Here the safest vehicles for new teen drivers

Every year, between 1.8 and 2.8 million new drivers hit the road. A report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports highlights the safest vehicles for newly licensed teens.

The annual rankings identify vehicles at three price points, with 74 models costing under $10,000.

Forty-eight models come with automatic emergency breaking and highly-rated headlights for under $20,000.

A third premier batch includes 22 new 2025 vehicles equipped with the latest crash prevention and safety technology, including a seat belt reminder.

"It's a really important thing for teens because we know teens are less likely to buckle up," said Jessica Jermakian, IIHS senior vice president of vehicle research. "Parents should be looking to buy as much safety as they can afford. We're looking for vehicles that will protect the teen in the event of a crash and also help them prevent the crash in the first place."

The vehicles range from small sedans to large cars, small and medium-sized SUVs and minivans. Each earned a good crash rating from IIHS in five tests: original moderate overlap front, original side, driver-side small overlap front, roof strength and head restraints.

Vehicles that are not on the report's list for new drivers include minicars, sports cars, large SUVs and pickups. They also urge caution with starting a new driver out in an electric car because they have a lot of available power and can hit a high rate of speed quickly.

Here are the vehicles included in the rankings:

Best Choices — starting under $20,000

Small cars

Toyota Corolla sedan (2017-19; 2023 or newer): $9,500Honda Insight (2019-22): $11,600Mazda 3 hatchback (2019 or newer): $12,100Toyota Prius (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after August 2016): $12,600Mazda 3 sedan (2020 or newer): $13,000Toyota Prius Prime (2017 or newer): $16,200Honda Civic hatchback (2022 or newer): $19,200Honda Civic sedan (2022 or newer): $19,200Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (2019): $19, 300

Midsize cars

Toyota Camry (2018 or newer): $13,100Mazda 6 (2019-21; only vehicles built after June 2019): $14,000Subaru Legacy (2020 or newer): $15,700Nissan Maxima (2020 or newer): $16,900Kia K5 (2021 or newer; only vehicles built after November 2020): $17,000Lexus IS (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after June 2017): $17,000Subaru Outback (2020; only vehicles built after October 2019): $17,400Volvo S60 (2021-22): $17,500Hyundai Sonata (2023 or newer; only vehicles built after December 2022): $18,100Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2019 or newer; except 2021 models built before February 2021): $19,100Honda Accord (2021 or newer): $19,800

Large cars

Genesis G80 (2017-20): $12,200Genesis G90 (2017-22): $12,400Acura RLX (2018-20): $16,700

Small SUVs

BMW X2 (2019-or newer): $12,200Mazda CX-3 (2020-21): $12,900Subaru Forester (2019 or newer): $13,000Mazda CX-5 (2020 or newer): $15,400Chevrolet Trailblazer (2021 or newer): 17,300Ford Bronco Sport (2021 or newer): $17,500Nissan Rogue (2021 or newer): $17,500Hyundai Tucson (2022 or newer): $17,600Mazda CX-30 (2022 or newer): $18,000Kia EV6 (2022 or newer; only vehicles built after August 2022): $19,800Mitsubishi Outlander (2022 or newer; only vehicles built after June 2021): $19,800Toyota Corolla Cross (2022 or newer): $19,800

Midsize SUVs

Acura MDX (2017-20): $13,100Volvo XC90 (2018 or newer; only vehicles built after March 2018): $14,600Lexus NX (2018 or newer): $14,900Honda Pilot (2019 or newer): $16,000Ford Explorer (2020 or newer; only vehicles built after May 2020): $16,600Volkswagen Tiguan (2022 or newer): $16,600Toyota Highlander (2017 or newer): $17,000Honda Passport (2019-21; only vehicles built after June 2019): $18,100Nissan Murano (2021 or newer):$18,400Mazda CX-9 (2021 or newer): $18,500Audi Q4 e-tron (2022 or newer): $18,600Acura RDX (2019 or newer): $19,400Subaru Ascent (2021 or newer): $19,900Good Choices — starting at $10,000 or less

