As if the sudden pandemic wasn’t enough, that now you have your teen’s new vehicle causing a sense of disquietude deep down inside. The holiday is almost over! And if you have chosen to put an ounce of responsibility blended with a sense of independence on your kid-turned-teen as he/she is all set to kick start their college life, with a new vehicle, then I am sure the safety factor is bogging you down with that decision.

You can hardly beat the excitement of a teenager with a brand new driving license anxious to explore their driving skills as they hit the roads. However, this very sight of excitement puts a parent in a state of paranoia wondering if their child is mature enough to handle the responsibility of a four-wheeler just yet.

If you have been turning your nose up at every car brochure your teen introduces you to, this is just the place that would get you to agree with your teen on a vehicle. Safe vehicle!

Family1st brings to you a list of the latest cars that qualify as the safest for teenagers while indicating the safety factors you should consider before you make up your mind.

Safety Factors to Consider while Choosing a Car

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports over two thousand fatalities by car accidents that involve teens behind the wheel- and this is exactly why you should immediately scrap the idea of buying your teen an extra old model vehicle just because of a cheaper price tag.

The best car for a teen should include safety, reliability, and keep you well connected while your teen is behind the wheel. Cars with some good tires are always recommended.

Here’s what should top your priority list before you and your teen finalize the car;

Collision Warning and Emergency Braking

The collision warning banks on sensors detect a vehicle in near distance while driving. If the vehicle is getting too close to another vehicle or object unknowingly while driving, the system applies emergency brakes to slow the vehicle down or bring the car to rest. The system will however respond only if the driver does not respond in time to the alerts it has been signaling to avoid a collision.

Electronic stability control (ESC)

The stability control feature is to help teens excise better control over the vehicle at sharp turns, curvy, or slippery roads.

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)

The Rear Cross-Traffic Alert gets activated only when the vehicle is in reverse gear. The driver will be alerted if any vehicle or person is crossing the rear part of the vehicle to avoid a mishap.

Blind Spot Warning System

A blind spot is the area of the vehicle where the driver cannot see while driving. In case any vehicle is near the distance of this spot, the system will alert the driver by using the warning lights in the exterior side mirrors.

Shifting Lane Alert

Amateur drivers tend to switch lanes abruptly or sliding onto the other lane without even realizing it. The lane alert feature is designed to avoid a mishap due to this carelessness. This feature enables an audible alert to the driver if the vehicle seems to be drifting out of the lane without an indication. In some systems, the driver’s seat vibrates while alerting, too.

After considering all of the above safety features, you could finalize a car for your teen based on your budget and teenager’s preference.

Listed below are top safety picks by IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety). This list is based on ratings and surveys and is a reliable source of advice when it comes to safety in cars.

Safest Cars for Teens 2020

Model	Price
Kia Forte	$14,600
Subaru Impreza	$8,700
Hyundai Elantra	$14,000
Mazda 3	$5,300
Subaru Legacy	$7,600
Honda Insight	$17,900
Kia Optima	$23,390
Hyundai Sonata	$10,100
Toyota Camry	$7,500
Subaru Outback	$8,500

Kia Forte

Cost: $14,600

Safety Features: The sporty compact sedan rolls in style offering utmost safety behind the wheel. This beauty comes with electronic brake-force distribution, traction control systems, electronic stability control, and anti-lock brakes, and more. If you are considering this buy, check all of Forte’s features here.

Family1st ’s Verdict: Kia Forte is “safety” on a friendly budget. The stylish appearance would also let your teen flaunt a little about this smart buy.

Subaru Impreza

Cost: $8,700

Safety Features: Not many compact four-wheelers possess a safety track record like the 2020 Subaru Impreza. Impreza features a standard collision-avoidance technology along with above-average crash-test scores. It also features automatic emergency braking along with pedestrian detection, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control, at least when equipped with a CVT (continuously variable transmission). If you are considering this buy, check all of Impreza’s features here.

Family1st ’s Verdict: Impreza got itself 5 stars by NHTSA. By opting for this 4 wheeler you would sure be buying yourself some peace of mind.

Hyundai Elantra

Cost: $14,000

Safety Features: The bold Hyundai Elantra is a spectacular piece of beauty on wheels. It does not compromise on safety and therefore comes with;

Blind-Spot Collision Warning
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
Lane Keeping Assist
Electronic Stability Control
Traction Control System
Automatic High Beam Assist
Electronic Brake-force Distribution
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Driver’s Knee Airbag
Anti-lock Braking System
Front Seatbelt Pretensioners
Vehicle Stability Management

That’s not all. The 2019 Hyundai Elantra has a lot more to offer. However, their safety features will differ from the segment you choose to buy. If you are considering this buy, check all of Elantra’s features here.

Family1st ’s Verdict: The Hyundai Elantra would be no less than a wise buy for your teenager’s safety.

Mazda

Cost: $5,300

Safety Features: The latest Mazda is trendy yet safe and reliable. The hatchback features side and front impact beams, side and front airbags, crash sensors, brake assist, and a lot more. If you are considering this buy, check all of Mazda’s features here. Also, check their Mazda CX5 model that has safety features on par with Mazda 3.

Family1st’s Verdict: 2020 Mazda 3 got a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Opting for this buy is a no-brainer now.

Subaru Legacy

Cost: $7,600

Safety Features: Subaru Legacy is one of the most reliable cars with advanced safety features. The 2019 legacy model features anti-lock brakes, stability control, front and side-impact airbags, overhead airbags, pretensioners that automatically tighten seat belts, and more. If you are considering this buy, check all of Legacy’s features here.

