What qualities come to mind when you think about the ideal first car for a teenager? Perhaps as a teen, you dreamed of something stylish, powerful, and spacious enough for all your friends. But now, considering a teenager’s first vehicle, the priorities likely shift towards practicality and safety. Shouldn’t a teenager’s first car be above all else affordable, dependable, safe, and fuel-efficient?
This list focuses on these crucial criteria, presenting a diverse selection of vehicles perfect for navigating high school and beyond – hopefully well into adulthood, with proper maintenance and no major incidents. While a $10,000 budget doesn’t stretch as far as it once did, these 10 inexpensive used cars for teenagers are excellent choices. We’ve arranged them roughly by size, starting with the smallest.
1. 2016 Smart ForTwo
Forget the teenage dream of cool styling, a big engine, and room for everyone with the Smart ForTwo. This compact two-seater, powered by an 89-horsepower engine, prioritizes fuel economy, effortless parking, and naturally limits passenger capacity. Despite its diminutive size, the Smart ForTwo boasts a robust Tridion safety cell designed to withstand significant impacts, addressing safety concerns for the smallest car on the road.
The 2016 ForTwo represents a complete redesign, offering improved shoulder room, a smoother driving experience, and enhanced safety features including electronic crosswind stabilization. This updated model is a superior choice over previous generations and can often be found for under $10,000, making it a surprisingly safe and Best Inexpensive Car option.
2017 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet: a compact and fuel-efficient inexpensive car option for teenagers.
2. 2017 Hyundai Accent
The Hyundai Accent offers a more conventional small car experience compared to the Smart. The 2017 model year, readily available under $10,000, comes as either a subcompact sedan or a versatile five-door hatchback. The Accent is known for its easy handling, fuel efficiency, and affordability, often with remaining factory warranty coverage. This makes it a sensible and best inexpensive car choice.
If you’re fortunate, you might even find a newer 2018 Accent within this price range. The 2018 model enhances fuel economy and crash test performance while adding a standard backup camera – a particularly helpful feature for new drivers still developing their reversing skills, further solidifying its position as a best inexpensive car.
Photo by Hyundai
Hyundai Accent: a fuel-efficient and affordable car, making it a great inexpensive car for teen drivers.
3. 2015 Honda Fit
The Honda Fit, a subcompact hatchback, is engineered to handle the diverse needs of a teenager for years to come. It’s a small, fuel-sipping city car, perfect for navigating urban environments and parking with ease, yet surprisingly spacious inside. It’s ready to transport belongings during moves or even accommodate a child seat if their family expands. This versatility makes it a practical and best inexpensive car.
The current generation Fit, introduced in 2015, is our recommended choice. It brought improvements in safety, fuel economy, highway driving stability, and standard safety features – including a backup camera even on the base model. These enhancements make the Honda Fit a highly functional and best inexpensive car for teenage drivers.
Photo by Honda
Honda Fit: a versatile and fuel-efficient hatchback, recognized as a best inexpensive car for teens.
4. 2016 Kia Soul
Another compact hatchback that offers more than its size suggests is the Kia Soul, widely available in its 2014-2019 generation for under $10,000. Its elevated seating position and generous cargo area give it a touch of SUV practicality, while maintaining car-like handling and fuel efficiency. This blend of features makes it a surprisingly spacious and best inexpensive car.
This generation of the Soul also boasts a high level of refinement and interior quality. This is beneficial for teenagers who may keep their first car for an extended period – ensuring it doesn’t feel like a cheap, undesirable vehicle they’re eager to replace. The Kia Soul offers long-term appeal as a best inexpensive car.
Photo by Kia
Kia Soul: a refined and spacious hatchback, considered a best inexpensive car with SUV-like qualities.
5. 2018 Nissan Sentra
Moving up to the compact car class, we introduce the 2018 Nissan Sentra. This four-door sedan might not attract the same fanfare as the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, but this lower profile translates to better affordability. You can find a newer Sentra for under $10,000 compared to older, higher-mileage Civics or Corollas, making it a smart and best inexpensive car choice. While not designed for sporty driving, the Sentra offers a roomy cabin, excellent fuel economy, and good visibility.
Crucially, the 2018 Sentra introduced newly standard safety features extremely valuable for teenage drivers. Every 2018 Sentra includes automatic emergency braking to help prevent collisions and a rearview camera for safer reversing. For even greater savings with a slightly older model, consider a 2015 or newer Sentra, as that year brought significant improvements to crash protection, reinforcing its status as a safe and best inexpensive car.