Small cars

Nissan Sentra (2015 or newer): $4,400 Mini Countryman (2011 or newer): $4,600 Mazda 3 sedan (2014-19; only vehicles built after October 2013): $5,000 Kia Soul (2015 or newer): $5,100 Mazda 3 hatchback (2014-19; only vehicles built after October 2013): $5,400 Subaru Impreza wagon (2014 or newer): $5,700 Subaru Impreza sedan (2014 or newer): $5,800 Volkswagen Golf (2015-21): $6,300 Kia Niro Hybrid (2017-22): $6,600 Honda Civic sedan (2014-21): $6,800 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen (2015-19): $6,900 Subaru Crosstrek (2014 or newer): $7,300 Honda Civic coupe (2014-21): $7,900 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack (2017-19): $8,000Chevrolet Volt (2016-19): $9,500Chevrolet Bolt (2017-21): $9,800Acura ILX (2016-22): $10,000

Midsize cars

Volvo S60 (2012-20): $4,900 Volkswagen Jetta (2015 or newer): $5,300Hyundai Sonata (2016-22; only vehicles built after October 2015): $5,900Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2015-18): $6,500 Chrysler 200 (2015-17): $6,700 Volkswagen Passat (2016-22): $7,100 Subaru Legacy (2015-19): $7,200 Mazda 6 (2016-18): $7,300 Volvo V60 (2015-20): $7,300 Acura TL (2012-14; only vehicles built after April 2012): $7,500 Audi A3 (2015 or newer): $7,500 Ford Fusion (2017-19): $7,500 Subaru Outback (2015-19): $7,600 Honda Accord sedan (2013-20): $8,200 BMW 2 series (2014-21): $ 8,400 Nissan Maxima (2016-19): $8,600 Toyota Camry (2015-17): $8,800 Lincoln MKZ (2017-19): $8,900 Honda Accord coupe (2015-17): $9,200 Toyota Prius v (2015-17): $9,300

Large Cars

Volvo S80 (2012; 2015-16): $4,800 Hyundai Genesis (2015-16): $8,400 Kia Cadenza (2017-20): $8,500 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2014-19; only vehicles built after January 2014): $8,800Audi A6 (2016 or newer; only vehicles built after January 2015): $9,300

Small SUVs

Buick Encore (2015-22): $5,100 Fiat 500X (2016-18; only vehicles built after July 2015): $5,300 Nissan Rogue (2014-20): $5,300 Subaru Forester (2014-18): $6,000 Mitsubishi Outlander (2014-21): $6,100 Jeep Compass (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after December 2016): $6,700Mazda CX-3 (2016-2019): $6,800 Mazda CX-5 (2014-2019; only vehicles built after October 2013): $7,200Hyundai Tucson (2016-21): $7,700 Kia Sportage (2017 or newer): $7,700 BMW X1 (2016 or newer): $8,900 Audi Q3 (2015 or newer): $9,100Hyundai Kona (2018 or newer): $9,600Honda CR-V (2015 or newer): $9,800

Midsize SUVs

GMC Terrain (2014 or newer): $5,200Volvo XC60 (2013-21): $5,200 Chevrolet Equinox (2014 or newer): $5,300Volvo XC90 (2013-17): $6,000Nissan Murano (2015-20): $7,100 Kia Sorento (2016 or newer): $7,500 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (2017-18): $8,300 Chevrolet Traverse (2018 or newer): $8,500 Hyundai Santa Fe (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after March 2016): $8,500Audi Q5 (2015 or newer; only vehicles built after January 2015): $8,700 Lincoln MKX (2016-18): $9,200 Mercedes-Benz M-Class (2014-15; only vehicles built after August 2013): $9,200Acura MDX (2014-16): $9,300 Volkswagen Tiguan (2018-21): $9,700 Mazda CX-9 (2017-20; only vehicles built after November 2016): $9,800

Minivans

Kia Sedona (2015-21): $5,400 Honda Odyssey (2014 or newer): $7,300 Chrysler Pacifica (2017 or newer; only vehicles built after August 2016) : $9,100New vehicles for teens (2025 models)

Small cars: 

Honda Civic sedanMazda 3 hatchbackMazda 3 sedan 

Small SUVs

Honda HR-VHyundai Ioniq 5 Hyundai Kona Hyundai Tucson Mazda CX-30 Mazda CX-50 Subaru Forester (excludes Wilderness trim) Subaru Solterra 

Midsize cars

Honda AccordHyundai Ioniq 6Toyota Camry 

Midsize SUVs

GMC Acadia (built after January 2025)Honda Pilot Hyundai Santa Fe (built after November 2024)Kia Telluride Lexus NXMazda CX-70Mazda CX-90Subaru Ascent  Kris Van Cleave

Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.