I have two friends who are over 6 foot that have no issues with their compact sedans (2022 Corolla and 2019 Impreza). Under 10k, I’d stray away from any Subarus because the majority of what you’ll find at that price will only be issues. If you’re interested in trying out sedans just to see how she fits, I’d look at the Honda Civic/Accord and Toyota Corolla/Camry. There’s a lot of good info on what model years to look for online. If she doesn’t end up liking it or just generally leans more towards SUV/Crossover, look at the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4 or the Mazda CX5. Could also look at a Toyota Venza. Edit: Forgot to mention, check out the Honda Fit as well as the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe Answer from RoNiN_0001 on reddit.com
Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › cars › best used cars under $20,000 for teens
Best Used Cars Under $20,000 for Teens via @ConsumerReports
September 8, 2025 - Midsized SUVs Acura MDX (2017-2020) Audi Q4 E-Tron (2022 or newer) Ford Explorer (2020 or newer) Honda Passport (2019-2021) Honda Pilot (2019 or newer) Mazda CX-9 (2021 or newer) Nissan Murano (2021 or newer) Subaru Ascent (2021 or newer) Toyota Highlander, Highlander Hybrid (2017 or newer) Volvo XC90 (2018 or newer) ... These are the ideal choices for all-around performance and safety. These choices meet the safety criteria required to be among the best used cars for teens but also clear Consumer Reports’ high standards for a recommendation, which factors road test performance, reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety.
Autoweb
autoweb.com › 10-good-cheap-cars-for-teenagers-under-10000
10 Good Cheap Cars For Teenagers Under $10000
They tend to be more maneuverable, ... with surrounding a teenager with extra sheetmetal. When bigger is better, our first choice is the mid-size Hyundai Sonata sedan....
Videos
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15 Best First Cars For CAR GUYS! - YouTube
Top 25 BEST First Cars For High Schoolers For Less Than $5k!!
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Top 25 BEST First Cars Under $4k For High Schoolers! - YouTube
Best First Car for Teens Pt 9 • Which one are you taking ...
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10 BEST Cheap First Cars - YouTube
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BEST First Cars For Students Under $5,000 - YouTube
Are SUVs good for a teen's first car?
Larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks offer more metal and weight to protect occupants in accidents, but that doesn't mean they're inherently safer. Some may be too large for new drivers to handle, as they're physically wider and longer than the average sedan or coupe. Taller vehicles also have higher centers of gravity which may make them more prone to rollover-type accidents.
caranddriver.com
caranddriver.com › rankings › best-cars-for-teens
Best First Cars for Teens and New Drivers in 2026, Tested
What are the most reliable cars?
The BMW 3-series, Subaru Crosstrek, and Toyota Corolla are among the most reliable cars on sale today, according to Consumer Reports.
caranddriver.com
caranddriver.com › rankings › best-cars-for-teens
Best First Cars for Teens and New Drivers in 2026, Tested
What are the safest cars?
The Honda CR-V, Honda Accord, and Honda Odyssey rank among the safest vehicles on sale today, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
caranddriver.com
caranddriver.com › rankings › best-cars-for-teens
Best First Cars for Teens and New Drivers in 2026, Tested
Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › home › essential reads: stories and features › best used cars under $10,000 for teen drivers
Best Used Cars Under $10000 for Teen Drivers
August 14, 2021 - Prices start as low as $5000 for models from 2011 to 2013, but it's best to spend a little more if you can and get a 2014 or newer Mazda 3, which have higher safety ratings. They look better too and offer more interior space.
Kelley Blue Book
kbb.com › home › best cars › best cars for teens: the list every parent needs
Best Cars for Teens: The List Every Parent Needs - Kelley Blue Book
October 20, 2025 - By using this service, you accept the terms of your Visitor Agreement ... Your email has been sent. ... A few sporty yet reasonable cars for teenagers are the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and the Honda Civic.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/whatcarshouldibuy › best used car for teen under 10k
r/whatcarshouldIbuy on Reddit: Best used car for teen under 10k
February 18, 2024 -
Our daughter is turning 16 and we are trying to shop for a used vehicle for her under 10k and around 100k miles. She’s very tall so maybe a midsize suv would be better? Any recommendations for or against would be great.
