Mazda And Hyundai Dominate The Safest New Cars For Teen Drivers

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports have collaborated to find the best and safest new vehicles for teenagers. As teens have a higher driver risk profile due to inexperience, the two authorities only selected vehicles with lower horsepower relative to weight, and those with good safety ratings. Hyundai and Mazda have the most models in the recommended list, but cars from Toyota, Ford, Honda, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, and Volkswagen also made an appearance. Here's a look at the best choices for first-time drivers.

Related: IIHS Tested 16 New Cars, But Only Two Earned The Top Safety Award

The Criteria: What Makes a Safe Teen Vehicle?

Features that can help a teen avoid a crash or protect them in the event of an accident are critical. To be named as one of the top cars for teens, a vehicle has to meet the safety standards of both authorities. Here’s a look at the criteria used to arrive at this year’s selected models:

• IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award
• CR Safety Verdict of Best
• Good IIHS ratings for seat belt reminders
• Usability scores of at least 2 out of 5 for controls and displays
• Average or better scores for braking and emergency/routine handling
• Minicars or anything under 2,750 pounds are excluded
• Large SUVs and pickups are excluded

This list evaluates all aspects of vehicle safety, not just crashworthiness. Lighter and smaller cars have been excluded due to safety risks if they collide with a large, heavy vehicle. On the other hand, particularly large pickups and SUVs may be safe in a crash, but they typically take longer to stop and are more challenging to handle for inexperienced drivers.

The Safest New Cars For Teens

Bearing all of the above in mind, the CR-IIHS list is a carefully considered one. The following models are the top new recommendations for teen drivers.

Small Cars

• Mazda 3 hatchback or sedan
• Toyota Prius

Midsize Cars

• Hyundai Sonata (including hybrid)
• Toyota Camry

Small SUVs

• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Hyundai Kona
• Hyundai Tucson (including hybrid)
• Mazda CX-30
• Mazda CX-50 (including hybrid)

Midsize SUVs

• Ford Explorer
• Honda Passport
• Hyundai Palisade (models built after November 2025, including hybrid)
• Hyundai Santa Fe (including hybrid)
• Kia Sorento (models built after September 2025, including hybrid)
• Mazda CX-70 (including PHEV)
• Mazda CX-90
• Nissan Murano
• Nissan Pathfinder
• Subaru Ascent
• Volkswagen Atlas
• Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Hyundai and Mazda lead all other makes with six entries each, not accounting for the different powertrain options. Mazda has been on a safety roll for some time, having been named the top brand for overall vehicle safety in CR’s new Safety Verdict earlier in 2026. Given how popular Honda and Toyota models are, it’s a little surprising that they only have three models on the list between them.

“A teen’s first car is a major milestone. Whether you’re buying them a vehicle or deciding which family car they should begin driving, these lists help parents make those choices with confidence, and without compromising on safety,” said Emily A. Thomas, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports.

The IIHS and CR also released a list of the best used vehicles for teens, a much longer list that can be viewed in its entirety here. It includes some unexpected, discontinued, or less common models like the Volvo S80, Fiat 500X, and Ford Fusion.

Related: Mazda Just Took Volvo’s Safety Crown, Says Consumer Reports

What It Means

The safest vehicle for your teen is not necessarily the safest vehicle for you. New drivers need time to hone their skills and reaction times, and the vehicles mentioned here allow them to do so with minimal distractions and without a potentially dangerous focus on performance. While aggressive car ads in America may push parents into purchasing something cooler or more powerful for their teens, such vehicles can increase the chances of your child getting into a crash. Besides, there’ll be plenty of time for your teen to buy the BMW M car or V8 Mustang of their dreams later in life.

Related: Parents Can Now Install Tech That Stops Teen Drivers From Speeding

View the full article