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Budget and safety are definitely the two biggest factors on parents’ minds when shopping for a new car for a teen, but sometimes that combination can be a little hard to find. So here are a couple models in different price ranges that you can buy online at NowCar today.
Of course, safety is the biggest priority to all parents, but that doesn’t mean a parent can afford the safest car on the market. If budget is the biggest determining factor in your car search, look no further than the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage or Mirage G4.
With a four-star overall crash rating from the NHTSA and a starting price of just over $10,000, the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage and Mirage G4 are one of the most affordable safest cars on the market. While they are both subcompact cars, the hatchback Mirage and sedan Mirage G4 both have seating for five passengers, so there’s room for friends, family and cargo.
In addition to the Mirage and Mirage G4’s affordable price tag, the Mirage and Mirage G4 also save buyers and drivers money because they are the most fuel efficient cars in their class and all Mitsubishi vehicles are covered by an industry-leading warranty.
According to FuelEconomy.gov, in comparison to the average new car a driver of a new Mirage will save an average of $2,250 in fuel costs over five years (variable gear ratio transmission) and the driver of a new Mitsubishi Mirage G4 will save an average of $2,000 over fives years (variable gear ratio transmission and Mirage with an manual transmission). Additionally, those savings will get even bigger if the cost of gas increases.
Backed by a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and a five-year or 60,000-mile basic limited warranty, the cost major repairs and problems are covered. Ten years is more than enough time before a teenager even graduates college.
Check out a Chevy Spark. The price for a new 2017 Chevy Spark at NowCar starts at just under $12,000, so it is still a very affordable option. While the Spark is not covered by the same industry-leading warranty as the Mirage, it is a very fuel efficient choice and in comparison to the average new cars, a driver will save about $1,750 over five years.
If you are adamant about investing in a car that has a five-star overall safety rating, the 2017 Kia Soul is the most affordable option that you can buy online on NowCar. At NowCar, the 2017 Kia Soul has a starting price of about $15,500, which is still fairly affordable.
The Soul is not only safe, but it is also a favorite among consumers. In 2016, Kia ranked highest among all manufacturers in the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Initial Quality Study and the 2016 Kia Soul ranked highest in the multi-purpose vehicle in initial quality. With a slightly larger interior cabin, the Soul offers passengers a little extra leg room and it is still a fairly fuel efficient car as it averages 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
If safety is your top priority and you can afford a new car under $25,000 take a look at the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The 2017 Malibu is an I.I.H.S Top Safety Pick, it received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and it is available with Chevy’s extremely comprehensive driver safety system built for teen drivers!
Called Teen Driver, the new system is definitely a parent’s best friend. Teen Driver is standard on the 2017 Malibu LS (starting price just over $21,000) and it helps to remind and teach new drivers good driving habits, and it provides parents with helpful data so they can see how their teens are driving on their own.
Kind of like a driving “report card,” the Teen Driver system is activated by a pre-programmed key fob, and while that key fob is in use the driver’s distance and speed are tracked and parents can review the data when they like. Also, when in use, Teen Driver automatically turns on the vehicle’s preventive safety systems like Side Blind Zone Alert, Forward Collision Alert and Front Automatic Braking. The system also signals speed limit warnings, it can mute the audio until all passengers have their seat belt on and parents can set parameters like a volume limit.
A new teen driver in the family can be scary, but it can also be a big relief. If the teen is responsible and has had a lot of practice behind the wheel, a new driver in the family can be very helpful. Take a look at the available models we discussed and contact us if you have any questions along the way.