While the idea of not having to chauffeur your kids to their activities is great, many parents dread the day their child gets behind the wheel of a car. Driving is dangerous, even for the most seasoned drivers, let alone beginners.
To better their chances and calm your nerves, make sure you’re considering cars for beginner drivers. We’ll go over which safety features are best for new drivers and what top-rated cars we recommend, below.
Safety Features for First-Time Drivers
A lot of cars these days come with helpful features like lane assist, smart cruise control, and all sorts of other computerized features. While that may sound like a good idea for new drivers, it could hurt their learning in the long run.
Starting with a reliable but basic car without these features (or with the ability to turn them off) will assure they know how to drive without assistive technology.
Plus, when you perform your driver’s test, your instructor won’t let you use these features. To prepare for your test, get k53 questions and answers, here.
Features to look for in cars for beginner drivers:
- Automatic headlights
- Reverse camera
- ABS brakes
- No large (distracting) screen
- High safety rating
You can look up safety ratings on sites like Kelly Bluebook and Consumer Reports.
Finally, don’t let car “awards” blind you without looking into what they mean. A car that won an award for “best initial quality” means that it’s nicest on the lot — but how does it fare afterward?
Anything Subaru
Subarus are known to withstand high-intensity crash tests better than other cars. They’re also reasonably priced, last forever, and are easy to find parts for. The Outback and Forester are the two most classic Subaru models. Try to stick to cars less than five years old if buying used.
Honda Civic
The Civic is a long-time first car pick. It’s just so … reliable! There are people out there driving Civics they got 10+ years ago, with very little maintenance.
If you’re buying your teen their first car and don’t expect them to be able to buy another for a while after, this is a good choice. Both 2020, 2021, and 2022 models made the IIHS Top Safety Pick list.
Toyota Camry Hybrid (2022)
The trustworthy Toyota Camry is another brand known for reliability and longevity. This specific model will help lower gas prices, with its electric-hybrid capabilities.
It made MotorTrend’s list of safest hybrids and EVs this year and meets the other capabilities on our list.
Don’t want to spend hybrid money? The traditional Camry is a safe pick as well, back as far as 2015!
The Best Cars for Beginner Drivers
When it comes to first-time drivers, you want a car that’s safe and modern, but not full of bells and whistles. The list of cars for beginner drivers above has options for every price point.
Be sure to adhere to all new driver laws, especially for younger drivers. For more helpful lifestyle advice, bookmark our site!