Family1st ’s Verdict: The all-new Subaru Legacy is undoubtedly one of the safest models in its price segment.

Honda Insight

Cost: $17,900

Safety Features: A combination of style and power come blended with the all-new Honda Insight. This model has focused on safety by providing its customers with;

Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor
Advanced compatibility engineering body structure
Advanced front airbags (i-SRS)
Smart vent front side airbags
Driver and front-passenger knee airbags
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Electronic brake distribution
Brake assist
Vehicle stability assists with traction control
LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
Multi-angle rearview camera
Three-point seat belts at all seating positions
Front three-point seat belts with automatic tensioning
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat-belt reminder
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

If you are considering this buy, check all of Insight’s features here

Family1st ’s Verdict: If beauty has not taken a backseat to your safety need, then Insight is just what your teen should roll in.

Kia Optima

Cost: $23,390

Safety Features: Optima could just be the right car for your teenager. This sleek beauty comes with 7 airbags, four-wheel disc ABS air brakes, lane assistance, and rear camera, parking distance warning when in reverse, blind-spot collision warning with rear cross-traffic collision warning, and more.

If you are considering this buy, check all of Insight’s features here.

Family1st ’s Verdict: Visit the showroom only when you make up your mind to buy this irresistible piece else after personally seeing Optima you will not be able to choose any other car.

Hyundai Sonata

Cost: $10,100

Safety Features: Sonata comes with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane tracing assist, driver attention monitoring, automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warning, and a rearview camera. The midsized beauty has classy interiors and has earned a good predicted reliability rating as well.

If you are considering this buy, check all of Sonata’s features here.

Family1st ’s Verdict: If making a style statement is something you cannot let your teenager compromise on, along with unhampered safety, then Hyundai’s Sonata is a definite buy for your child.

Toyota Camry

Cost: $7,500

Safety Features: The Toyota Camry won itself five stars in every crash test rating by NHTSA. As if that wasn’t enough, IIHS also gave Camry the highest “good” rating in all of its crash tests. The car comes with ten airbags, Driver and front passenger Whiplash-Injury-Lessening (WIL) seats, enhanced vehicle stability control, front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones, energy-absorbing collapsible steering column, and more. If you are considering this buy, check all of the good-looking Camry’s features here.

Family1st ’s Verdict: Buying your teenager safety on 4 wheels is now possible with the new Toyota Camry, of course.

Subaru Outback

Cost: $8,500

Safety Features: When adventure and safety meet reliability, a Subaru Outback is manufactured. Standard features that come with Outback are:

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) will slow the vehicle to a full stop in traffic
Lane cantering that helps the driver stay in the center of their lane when using ACC
Lane departure alert
Pedestrian detection
LED headlights
Front collision alert
Automatic front braking
Head-up display with flashing collision-alert lights
Automatic high beams

Choosing the higher variant of Outback would include blind-spot and cross-traffic alert, automatic reverse braking, and drowsy and distracted driver alert as well. If you are considering the buy, check all of Outback’s features here.

Budget Cars with Uncompromised Safety

If the aforementioned cars do not fit your budget, don’t lose heart. You could always opt for a second-hand well-used car. However, considering the year of manufacture and safety features of the car is indeed crucial. Here are a few cars you could buy while keeping the safety quotient intact;

A few suggestions for used cars are as follows;

Volvo S80, 2007 and after – $3,800
Volkswagen Passat, 2013 model and after – $6,700
Volvo S60, 2011 and after – $7,700
Ford Fusion, 2013 and after – $8,000
Mazda CX-5, 2014 and after – $10,800
Ford Taurus, 2013 and after – $11,000
Fiat 500X, 2016 and after – $11,500
Nissan Rogue, 2014 and after – $11,600
Chevrolet Impala, 2015 and after – $13,000

Please note that the prices of these cars may vary.

Family1st GPS for Teenage Drivers

The good news is that traffic fatalities across the U.S have been declining lately. However, you cannot overlook the fact that over 30 thousand Americans lose their lives to road accidents each year. Keeping your teen safe on the road is the priority of every parent in today’s day and age. You could have a Family1st GPS tracker real-time tracking system installed in your child’s vehicle that could help you track the whereabouts of your child all day long through your phone.

You can ensure your teen’s safety with a Family1st GPS device by;

Tracking the GPS car tracker real-time location and whereabouts of your young adult
Getting notifications on your phone instantly whenever your kids would use the car
Getting alerts if the vehicle is stolen or being tampered with
While at home or work, you could monitor the speed your teen is driving at with the help of a Family1st GPS tracker
You can also track recent routes taken by your kid
By setting up geofences in a Family1st GPS tracking for car device, you could find out if your teenager is leaving or visiting any specific area

While some argue that a small-sized vehicle helps teenagers have better control over the car, others argue that bigger vehicles render more stability and protection against crashes. However, this point could be a debate forever.

It is wise to hand your teenager a car with less horsepower as young blood would be more susceptible to driving at high speed and indulging in races. Although a Family1st GPS device can help you keep a tab on the speed factor, prevention is always better than cure. Ensure your child’s safety with a Family1st car tracking system.

For any assistance on installing a GPS tracker in your teenager’s vehicle, visit us at Family1st

Choosing The Safest Vehicle For Your Teenager