Nissan Sentra: a spacious and fuel-efficient compact sedan, recognized as a best inexpensive car with enhanced safety features.
6. 2015 Mazda3
Not all affordable cars for teenagers need to be dull to drive. For a more engaging driving experience while remaining economical and affordable, the Mazda3 is a top pick for drivers of all ages. Available as a compact sedan or a five-door hatchback, the Mazda3 isn’t as spacious as the Nissan Sentra, and to find one under $10,000, you’ll need to look at slightly older models. However, the driving dynamics make it a best inexpensive car for those who enjoy driving.
The Mazda3 offers a more premium look and feel than typical economy cars, justifying the price point. While its responsive engine and agile handling might encourage spirited driving, they also enhance safety by making it easier to navigate traffic and avoid hazards. A $10,000 budget can secure a 2015 Mazda3 – part of the 2014-2018 generation – which excelled in crash tests and offered optional advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, a backup camera, and lane departure warning. This blend of fun and safety makes the Mazda3 a compelling best inexpensive car.
Mazda3: a fun-to-drive and stylish compact car, considered a best inexpensive car with sporty handling.
7. 2012 Toyota Prius
For environmentally conscious teenagers, the Toyota Prius is an outstanding choice, often available for under $10,000. This five-door gas-electric hybrid is renowned for its exceptional fuel economy, industry-leading reliability, and a surprisingly spacious interior. It’s not the kind of car that encourages reckless driving and is a responsible and best inexpensive car option. And unlike fully electric vehicles, range anxiety and charging concerns are eliminated.
The Prius remains highly sought after in the used car market, so expect to find models from around 2012 at this price. While you could consider the smaller Prius c or the larger Prius v, neither matches the standard Prius’s impressive fuel efficiency. The Toyota Prius remains a benchmark for fuel efficiency and a best inexpensive car.
Toyota Prius: a fuel-efficient and reliable hybrid, often cited as a best inexpensive car for eco-conscious drivers.
8. 2015 Hyundai Sonata
Smaller cars offer numerous advantages for new drivers. They are typically more maneuverable, fuel-efficient, and affordable than larger vehicles – all crucial factors for teenagers. However, sometimes more space or the added safety of a larger vehicle is desired. When bigger is better, the mid-size Hyundai Sonata sedan is our top recommendation. You can find a newer Sonata model for the same price as older Honda Accords or Toyota Camrys, and it provides an excellent balance of comfort, spaciousness, and agility. This makes it a value-packed and best inexpensive car.
We recommend the 2015 model, which marked a redesign improving ride quality and fuel economy. However, the 2011-2014 generation offers many of the same benefits. The Hyundai Sonata offers mid-size comfort and features as a best inexpensive car.
Hyundai Sonata: a comfortable and spacious mid-size sedan, recognized as a best inexpensive car option.
9. 2013 Subaru Outback
Another spacious mid-size option for teenagers is the Subaru Outback, a wagon/crossover version of the Legacy sedan. Besides ample passenger room, the Outback offers more cargo space than many similarly sized SUVs, but with significantly better fuel economy. Standard all-wheel drive enhances traction in challenging weather conditions, adding to its safety and practicality as a best inexpensive car.
Subaru was a leader in offering advanced safety features in mainstream vehicles. The 2013 Outback and Legacy were the first to feature Subaru’s EyeSight system, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. While not standard, seeking out models equipped with EyeSight adds a significant safety advantage, making it an even more desirable and best inexpensive car.
Photo by Subaru
Subaru Outback: a spacious and safe wagon/crossover with all-wheel drive, considered a best inexpensive car for all-weather conditions.
10. 2014 Chevrolet Impala
For maximum size and perceived safety, the Chevrolet Impala is our top pick in the full-size sedan category. Despite its large dimensions – nearly twice the length and weight of the Smart ForTwo – it handles surprisingly well. Its substantial size provides inherent safety in a collision, while its agility helps to avoid accidents in the first place. Engine choices include a fuel-efficient four-cylinder, which naturally discourages speeding, or a more powerful V6 for easier highway merging. The Chevrolet Impala provides full-size safety as a best inexpensive car.
The Impala was completely redesigned for the 2014 model year, representing a significant improvement over the previous 2006-2013 generation, making the 2014 model our recommendation. Be aware of 2014-2016 “Impala Limited” models, which are carryovers of the older, less refined, and less safe previous generation. The redesigned Chevrolet Impala is a safe and best inexpensive car in the full-size sedan class.
Photo by Chevrolet
Chevrolet Impala: a large and safe full-size sedan, recognized as a best inexpensive car for maximum size and safety.
