Reliability and safety should be top considerations when buying a car for a teenager.  After all, teens are new drivers and don’t have experience.  To determine which cars are safe, you should look at results from crash tests and advanced safety features.  Also, make sure the car comes with a sufficient auto warranty, because teens tend to put more wear and tear on a vehicle.

Typically, vehicles that are big and heavy rate the best in crash tests.  However, large vehicles are more difficult to maneuver and tend to be gas-guzzlers.  Also keep in mind that SUVs and large pickups aren’t wise choices for teens because they have a higher roll over rate in accidents.

A mid-size sedan with good safety features and crash ratings is an overall wise choice for teens.  Vehicles that have these features include the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Hyundai Sonata, Acura RSX, Mazda 3 and Subaru Impreza.

When buying a car for a teenager, try to get the newest possible model that provides reliability.  To see crash test results; consult the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Also, make sure you have new car warranties so you don’t have to pay unnecessary repair expenses down the road.