Best used car for teenagers

Choosing the best used car for a young driver usually requires compromise. An image-conscious young man might want one of the most beautiful cars. But to put it simply: It's wise to buy the latest and most reliable models with the best safety equipment you can afford.

Make sure that the vehicle you are purchasing has some key features, such as curtain airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a function that uses the brakes to help the vehicle stay on the intended route, rather than sliding while cornering. The life-saving potential of these features can provide some assurance for inexperienced drivers and worth every penny in an emergency.

If your budget allows, look for a model with a frontal collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB), CR strongly recommends both models.

It is easy to determine if a car has an electronic stability control system. The federal government mandated it to be the standard vehicle for the 2012 model year, so any vehicle will have it from then on. Electronic stability control systems are also easy on some models after 2010, but you need to check the specific car you are considering.

Safety equipment brings a lot of hope, but to fully assess the overall safety of your car, you should look at its performance in the crash tests conducted by the Federal Government and the Highway Safety Insurance Association (IIHS). Car performance should also be considered in the testing of brakes and emergency avoidance actions.

We do not recommend young, inexperienced drivers to use large pickups and SUVs because they are more difficult to handle than cars and they can cause too many young passengers, which may distract the driver. We also don't recommend sports cars because they increase the risk of speeding, have a higher chance of accidents, and have higher insurance premiums.

Reliability is key when choosing a used car, as any warranty protection may have expired. In addition, you may plan to have your child drive the car in the next few years, so you will want a durable car.

To gain insight into the reliability of the car, we surveyed its users and shared their experiences. The latest reliability survey collected data on approximately 500,000 vehicles and provided a very valuable observation of how the car was maintained for a period of time.

Remember that every used car will be treated differently by the previous owner. The older a car is, the more its maintenance and maintenance history will affect its overall performance and reliability. Once you've narrowed down your shopping list to a car that might be a smart choice, have a qualified mechanic thoroughly check the specific car you are considering before signing any agreement.