Best Used Cars Under $15,000 For Teens

It’s not easy handing over the car keys to a teen driver with a freshly minted license in hand. It’s even more difficult to decide which car to choose for the family’s youngest motorist that’s safe, sane and fits a limited budget. While many parents might seek out an older “beater” car as a teen’s first ride, experts suggest families dig deeper into their pocketbooks to find a later-model auto with enough safety features to properly protect their offspring. Car crashes, after all, remain the leading cause of death among Americans ages 15 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in DeKalb County, Georgia. Specifically, a more recent model is likely to come with electronic stability control that helps prevent it from fishtailing during emergency handling maneuvers or when taking a curve too quickly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says stability control reduces crashes by 35 percent, with SUVs - which might otherwise rollover due to their higher centers of gravity - involved in 67 percent fewer wrecks with the system installed. The federal government required automakers include it as standard equipment on all cars and trucks beginning with the 2012 model year. To help parents sort this all out we’ve compiled a short list of the safest and most affordable used cars for teen drivers. Our picks are based on statistics compiled by the Highway Loss Data Institute in Arlington, Virginia, that track which models from 2011 and related model years have registered the fewest driver fatalities per million registered vehicles (every vehicle involved in a crash has a driver, but not necessarily passengers). According to Kelley Blue Book, each can be purchased for around $15,000 or less in good or better condition with average miles on the odometer. They may not be the sexiest rides on the road, but these five cars from the 2011 model year are statistically the safest for the money: • Subaru Legacy. According to the IIHS, the Subaru Legacy from 2011 and related model years has registered zero driver deaths per million registered vehicles. The Legacy features a roomy and comfortable interior and responsive handling; stick to models having the base four-cylinder engine. Its standard all-wheel-drive system makes it a safer winter car for those living in northern climates. • Chevrolet Equinox. Five driver deaths reported per million registered. The compact Equinox crossover SUV is attractive and a solid performer; look for four-cylinder models for the best fuel economy. Its comfortable interior features rear seats that are able to slide fore and aft to maximize either passenger room or cargo space. • Ford Flex. Five driver deaths reported per million registered. This big and boxy large crossover SUV has a funky look to it and performs well; stick to models with the “fast enough” base V6 engine. The interior is roomy and comfortable but the Flex’s expansive cargo hold can almost be too spacious with the second- and third-row seats folded. • Mazda CX-9 AWD. Five driver deaths reported per million registered. Sporty is a relative term with regard to any large crossover SUV, but it’s fitting here. Its V6 engine provides adequate acceleration and it affords surprisingly responsive handling that help a driver avoid collisions. • Subaru Outback. Six driver deaths reported per million registered. This is the station wagon version of the above Subaru Legacy given a higher ride height and added body cladding so it doesn’t look like mom’s car. • Volkswagen Jetta. Six driver deaths reported per million registered. VW’s compact sedan is roomy and handles crisply; stick to a model having either the base four-cylinder or available five-cylinder engine to hold down the cost and horsepower. Check any of the online used-car pricing services for current used-car values in your area, and log onto www.hldi.org for the full list of driver death rates and crash test ratings for all cars and trucks.