I gave my 18 year old my 2022 Tucson

Honda HRV- my two teen girls love the size of this car (not too small or too big). They drive a 2024.

OP, your budget is fine. We got DD a Subaru Crosstrek with Eyesight and DS a Subaru Outback, also with Eyesight. Both are excellent, safe, and reliable cars. The safety features give us some peace of mind and the lane keeping, brake assist, blind spot monitor, etc. really help the kids hone driving skills. DD has a 2019 Crosstrek and those can be had at your price point.

They get whatever is at the bottom of our "fleet" of cars. Currently, that is a 13 year old Prius. We don't sweat it at all.

The Santa Cruz is great for athletes who have gear to haul around and for college students moving in and out of dorms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always Corolla, Civic, Sentra, or Mazda 3

That's one way to get out of paying for college. Those are three death traps for kids.

How do you figure?

Small sports cars have killed many kids. Have been for years. Small cars get crunched what hit by a SUV or truck. Simple physics!! Just go on YouTube and type in civic accident.

I rolled my civic in college and walked away. Totaled the car but didn’t have a scratch on me.

Yeah you are likely old

I know what this poster is talking about. Those small sedans do not survive crashes well. The highway speeds and the fact that other cars are heavier make them mini death traps. Go to the nhtsb website and check out the stats on crashes in those mini sedans.

The stats on mini cars are not good, but the IIHS’ list of recommended cars for new teens drivers includes Corollas, Civics, Priuses, etc.

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/safe-vehicles-for-teens

FWIW, we bought a used Corolla as a third car, but my teen prefers the big old minivan, especially on the highway. I’m quite enjoying the relative zippiness of the Corolla, so it all works out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always Corolla, Civic, Sentra, or Mazda 3

That's one way to get out of paying for college. Those are three death traps for kids.

How do you figure?

Small sports cars have killed many kids. Have been for years. Small cars get crunched what hit by a SUV or truck. Simple physics!! Just go on YouTube and type in civic accident.

I rolled my civic in college and walked away. Totaled the car but didn’t have a scratch on me.

Yeah you are likely old

I know what this poster is talking about. Those small sedans do not survive crashes well. The highway speeds and the fact that other cars are heavier make them mini death traps. Go to the nhtsb website and check out the stats on crashes in those mini sedans.

Don't buy american. They are all junk and built by drug addicts and drunks.

I’m bumping this because I want to buy my new driver a car, and she doesn’t like driving crossovers, SUVs, or anything too big or “up high off the ground.” What’s the safest possible new sedan that’s not going to break the bank?

I drive a 2018 Mercedes sedan which I could give her if it’s safer, but I’d prefer not to hand over a luxury car to a teenager if I can avoid it.

Smaller cars are turning out to be death traps in low speed accidents.

Keep in mind electric cars/trucks weight almost 1-5-2x normal cars. And this area is electric obsessed.

Small cars don’t fair well against electric vehicles.