Best SUVs for Teens for 2024
These are the best SUVs for teens based on iSeeCars’ analysis of each vehicle’s reliability, resale value and safety.
The best small and compact SUV for teens is the Honda CR-V (9.0 / 10 safety score) and the best midsize SUV for teens is the Jeep Grand Cherokee (8.7 / 10 safety score). Topping the list for the best crossover SUVs for teens is the Honda CR-V (9.0 / 10 safety score), while the Toyota Venza (hybrid) ranks first for the best hybrid SUVs for teens (9.0 / 10 safety score).
Parents shopping new and used cars for a teen driver face the daunting task of finding a safe and reliable vehicle for a reasonable price. Teenage drivers often end up in small cars and hatchbacks, such as the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, for their first car. But the increased safety and practicality of SUVs makes them a better option. And while large, three-row SUVs can be expensive to buy and operate, midsize and smaller SUVs are affordable and leverage today’s automotive technology to offer above average fuel efficiency.
These same SUVs also include a wealth of safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and stability control. Almost every new vehicle, and most even used vehicles built in the last 5 model years, offer these technologies on higher trim levels. The best used cars and SUVs for young drivers will have all of them, along with all-wheel drive, to improve traction and safety on slick surfaces.
iSeeCars has identified the best SUVs for teenage drivers and listed them below. The SUVs are organized by size and price and ranked according to their safety score. To be included in these lists, a vehicle needs at least a 9 or higher (out of 10) safety score, which reflects how a vehicle was rated by both the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).
While safety is the primary ranking factor for these SUVs, iSeeCars added several requirements before a utility vehicle was eligible for consideration for new drivers. First, only new cars or used cars with a base MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) below $50,000 were considered. There was also a horsepower limit (no more than 500 hp). Finally, these SUVs can’t be no more than 5 model years old to ensure modern safety and fuel economy tech is part of their design.
Popular SUVs, including the Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4, are examples of compact SUVs that meet all of the above requirements while being available at a reasonable price. These vehicles may not offer the cool style or fun-to-drive characteristics of high-performance coupes or sports cars, but they do represent the right balance of safety, functionality and value that teenagers need as young drivers.
How We Rank These Cars
The best cars for teens rank vehicles by their iSeeCars Safety Score, which is based on the latest safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA, as well as safety features focused on providing parents with peace of mind.
With safety as the number one factor in identifying the best cars for teens, iSeeCars considered only cars with a NHTSA crash test rating of 4 or better and a IIHS Top Safety Pick or better, and excluded large trucks and SUVs, minivans, and sporty cars and cars with high horsepower. For each vehicle, we also display an iSeeCars Score.
iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
