

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric
3 of 26 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

2018 Hyundai Ioniq: Cars, $20K to $25K

The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq (2017 shown) is a hybrid, but you spend a bit more money for a PHEV or EV variant.

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric
4 of 26 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

2018 Hyundai Ioniq: Cars, $20K to $25K

The Ioniq Hybrid gets nearly 60 mpg on the highway.

2018 Toyota Camry
5 of 26 Emme Hall/Roadshow

2018 Toyota Camry: Cars, $25K to $30K

This is the first time the Camry appears on this list, but it won't be the last.

2018 Toyota Camry
6 of 26 Toyota

2018 Toyota Camry: Cars, $25K to $30K

The gas Camry gets its power from either a 2.5-liter I4 or a 3.5-liter V6.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime
7 of 26 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

2018 Toyota Prius Prime: Cars, $30K to $35K

The 2018 Prius Prime (2017 shown) is the replacement for the last-generation Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

2017 Toyota Prius Prime
8 of 26 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

2018 Toyota Prius Prime: Cars, $30K to $35K

It's one of only a few cars in the industry to sport a massive, portrait-oriented screen.

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid
9 of 26 Wayne Cunningham/CNET Roadshow

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid: Cars, $35K to $40K

If you can spend a bit more money, the Camry Hybrid will reward you with improved fuel economy.

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid
10 of 26 Wayne Cunningham/CNET Roadshow

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid: Cars, $35K to $40K

The EPA rates the Camry Hybrid at 51 mpg city and 53 mpg highway.

2017-kia-sportage-sx-7.jpg
11 of 26 Jon Wong/Roadshow

2018 Kia Sportage: SUVs, $25K to $30K

The 2018 Kia Sportage (2017 shown) features app-based tech that lets parents keep track of their kids.

2017-kia-sportage-sx-26.jpg
12 of 26 Jon Wong/Roadshow

2018 Kia Sportage: SUVs, $25K to $30K

A geofenced warning lets parents know when their teen drives beyond a preset geographic limit.

32121-2019tucson
13 of 26 Hyundai

2018 Hyundai Tucson: SUVs, $30K to $35K

The 2018 Tucson (2019 shown) offers a great blend of tech and economy without getting too large.

32030-2019tucson
14 of 26 Hyundai

2018 Hyundai Tucson: SUVs, $30K to $35K

The Tucson starts well under the price category it's in, but if you want all that teen-friendly tech, you'll have to shell out for higher trims.

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
15 of 26 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan: SUVs, $35K to $40K

The Tiguan entered a new generation in the 2018 model year, growing a third row in the process.

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL
16 of 26 Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan: SUVs, $35K to $40K

The Volkswagen features solid build quality and decent economy, but it's pricey in higher trims.

2015 Buick LaCrosse
17 of 26 Buick

2015 Buick LaCrosse: Used Cars, Large

The 2015 LaCrosse can be had with either a 3.6-liter V6 or a 2.4-liter I4.

2015 Buick LaCrosse
18 of 26 Buick

2015 Buick LaCrosse: Used Cars, Large

It's an older Buick, so I hope you like having lots of buttons on the dashboard.

2015 Toyota Camry
19 of 26 Toyota

2015 Toyota Camry: Used Cars, Mid-Size

The Toyota Camry is a perennial favorite for people who want a sensible, reliable ride.

2015 Toyota Camry
20 of 26 Toyota

2015 Toyota Camry: Used Cars, Mid-Size

Thankfully, the used Camry market is huge, so you won't have a problem finding one.

2015 Buick Verano
21 of 26 Buick

2015 Buick Verano: Used Cars, Small

The Verano is no longer on sale, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work well as a used car.

2015 Buick Verano
22 of 26 Buick

2015 Buick Verano: Used Cars, Small

Again, Buick's love of physical buttons is on full display.

2015 Chevrolet Traverse
23 of 26 Chevrolet

2015 Chevrolet Traverse: Used SUVs, Mid-Size

Anonymous styling will help your teenager stay out of trouble.

2015 Chevrolet Traverse
24 of 26 Chevrolet

2015 Chevrolet Traverse: Used SUVs, Mid-Size

The Traverse's interior can get pretty cushy, depending on the trim.

2014 GMC Terrain
25 of 26 GMC

2014 GMC Terrain: Used SUVs, Small

The 2014 GMC Terrain sports a blocky aesthetic that still looks good today.

2014 GMC Terrain
26 of 26 GMC

2014 GMC Terrain: Used SUVs, Small

GMC followed in Buick's footsteps, covering its dashboard in physical buttons.

More Galleries

Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: See How the New iPhones Look and Work
iphone 15 in different color from an angled view

Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: See How the New iPhones Look and Work

21 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone

18 Photos
Check Out the iPhone 15's New Camera in Action
A photo of a silhouette of buildings on the water taken on the iPhone 15

Check Out the iPhone 15's New Camera in Action

12 Photos
Astronomy Photographer of the Year Winners Reveal Our Stunning Universe
andromeda

Astronomy Photographer of the Year Winners Reveal Our Stunning Universe

16 Photos
I Got an Early Look at Intel's Glass Packaging Tech for Faster Chips
Rahul Manepalli, right, Intel's module engineering leader, shows a glass substrate panel before it's sliced into the small rectangles that will be bonded to the undersides of hundreds of test processors. The technology, shown here at Intel's CH8 facility in Chandler, Arizona, stands to improve performance and power consumption of advanced processors arriving later this decade. Glass substrates should permit physically larger processors comprised of several small "chiplets" for AI and data center work, but Intel expects they'll trickle down to PCs, too.

I Got an Early Look at Intel's Glass Packaging Tech for Faster Chips

20 Photos
Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)
yamaha01.jpg

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)

16 Photos
CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)
dia-de-los-muertos-3318-001.jpg

CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)

9 Photos