Oct. 23--The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its second annual recommendations for the safest used cars for teens.
The list has grown by more than 50 percent, and more than 80 of the 150 recommended vehicles cost $10,000 or less.
"It's easier than ever to find a used vehicle with must-have safety features and decent crash test performance without spending a fortune," Anne McCartt, senior vice president of research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said in a statement.
The tradition of passing along the family truckster is not as strong a value proposition as it has been historically, due to the proliferation of advanced safety features in newer cars that can not only limit damage in accidents but prevent them altogether.
Side curtain air bags protect the head and chest in side impact crashes, while electronic stability control, now mandated on cars manufactured since September 2011, helps straighten out a car when it begins to skid.
The newest cars can come equipped with forward collision avoidance systems and lane-departure warnings, among other technological features. They also come at a price.
"We would encourage parents to consider paying a little more for safety if they can," McCartt said, acknowledging that parents are in a tough spot when their teens begin to drive. "They want to provide a safe vehicle, but they need to stay within their budget."
A survey of 500 parents found that 83 percent buy their teens a used car, with an average purchase price of $9,800, though half of respondents spent $5,300 or less.
The recommendations are broken into two categories: "Best choices" are priced under $20,000, earned good rankings in four long-standing crash tests and include everything from 2012 and newer minivans (average price ranging from $11,600 to $14,600) to 2009 and newer Volkswagen Jettas ($5,600) and Subaru Foresters ($9,000); "good choices" are priced under $10,000 but scored less-than-perfect ratings in some tests, and include everything from a 2005 Saab 9-5 ($2,700) to a 2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup ($7,700).
Regardless of price point, the IIHS recommends parents follow three main guidelines when selecting a vehicle for their teen: Limit temptation by avoiding high-horsepower models; avoid microcars, and lean toward larger, safer cars, which can include midsize sedans and small crossovers; and electronic stability control is a must.
ESC is considered the most significant safety feature since the safety belt. Sadly, not wearing seat belts is the No. 1 cause of teen driving fatalities.
The nonprofit IIHS is an independently run research body that was founded in 1959 by three major insurance associations. Its crash tests are considered the most rigorous in the world and have affected legislation that mandates new model cars come with safety features such as ESC.
For the full list, visit iihs.org/iihs/news.
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