Five best used cars for teens

Choosing a car for a teen can be tough, as there are so many factors to consider. We emphasize safety, reliability, and ease of use for inexperienced drivers in making our ultimate recommendations.

We recently posted "Best used car deals for teens" featuring many affordable models that meet that criteria and are generally available for less than $15,000. This time, we're taking it a step further. Our automotive experts winnowed the list down to the five cars they would personally recommend, looking at traditional empirical data and their own subjective insights.

The vehicles on this short list are from the 2008-2010 model years and have at least average reliability, according to our latest subscriber survey. Some have the latest safety equipment and are still affordable but key safety features such as curtain air bags and electronic stability control (ESC) may not have been standard in others until later years. As always we encourage purchasing as many safety features--and electronic stability control in particular--as your budget allows.

We list the average price for suitably equipped models available in that year when buying from a dealer. On average, figure that vehicles from 2008 will generally have 66,000 miles, 2009 models around 51,000 miles, and 2010 about 40,000 miles.

The models selected are all traditional cars; large pickups and SUVs are not recommended for young, inexperienced drivers because they are more prone to roll over and may be more difficult to handle than many other vehicles. Sports cars increase the risk of speeding and have a higher rate of accidents, and consequently, they carry tuition-sapping and head-spinningly high insurance premiums.

Here's where to start your teenager-targeted used-car vehicle search:

Chevrolet Malibu
For 2008, Chevrolet redesigned the Malibu and made it much more competitive, producing a sedan that's quiet, handles responsively, and with a good ride. The base 169-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission delivered 23 mpg overall on regular fuel. The interior was significantly upgraded, with better materials and fit and finish. Not exciting, but a good solid car at an attractive price. Beginning in 2008, ESC was standard for most trim lines.

Hyundai Sonata
Electronic stability control and curtain air bags are standard in these used models. The base 162-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the 2008 model delivers adequate performance and returns 23 mpg overall. For 2009, the Sonata got a stylish redesign with a 175-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. While a bit slower than competing four-cylinders, it delivers impressive fuel economy with 26 mpg overall on regular fuel. The highway ride is quite relaxed and most noises are suppressed. Most controls are very simple.