Top answer 1 of 10
2
I have two friends who are over 6 foot that have no issues with their compact sedans (2022 Corolla and 2019 Impreza). Under 10k, I’d stray away from any Subarus because the majority of what you’ll find at that price will only be issues. If you’re interested in trying out sedans just to see how she fits, I’d look at the Honda Civic/Accord and Toyota Corolla/Camry. There’s a lot of good info on what model years to look for online. If she doesn’t end up liking it or just generally leans more towards SUV/Crossover, look at the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4 or the Mazda CX5. Could also look at a Toyota Venza. Edit: Forgot to mention, check out the Honda Fit as well as the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe
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1st gen honda crv. I've had 2 and will buy a 3rd lol
Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › rankings › best-cars-for-teens
Best First Cars for Teens and New Drivers in 2026, Tested
Wondering what car fits best for your teen? Our testing team looks at over 200 data points when rating vehicles. Check out what made our list of the best cars for teens to buy in 2026.
MotorTrend
motortrend.com › home › features › car lists
Cheap Used Cars for Teens Under $10,000
If you want your kid to learn to love driving and respect their car, a Miata is a great place to start. Plus, you and the spouse could take it for a top-down ride whenever you like.
Published March 6, 2024
Trusted Choice
trustedchoice.com › insurance-articles › wheels-wings-motors › cars-for-teenagers
Best Cars for Teens | 12 Cars Under $20K for Teenagers | Trusted Choice
October 24, 2025 - In terms of safety features, the 2014 Highlander comes with standard daytime running lights and has an option for blind spot detection and lane departure warning. Other features of the 2014 model-year Highlander include all-wheel drive, a V6 ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/whatcarshouldibuy › first car for a teenager suggestions?
r/whatcarshouldIbuy on Reddit: First car for a teenager suggestions?
May 10, 2024 -
I really want a sports car, but after reading a lot of these post I was quickly humbled and realized that getting a RWD “cool looking over safe and reliable” sports car for my first is a silly idea, according to a lot of people on this sub. And plus, I can get a nice looking sports car after I get my first (if thats even stl my choice) and learn how to adapt to drivers around me and the cars im driving aswell.
Anywho, I don’t know my actual budget 5-10k? Probably around 8k, im wanting to pay for most of it with cash upfront, so i want to find something cheap. It all depends when i start working. (havent actually started yet but I’m so excited about getting a car and driving I’m already saving, plus saving is good practice since my responsibility with money isnt the best…) plus, i have like 2-3 years to save.
anyway - updating my preferences: easy to drive/adjust to can handle snowy/rainy weather well (I know you can get tires for that, but I’m sure that some cars can handle it a lot better than others) reliable and wont guzzle gas, easy handling
i think this is a lot better than my last list, which was literally just “rwd, sports car, speedy, etc blah blah”
anyways, does this match up to any cars that would also be good for firsts?
Edit: I’m aware that cars can change a lot in those 2-3 years, just trying to keep some suggestions in mind :)
Capital One
capitalone.com › auto learning center › getting a good deal › 10 used cars under $10,000 for college students
10 Used Cars Under $10,000 for College Students | Capital One Auto Navigator
July 2, 2024 - The car's 11 cubic-feet of cargo space is also acceptable for daily use. ... Refreshed in 2015, the Focus four-door sedan or five-door hatchback models did well with a frugal 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine earning up to 31 mpg. That beats 26 mpg from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder model. A 75-mile-range all-electric high-performance 2016 Focus RS also exists, although it's generally more expensive.
IIHS
iihs.org › ratings › safe-vehicles-for-teens
Safe vehicles for teens
Our recommendations include two tiers of used vehicles, Best Choices and more affordable Good Choices. Starting prices for recommended used models range from under $5,000 to nearly $20,000. A separate list of new vehicles for teens offers an even higher level of safety.
