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The IIHS, CR Say Subaru Has 4 Used Models Under $20K Best For Teen Drivers

What cars are the best for teen drivers? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports says the Subaru Outback, Forester, Impreza, and Legacy are among the best used car picks. Also, check out the recommended new Subaru model choices for younger drivers.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (by subscription) have updated their best used cars for teen drivers' recommendations. 2015-2018 and 2022 Subaru Outback, 2018 and newer Subaru Forester, 2018 and 2022 Subaru Impreza, and 2013-2021 Subaru Legacy are now picked as the best used cars for younger drivers.

In addition, the best new car choices are listed below, and you can get more information here.

The Subaru Outback midsize SUV, Forester compact SUV, Impreza compact sedan and hatchback, and the Legacy midsize sedan are the used cars recommended best for teens because young drivers have crash rates almost four times higher than older drivers.

2015-2022 Subaru Outback

The cars and SUVs picked by the IIHS and Consumer Reports are best for anyone looking for a used vehicle. The IIHS likes cars that help avoid collisions and have the best crash tests, and Consumer Reports looks at reliability and road-test performance.

Cars were also chosen because of their weight (over 2,750 pounds) which rules out the smallest vehicles, which tend to be most vulnerable. Cars must also have standard forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking and be Top Safety Pick or better from the IIHS. They also should have the highest five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

2015-2022 Subaru Forester

The IIHS and Consumer Reports best used cars for teen drivers under $20,000.

The Subaru Impreza compact sedan or hatchback 2018 and 2022 is the best small car pick. The 2013-2021 Subaru Legacy sedan (built after August 2012) is a best used midsize car pick.

The 2018 or newer Subaru Forester is the best small used SUV pick. The 2015 -2018 and 2022 Subaru Outback is a best used midsize SUV pick.

The used car starting price of the Impreza is $14,500, Legacy is $7,800, Forester is up to $20,000, and Outback is $12,200.

The best new cars for teen drivers

The Subaru Outback midsize SUV, Forester compact SUV, Ascent 3-Row SUV, and Legacy midsize sedan are the new cars recommended best for teens by the IIHS and Consumer Reports. Except for the Ascent, the four new Subaru base models on the list are at most $29,000, including the destination fee.

The Subaru Outback, Forester, Impreza, and Legacy are the best used car choices for teens, according to the IIHS and Consumer Reports. You can check out each model's road test scores here.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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