Top Cars for Teens

1) Chevrolet Aveo ($9,995 - $13,335)

The Aveo is a rarity: A car with a base price under ten large. Thank the Koreans for that, since they made it. The Aveo is an Americanized (and Canadianized) version of the Daewoo Kalos. That’s a good thing. The Aveo is roomy and fun to drive in a back-to-basics sort of way and very handy in the city. It's a great way to start small.

2) Ford Focus ZX3 ($13,775 - $16,375)

The Focus is one of my favorite small cars. Designed in Europe, it's roomy and a lot of fun to drive. The sporty ZX3 3-door hatchback will probably have the most appeal for young folks. It also happens to be the least expensive version. The Focus' styling has been watered down for 2005; the edgy styling and asymmetrical dashboard are gone. Too bad. Build quality is dodgy, but in terms of smiles-per-dollar the Focus is hard to beat.

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3) Honda Civic ($13,675 to $21,265)

The ubiquitous Civic is easy to drive, fuel efficient, and if well cared for will last forever. The two-door offers a bit more style but is more expensive to insure than the four-door, especially for males. Crash-test ratings are excellent. Base models are about as stripped down as a car can get; the Value Package sedan (automatic, CD player, A/C, and side airbags for $14,810) is the best deal, but antilock brakes are only available on the most expensive models (EX and Hybrid).

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4) Honda Insight ($19,180 - $21,870)

Aside from its hefty price, the Insight is the ultimate in cheap running costs. Driven gently, it returns upwards of 50 MPG in town and 60 or more on the highway (eliminating one reason not to come home from college for the holidays). The hybrid powertrain, two-seat cabin and funky wind-cheating styling give it a techno appeal, but versatility is dampened by limited cargo space. Acceleration is leisurely, so street-racing is out of the question. An unconventional car for unconventional kids.

5) Hyundai Elantra ($14,144 - $16,194)

An acquaintance who pulls down a six-figure income has admitted to me that when his daughter is away, he drives her Elantra. "It's a really nice car, and it gets great gas mileage." When it comes to value, the Elantra's tough to beat; for the price of a stripped-down Civic, the Elantra offers power windows and locks, A/C, side airbags, and a 138-horsepower engine. It's well-engineered and enjoyable to drive, and any doubts about Korean build quality should be eased by the long warranty.

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6) Scion xA/xB ($12,480 - $14,480)

The jazzy Scion twins pack a surprising amount of room into a tiny, park-anywhere footprint. The xA and xB are powered by a fuel-efficient 1.5 liter engine. It's good in town but automatics run out of breath on the freeway. The base price includes air conditioning, antilock brakes, power windows, and a ton of other standard equipment. The options (mostly styling "enhancements" and ear-splitting stereos) that drive up the price, though you should definitely spring for the $650 side airbags.

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7) Subaru Impreza RS ($18,670 - $20,470)

Subaru has a long history of building cars that offer good foul-weather performance courtesy of standard all-wheel-drive. The Impreza is available as a 4-door sedan or a 5-door wagon; antilock brakes are standard, but side airbags are not available. Note: The Impreza comes in three models: the 2.5 RS, WRX, and WRX STi. The 2.5 RS is the one we recommend; the WRX is very fast and the STi is very, very, very fast, and an inexperienced driver can easily get in over his or her head in either one.

8) Suzuki Aerio ($13,994 - $18,294)

The Aerio is easy to drive, practical, and safe. Go to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety small-car crash ratings and you'll find the Aerio at the top of the Best Picks list. (The IIHS performs and offset crash into a deformable barrier, which is far more realistic than the US Government's barrier crashes.) The available wagon is perfect for hauling the footlocker off to college, and the availability of all-wheel-drive makes the Aerio a good bet in rain and snow.

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9) Toyota Corolla ($14,220 - $17,995)

While arguably lower on the hip-scale, the Corolla offers more standard equipment than the Civic (CD and A/C are standard in the least-expensive CE model) with the same high standards of build quality and crash protection. The Corolla's interior trim is a step above the coach-class accommodations usually found in this class, which adds to long-term appeal. The Corolla is easy to live with until those student loans are paid off. There's even enough room for--dare we say it?--grandkids!

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