The Zebra
thezebra.com › the zebra › resource center › driving › best cars for teens: 15 vehicles under $20k with top safety ratings
Best cars for teens: 15 vehicles under $20K with top safety ratings
April 24, 2024 - Skip below to the infographic for a quick review of the best cars for teens under $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000, plus some safety tips for teen drivers. The Toyota Highlander, model 2014 or newer, is our top teen vehicle recommendation for cars ...
IGOTA~STi
igotasti.com › home › forums › general community › daily news & rumors
Best cars for teens: $20,000 or less - IGOTA~STi
September 19, 2024 - Unlike the smaller cars on this list, the Subaru Legacy and Outback are offered with a range of engine options. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder is likely plenty powerful enough for new drivers, though its continuously variable automatic ...
Modded
modded.com › home › cars › what’s the best first car for high school students in 2025?
What's the Best First Car for High School Students in 2025? - Modded
June 3, 2023 - Front-wheel drive, six-speed automatic and considerable rear-seat legroom are other highlights. You can still find these for sale for under $10,000. The Subaru Forester is a stylish crossover with ample cargo space — 58 cubic feet to be precise.
Bumble Auto
bumbleauto.com › blog › safest-used-cars-for-teen-drivers-under-10000
Safest Used Cars For Teen Drivers Under $10,000 | Bumble Auto
October 19, 2023 - Toyota Corolla is a direct competitor of Honda Civic and it is among the most popular choices as a safest car for teens. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already given it a full safety rating of 5 stars due to ...
Californialemonattorneys
californialemonattorneys.com › home › lemon vehicle recalls › top 10 safest “cool cars” for teen drivers under $10,000
Top 10 Safest “Cool Cars” for Teen Drivers Under $10,000
April 20, 2022 - The cars on our Top 10 List not only have the cool factor, they meet the highest safety standards and they sell for under $10,000.
Insurify
insurify.com › car insurance › knowledge › best cars for teens
Best Cars for Teens: Guide to the Safest Picks | Insurify
March 17, 2023 - If you’re a first-time driver, you need a car that’s easy to handle. Look for a vehicle with top-notch safety features and a proven track record of reliability. You may also want to consider a vehicle with excellent fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs as a budget-friendly choice for a new driver. One of the best options for a high school student is a large car with high safety ratings from organizations like the IIHS and NHTSA.
Consumer Reports
consumerreports.org › cars › new cars › best new cars for teens
Best New Cars for Teens via @ConsumerReports
September 8, 2025 - CR and the IIHS list the best new cars for teens, considering performance, safety, reliability, crash performance, insurance data, and suitability.
CarPro
carpro.com › blog › iihs-best-used-cars-for-teen-drivers-under-20000
IIHS Best Used Cars For Teen Drivers Under $20,000
May 15, 2025 - The 2025 safe vehicles for teens list includes 74 used vehicles priced at $10,000 or less. Another 48 models that come with automatic emergency braking and highly rated headlights can be found for under $20,000.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/whatcarshouldibuy › best car for a teen for $20k or under?
r/whatcarshouldIbuy on Reddit: Best car for a teen for $20k or under?
March 27, 2023 -
My son saved $10k and his grandfather is matching what he saved for a car. I have no clue what I’m doing for car buying though. My son doesn’t seem to care what kind of car it is, as long as it gets him to school and back. My own desires for a car is safety, reliability, good on gas, safety, low maintenance, safety…. You get the picture. Insurance will likely be outrageous for a teen boy in NYC (Staten Island) no matter what but something that would be on the lower end of that would be nice too. Further, should we try dealers, or should I be looking at Craigslist/Facebook/eBay etc? Any tips on how to avoid scams there? Thanks!
Top answer 1 of 74
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Used Toyota Camry or Corolla. Or Honda Accord or Civic. You and your son will be satisfied. Personally I would go Honda, but Toyota’s are great used cars, but a little less fun to drive.
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I bought my son a 3k 2010 manual focus with low miles. He will probably wreck it at some point. I can keep plpd insurance instead of full coverage. If something does break, he can learn how to maintain it and fix it. It is cheap for parts, and if it gets crashed I won't cry.