U.S. News unveils 2023 best cars for teens

Vehicles score well in factors including dependability, reliability, crash prevention and available features

Washington, D.C.—U.S. News & World Report has unveiled the 2023 Best Cars for Teens. The awards recognize cars that score well in factors including dependability, reliability, crash prevention, available features, and are highly recommended.

Hyundai won the most awards in the Best New Cars for Teens categories, with four. Across the eight new-car categories, three of the winners are hybrids, which should appeal to climate- and budget-conscious teens. In the five used-car categories, four of the winners are hybrid vehicles. With two award wins, Hyundai also earned more Best Used Cars for Teens awards than any other brand.

“Each vehicle that won a Best Cars for Teens award offers strong crash test ratings and helpful active safety features, so there’s a better chance of being protected if a collision occurs,” said Jim Sharifi, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. “At the same time, these awards highlight the cars and SUVs that have teen driver controls, which can help new drivers hone their skills behind the wheel and lower the chance that they will be involved in an accident.”

All 2023 Best New Cars for Teens are available with forward collision warning and forward automatic emergency braking, as well as lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. All winners also have teen driver controls or available smartphone apps that send alerts when the car goes over a set speed or is driven outside a set time period or geographic area. These features allow parents to set limits for teen drivers and have an ongoing conversation with their teens about responsible driving habits.