Safety first: six top 2016 cars for teenage drivers

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For teenage drivers and drivers-in-the-making, few things are as mentally consuming as their first car and the innumerable freedoms they’re certain it will bring. The parents of those burgeoning motorists are giving it some thought as well, though more along the lines of: How much money am I willing to spend on a vehicle surely destined for an untimely end? And, what car is going to keep my child safe?

For families willing and able to purchase a new vehicle for the young driver in the house, U.S. News & World Report has compiled its list of best cars for teens. This list ranks the best car or SUV in six price ranges, spanning from less than $20,000 to more than $40,000, from the 2016 model year.

The top vehicles were determined based on advanced safety features, crash-test scores, longterm value and new technologies to assist inexperienced drivers.

Leading off the list in the lessthan-$20,000 category is the Chevrolet Sonic. With a base MSRP of $14,345, the Sonic might be the most feasible for young drivers. Make no mistake: This is a small car, and therefore it's inherently less safe in a collision than larger vehicles, which makes its Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) all the more impressive.

In the $20,000–$25,000 range, the Kia Soul takes the cake. Though technically a compact car, the Soul is quite spacious. It’s also reliable and safe, with an IIHS Top Safety Pick and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

For $25,000–$30,000, the Mazda3 is the king of the class. The Mazda3 had roughly the same scores from the IIHS and NHTSA as the Kia Soul, but advanced features, such as automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, have helped it earn a highly coveted Top Safety Pick+ designation.

The 2016 Hyundai Sonata ranks highest in the $30,000– $35,000 range. A highly capable midsize sedan, the Sonata also earns the Top Safety Pick+ rating and five stars from the NHTSA. Those who don’t get in a crash might be pleased to find that their Sonata is expected to retain a good portion of its value, according to U.S. News & World Report, which gave it four out of five circles in that category, behind only the Chevrolet Malibu in its segment.

In the $35,000–$40,000 category, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, is not the typical winner. It failed to garner Top Safety Pick recognition because it registered an “Acceptable” rating in the small overlap front crash test. Also, a pair of recalls to repair front seat belts and a faulty fuel system have diminished its projected reliability. So why did it take the top rating in its category? Well, it likely has Ford’s MyKey technology to thank, a feature that allows parents to set speeds and radio volume to prevent driving distractions for their young drivers.

Last but not least is the Nissan Murano in the $40,000-and-up category. Top Safety Pick+? Check. Five stars from the NHTSA? Check. Advanced safety tech, with available features such as drowsiness monitoring and an IIHS Superior-rated automatic braking system? Better make it a double check.

“Having a new driver in the family is both exciting and nervewracking,” Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars, said in a press release. “Although it’s expensive, parents should consider investing in newer models because they have many more safety features than cars made just five years ago. The 2016 Best Cars for Teens are some of the safest options on the road, giving parents a little peace of mind.” — Kyle Campbell, Daily News Autos