Looking for a Good Vehicle for a Teen? Honda Has Some Great Choices

One of the scariest moments in a parent’s life is when their teenager drives out into the world solo. The list of worries is endless, but at least we can advise on one: the safest vehicles, new and used, for teens.

Every year, Consumer Reports, the respected, independent consumer reviewing organization, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) compiles a list, based on extensive evaluations and testing, of cars for teens, in categories based on size and type. Several Honda models made the cut.

New Honda Models

• Civic Sedan – Small Car
• Accord – Midsized Car
• HR-V – Small SUV
• Pilot – Midsized SUVs

Honda “Good” Used Cars

• Civic coupe and sedan (2014-21 models) – Small Car
• Accord coupe (2015-17) – Midsized Car
• Accord sedan (2013-20) – Midsized Car
• CR-V (2015 or newer) – Small SUV
• Odyssey (2014 or newer) – Minivan

Honda “Best” Used Cars

• Civic hatchback & sedan (2022 or newer) – Small Car
• Insight (2019-22) – Small Car
• Accord (2021 or newer) – Midsized car
• Passport (2019-21 built after June 2019) Midsized SUV
• Pilot (2019 or newer) Midsized SUV

CR and IIHS Criteria

To make the Teen Vehicle List, stringent criteria had to be met. New vehicles had to have earned IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designations, which include multiple crash tests and evaluations of some other safety equipment. To make the New Cars list vehicles also had to have loud reminders to “Buckle Up,” since younger drivers don’t have a great record on that.

Used vehicles were chosen from model years after 2012 when electronic stability control became mandatory. All had to have earned the highest possible rating in five IIHS testing when they were new, which included three crash tests, roof crush resistance and a check on how head movement was controlled by the headrests in a crash. 

Consumer Reports weighed in with tests on emergency and routine handling as well as braking. Vehicles with distracting secondary controls and displays didn’t make the list. Very large vehicles, vehicles weighing less than 2,750 pounds, or were too powerful comapared to their size were also excluded. 

Everybody wants to protect young drivers and the people they are sharing the road with. Client advisors at Schomp Honda are here to help anxious caring parents find just the right car or SUV for their teen drivers.