Top 10 Safest Cars for Teenage Drivers
Purchasing a car for a teenager can be an extremely overwhelming experience. Of course we all want the best for our child, but in doing so we often hand over the keys to death. Why? Because a plethora of parents fail to comprehend that they are handing over a powerful piece of machinery to a driver with very limited experience. While the teen driver needs a car with heft, moderate horsepower and the best safety equipment possible, they do not need a car which would be more suitable for a race car circuit.
The ownership of a car is a classic way to expand a teen's maturity and responsibility. More so if the teen is made to contribute to its upkeep. By contributing to the car's expenses a teen will be less likely to wish to crash it. While speaking of crashing cars, car crashes kill approximately 3,500 teens per day in the US. Below is a list of the top ten cars for teens. These cars all have one thing in common; they are reliable, affordable, said to be the safest and easy to handle.
1) Ford Focus:
Top of the list is the Ford Focus, it's cheap, attractive and a dream to drive. The Ford Focus comes with a SYNC system which allows drivers to control their cell phones and iPod with vocal commands. It even reads texts messages for you out loud. This ensures the teen drivers keeps their eyes on the road and their hands on the steering wheel. Owners get a full compliment of airbags which are standard. Antilock brakes and electronic stability control which comes bundled up for an extra $745 is a must have for teen drivers of the Ford Focus. The 2 door sporty looking Focus Coupe is very popular with the teens.
2) Honda Fit 2009:
Fuel efficient, practical, easy to drive, attractive and safe, the Honda Fit is a top choice for teen drivers. With six airbags and antilock brakes which comes standard this car is an excellent option for the young driver. The car's body is strong indeed, it's specifically designed to survive a collision with heavier vehicles. The Fit can be purchased with electronic stability control and navigation. The only downside is that these two extras can be relatively expensive. But one can not put a price on safety. Note that the 2007 and 2008 Fits do not have such a strong body shell as the 2009 and they do not offer electronic stability control.
3) Kia Forte:
The Kia Forte is a classic, inexpensive little car. It has style, plenty of space and loads of spunk. It comes with six airbags ( which will certainly impress the parents ) antilock brakes and electronic stability control. Visibility is excellent, the controls are all easy to use and the very well marked instrument panel makes the Kia Forte a great option for inexperienced drivers.
4) Honda Civic:Fuel efficient, antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags are all standard for all Civic models. Unfortunately electronic stability control is only available on the more expensive versions ( the EX'L and Hybrid,) but the Civic has a body shell which is designed to withstand impacts with heavier vehicles. The two doors have extra bracing for side impacts. The Civic comes in jazzy 2 door coupes of 4 door sedans. The LX and DX-VP models offer the best deal for your money. Avoid the Civic Si hot rod version unless you want consistent speeding tickets!
6) Nissan Versa:
A very practical car for teens, the Nissan Versa has ample cabin space inside the bulbous body. It is a strong car which is impressive to look at as well as economical and structured well. It's a car well worth the small outlay, in fact it's said to be the cheapest hybrid car a person can buy. But for extra safety one may wish to spend a little more and get the $22,010 Insight EX for their teen which features electronic stability control. Antilock brakes are available for an extra $250. Spend a little more on a more elite Versa and get air-conditioning, power windows and locks, automatic transmission and ABS.
7) Subaru Impreza 2.5i:
The Subaru Imprezi 2.5i offers standard all-wheel drive (AWL), which is a very important feature indeed. Why? Because this safety feature aids in giving the vehicle better grip on the road. In wet weather or dry your teen will be so much safer in a Subaru Imprezi 2.5i. In 2009 Subaru Imprezi got the giant thumbs up for including electronic stability control as a standard feature. Although your teen needs to drive carefully, you as a parent can breath a little easier knowing your teen is driving one of the safest vehicles on the road!
8) Suzuki SX4:
Teens love the Suzuki SX4 for many reasons. It's funky and cute with a cartoonist shape which allows for lots of headroom. This spacious, very spunky little car with a 2 litre engine, is easy to handle and such a fun car to drive. Spend a little extra and get the optional all-wheel drive, which is a bonus in wet weather and snowy climates. With loads of airbags and antilock brakes this is a very safe little car. Add to the fact that the car has great crash test scores and you will smile even wider. Fuel economy is not the best though and the electronic stability control is only offered on select models. But the Suzuki SX4 is still a gem of a car.
9) Pontiac Vibe:
The Pontiac Vibe may not be available for too long due to the fact that GM are planning to close down the Pontiac division in 2010. But the Pontiac Vibe is a great car for teens because it comes with six airbags as standard, antilock brakes and electronic stability control. It's available with all-wheel-drive and we all know that this is needed for added safety. Thus the teen then has lower danger odds in lieu of accidents. This gives superior traction and when one takes into account that teens could be driving in rain or snow, one soon acknowledges that this is a plus in reference to driving safety. Such a handsome car which is easy to park, has plenty of legroom and a hard plastic lined cargo bay. Value for money!
10) Smart Fortwo:
What a smart choice the Smart Fortwo is. With pun intended, the 2-seater Smart Fortwo features a host of standard safety features. Inexpensive, easy on the gas and easy t o drive, the Smart Fortwo offers front and side airbags, electronic stability control and antilock brakes. With a 70 horsepower engine which is power for a teen, the Smart Fortwo is smart indeed. Smart in lieu of not offering too much power to inexperienced drivers. Parents will sigh with relief when they learn that the Smart Fortwo does not offer far too much power beneath the hood. Therefore young drivers have less chance of getting into serious situations when on the road. The car is so cute and unique, teens driving the Smart Fortwo will soon smile with delight when they realize how this little gem will increase their popularity. They'll be the envy of their friends while driving one of the safest cars on the road. But please think twice about the Smarty Fortwo if you reside where consistent crosswinds occur as this small car will get blown around a fair bit if you do.
