When teenagers are looking for their first vehicle, style, color and brand are usually the most important aspects looked at as opposed to parents' preference of the vehicle being safe and dependable.
AAA recently released its list of the top vehicles for teenagers, which keep safety, style and reliability in mind in order to appeal to the teenagers as well as their parents.
Rated at the top of the list was Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit TDI, which has plenty of space and is flexible. The vehicle also has great stability control and is affordable, starting at $20,096.
The Ford Focus and Honda Civic followed the Volkswagen vehicle on the list. The Ford Focus offers great features that make the vehicle a pleasure to drive. Parents might consider the MyKey feature a selling point, which limits speed, radio volume and prevents teens from turning off safety systems in the vehicle.
"Teen drivers see their first vehicle as a step toward independence; parents and teens seeing eye to eye on the best vehicle can be tough," says John Nielsen, director of AAA Automotive Engineering. "Safety behind the wheel should be a priority. Finding a reliable vehicle that has top safety features and fits into the budget will make you and your teen's vehicle ownership more enjoyable."
The Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion and Kia Sportage were also rated as some of the top cars for teenagers, which could help parents decide on a vehicle that would be best for their kids.
Considering some parents are still looking into saving money for retirement, driving the family car may be the only option for some teenagers. Edmunds.com and Parents magazine recently listed the 2012 Dodge Durango as the best family car of 2012.
