Teen Driving and Buying Guide: The First Car War

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Quality and Reliability

Some automakers, such as Toyota and Honda, are known for building quality vehicles. Yet the fact is that most car builders have made significant strides in the quality of their vehicles. Regardless, before you decide on a car – especially if you’re buying used – read about the vehicle, its manufacturer, and check out what other drivers have to say.

Flexibility and Utility

Chances are, your teen will have their first car for five years. Make sure you buy a car that will grow with them and their changing lifestyle. Convertibles, while fun in the sun and very popular, are a bad idea due to the lack of cargo space. After a year or two, it becomes less important to cruise the beach with the top down than transport your stuff to a dorm room. Large SUVs are also a bad idea. Most teens don’t need that much room inside, and a large SUV will be a severe budget cruncher when it comes to gas mileage. Large SUVs are bad for another reason: It takes advanced driving skill to keep one on the road should an emergency situation arise, and, in case of an accident, a large SUV will do significant damage to the other party.

Considerations under $20,000:

Considerations under $15,000:

Dodge Caliber

Kia Rio5

Mitsubishi Lancer

Nissan Versa Hatchback

Toyota Yaris

Considerations based on body style and functional interior design.

About Brian Chee
Prior to joining Autobytel in the Spring of 2000, Brian Chee spent 15 years as a writer and editor in his native southern California, his work appearing in a wide variety of regional newspapers and online publications. As an editor at Autobytel, Brian has been quoted in numerous regional and national publications, including the Wall St. Journal and InStyle Magazine. He is responsible for writing, editing and planning content for three of the company’s consumer websites: autobytel.com, autoweb.com and carsmart.com. His “beat” includes vehicle reviews, features, news and Auto Show coverage. Brian considers himself a “SoCal” car enthusiast: the kind who grades a car on how it handles today’s urban and suburban reality of daily traffic gridlock, rising fuel prices and fast-paced lifestyles. Brian is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Automotive Press Association, the Motor Press Guild, and the California State University Advisory Board for Internet Writing. Brian holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism.