10 Top Cars for High Schoolers

2016 Honda Civic Coupe blue beach ・ Photo by Honda

When it comes time to buy a car for your high schooler (and maybe to use as the family’s second car), there are several important factors that you should consider. The number one priority is safety, as teenage drivers aren’t as experienced and are more likely to get into an accident. Active safety systems help to prevent a crash altogether, while cars with higher crash test ratings should better protect occupants than cars with lower ratings. Another aspect to consider is price, as teenagers can be rough on their (and your) possessions. Additionally, teenagers tend to have low disposable incomes, making fuel economy an important consideration. We’ve taken all these factors into account when making our list of the 10 best new cars for high schoolers.

10) Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact hatchback that is available in both 2-door and 4-door configurations, with base MSRPs under $20,000. Power comes from a 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower which is sent to the front wheels via either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2-door manual is the most efficient of the bunch, with fuel economy ratings of 25 miles per gallon in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. Safety-wise, the 2016 Golf was rated Good in all tests by the IIHS and 5 stars in most tests by the NHTSA, except the Frontal Crash and Rollover tests, where it scored 4 stars. Both teens and adults alike should find plenty to like about the Golf.

Photo by Volkswagen

9) Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is a midsize 4-door hybrid hatchback with a base MSRP just shy of $25,000. Total system power is 121 horsepower which comes from a combination of a 71-horsepower electric motor and a 95-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. Power is sent to the front wheels by a continuously variable transmission that helps the Prius achieve 54 miles per gallon in the city and 50 MPG on the highway. The 2016 Prius earns Good scores in all crash tests by the IIHS and 5 stars in most testing by the NHTSA, other than the Frontal Crash and Rollover tests, where it scored 4 stars. Its combination of safety and fuel economy earn the Prius a spot on our list of the 10 best new cars for high schoolers.

Photo by Toyota

8) Ford Focus

The Focus is Ford’s entry in the compact car segment, available as either a 4-door sedan or a 4-door hatchback. The sedan has an MSRP just over $17,000, while the hatch starts a couple thousand dollars higher. Power for the regular versions comes from either a 160-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder or a more economical 123-horsepower turbocharged 3-cylinder that’s rated at 30 miles per gallon in the city and 42 MPG on the highway with the manual transmission. In IIHS testing the Focus sedan scores Good in all tests except for the Small Overlap Front test, where it scored Acceptable (the hatchback version hasn’t been tested). In NHTSA testing, both the sedan and hatchback earned 5 stars in all tests other than the Rollover test, where they scored 4 stars.

Photo by Ford

7) Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze is a front-wheel drive 4-door compact car with pricing that starts just under $17,000. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 153 horsepower and is backed by either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, both of which send power to the front wheels. The automatic is the more frugal of the two, with a fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 MPG on the highway. The Cruze has yet to be crash tested by the NHTSA and has only been tested in the moderate overlap front and side crash tests by the IIHS, where it scored Good. If you’re looking for one of the best new cars for high schoolers, the Cruze is one to consider.

Photo by General Motors

6) Scion iA /Toyota Yaris iA

The Scion iA is a subcompact 4-door sedan with a base MSRP under $16,500. A 106-horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine sends its power to the front wheels through either a 6-speed manual or a slightly more frugal 6-speed automatic transmission that’s good for 33 miles per gallon in the city and 42 MPG on the highway. The iA has been rated Good in all crash testing by the IIHS, but it has not yet been tested by the NHTSA. The Scion brand is going away for 2017, so the iA will be rebranded as the Toyota Yaris iA for the upcoming model year, but no matter what it’s called, the iA makes our list of the 10 best new cars for high schoolers.

Photo by Scion

5) Chrysler 200

The Chrysler 200 is a 4-door midsize sedan with an MSRP starting at just over $22,000. Power comes from a 184-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a more powerful (but less frugal) 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 that is also available with all-wheel drive. Both engines use a 9-speed automatic transmission, which helps the 4-cylinder achieve 23 miles per gallon in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. The 200 performs well in crash testing, where the 2016 model earned Good marks in all testing by the IIHS and 5 stars in all testing by the NHTSA, except for the rollover test, where it scored 4 stars. Thanks to its combination of features, the Chrysler 200 makes the top half of our list of the 10 best cars for high schoolers.

Photo by Chrysler

4) Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza is a compact car available in both 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback body styles with a starting price just north of $18,000. Power comes from a 2.0-liter flat-4 engine that generates 148 horsepower sent to all four wheels by either a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission. Despite the all-wheel drive system, the more economical CVT is still good for 28 miles per gallon in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. The 2017 has yet to be crash tested, but the 2016 Impreza does well in crash testing, earning Good marks in all tests by the IIHS and 5 stars in all of the NHTSA’s tests other than the Frontal Crash test, where it scored 4 stars.

Photo by Subaru

3) Chevrolet Sonic

The Chevrolet Sonic is a subcompact car that is available as either a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback. Power comes from either a 138-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder or a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes the same power but more torque. Transmission options include 5- and 6-speed manuals and a 6-speed automatic. The turbo engine backed by the 6-speed manual is the most frugal, achieving 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 MPG on the highway. With an MSRP of just over $15,000, the Sonic is not only the cheapest car on our list, but also one of the safest, with Good scores in all tests by the IIHS and 5 stars in all tests by the NHTSA other than the rollover test, where it earned 4 stars.

Photo by Chevrolet

2) Mazda Mazda3

The Mazda3 is a compact car available as a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback with an MSRP starting at under $19,000. Power comes from either a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower or a larger 2.5-liter unit that puts out 184 horsepower, both of which can be backed by either a manual or automatic transmission. The smaller engine is slightly more economical and best when paired with the automatic, where it earns a city fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon and a highway rating of 41 MPG. The Mazda3 earned top marks in all of the IIHS crash tests and earned 5 stars in all tests by the NHTSA except for the rollover test, where it earned 4 stars.

Photo by Mazda

1) Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a compact car that is available as a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, or 5-door hatchback. Power comes from either a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder or a 174-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, backed by either a 6-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. The sedan is the cheapest of the models with an MSRP of just over $18,500, and also the most economical with a city fuel economy rating of 31 miles per gallon and a highway rating of 42 MPG (with the smaller engine and CVT). The Honda Civic is the safest car on our list, earning Good in all tests by the IIHS and 5 stars in all tests by the NHTSA. That’s good enough for first place on our list of the 10 best new cars for high schoolers.

Photo by Honda