5 Cars For New Teen Drivers

Handing a pair of jingly-jangly keys to a first-time driver is emotional. Emotionally exciting for the driver, and emotionally fearful on part of his or her parents. 

Depending on how confident the driver's parents are about him or her damaging the car, the new driver could be speeding off in a new set of wheels, or maybe just a hand-me-down. There are a few "smart choices" for your teen's first car though, according BankRate.com, if you're looking to make a purchase that is both safe for your driver and for your wallet.

For this week's "5 Cars" we bring you a few that are good for your teen driver.

1 – 2011 Kia Forte EX – Used – $14,500

From Cars.com: This Kia hatchback has ample space a teen and all of his or her gear.  Safety features include side airbags, passenger air bag, first and second row curtain head airbags and 4-wheel ABS Brakes. This Forte gets 26 MPG city and 36 MPG highway, which can help limit the number of times they hit you up for gas money.

Available at Ramsey Subaru in Ramsey

2 – 2012 Hyundai Sonata SE 2.0T – Used – $23,990

From Cars.com: This Sonata has only 26,296 miles on its 2.4L, automatic engine. The 4-wheel disc brakes and the brake assist give this Hyundai an edge when it comes to stopping on a dime. The Sonata is also packed with safety features including a front head air bag, front side air bag and first and second row curtain head airbags 

Available at Hyundai of Paramus in Paramus

3 – 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Limited Edition – Used - $14,986

From Cars.com: This Jetta comes with a lot of features that will make your teen happy. The eight speaker sound system, heated front seats, mp3 decoder and leather trim keep this Volkswagen modern and sleek. It also has head airbags, ABS brakes and a security system to make feel that your youngster is safe on the road.

Available at Jack Daniels Volkswagen in Fair Lawn

4 – 2011 Toyota Camry XLE – Used - $18,900

From Cars.com: This Camry seats five, has two power outlets, leather seats and audio controls on the steering wheel. It has plenty of pickup thanks to its 3.5L V6 engine. Head airbags, driver and passenger airbags and dusk sensing headlights are just some of the safety features this Camry boasts.

Available at Prestige Toyota Scion in Ramsey

5 – 2013 Toyota Rav4 Limited – New – $32,331 

From Cars.com: The Rav4 gives your driver much more room for your teen and whatever they need to haul. Whether they need to bring their cello, hockey equipment, sleeping bags or a few buddies, they’ll have the space they need. The front and rear head airbags, passenger airbags and ABS brakes keep things safe and could give you some piece of mind.  

Available at Glen Toyota in Fair Lawn