Used Cars for Teens
We recommend the following late-model used cars for young drivers. Each one meets minimum requirements for crashworthiness and reliability. We recommend only cars with side-impact airbags because they have proved in many cases to be the difference between serious injury and minimal or no injury. If side-impact airbags did not come standard on the model you're interested in, make sure the car you're looking at actually has them.
Side torso bags protect the torso of front-seat occupants, while curtain airbags protect the head of everyone with a window seat. Cars with both types of airbags are better. A few cars have combination torso/head airbags for front occupants only.
The sport utility vehicles listed all exhibit proven stability and/or have an electronic stability system, which can help prevent a loss of control or possibly a rollover.
Standard and optional side torso airbags, side curtain airbags and torso/head airbags are indicated in the chart below. Cars are listed alphabetically in each category:
| Small 2005 - 2006 Cars | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Side Torso | Torso/Head | Side Curtain | ||||
 2005 Honda Civic | Optional | N/A | N/A | ||||
 2006 Honda Civic | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 2005 Lexus IS 300 | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 2005 Subaru Impreza | N/A | Optional | N/A | ||||
 2006 Subaru Impreza | N/A | Standard | N/A | ||||
 Toyota Corolla | Optional | N/A | Optional | ||||
 Volvo S40 | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
| Worth considering if below-average reliability isn't a concern: | |||||||
 Volkswagen Golf | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 Volkswagen Jetta | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
| Midsize 2005 - 2006 Cars | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Side Torso | Torso/Head | Side Curtain | ||||
 Acura TSX | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 Acura TL | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 Chevrolet Malibu | Optional | N/A | Optional | ||||
 Ford Fusion | Optional | N/A | Optional | ||||
 Ford Taurus | N/A | Optional | N/A | ||||
 Honda Accord | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 Hyundai Sonata | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 Mercury Sable | N/A | Optional | N/A | ||||
 Toyota Camry | Optional | N/A | Optional | ||||
| Worth considering if below-average reliability isn't a concern: | |||||||
 Volkswagen Passat | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
| Full-Size 2005 - 2006 Cars | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Side Torso | Torso/Head | Side Curtain |
 2006 Chevrolet Impala | N/A | N/A | Standard |
 Ford Crown Victoria | N/A | Optional | N/A |
 Ford Five Hundred | Optional | N/A | Optional |
 Lincoln Town Car | N/A | Standard | N/A |
 Mercury Grand Marquis | N/A | Optional | N/A |
 Toyota Avalon | Standard | N/A | Standard |
| 2005 - 2006 SUVs/Hatchbacks | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Side Torso | Torso/Head | Side Curtain | ||||
 2005 Honda Pilot | Standard | N/A | N/A | ||||
 2006 Honda Pilot | Standard | N/A | Standard | ||||
 Subaru Forester | N/A | Standard | N/A | ||||
 Toyota 4Runner | Optional | N/A | Optional | ||||
 Toyota Highlander | Optional | N/A | Optional | ||||
 Toyota RAV4 | Optional | N/A | Optional | ||||
| Worth considering if below-average reliability isn't a concern: | |||||||
 2005 Ford Explorer | N/A | N/A | Optional | ||||
 2006 Ford Explorer | Standard | N/A | Optional | ||||
 2005 Lincoln Aviator | N/A | N/A | Standard | ||||
 2005 Mercury Mountaineer | N/A | N/A | Optional | ||||
 2006 Mercury Mountaineer | Standard | N/A | Optional | ||||