Best Used Cars for Teens Under $15,000 (2024)

2016-2020 Honda Civic

What can be said about the Honda Civic that has not already been said in countless articles and best-of lists? The small sedan has been a perennial favorite of commuters, teens, families, and just about everyone else for decades.

The Civic is a great small car. It has a well-earned reputation for quality engineering, reliability, fuel efficiency, and practicality. It’s also one of the sportiest cars in its class. It has secure handling, making it a solid choice for young people needing to improve their defensive driving skills.

Hondas hold their value very well, so you’ll have to go back a few years to find a low-mileage example for under $15,000. That being said, Civics are easy to operate and affordable to maintain.

With the 2016+ model we chose for this article, you’ll get standard features like a multi-angle rearview camera, LED daytime running lights, automatic projector beam halogen headlights, air conditioning, and Bluetooth (and Apple CarPlay on higher trims!).

2017-2018 Toyota Yaris iA

For such a modest car, the story behind the Toyota Yaris sedan is a bit complicated. It actually was not a Toyota at all, but a rebadged version of the Mazda2 sedan sold in other parts of the world. This pedigree gives the Yaris sedan excellent handling and sporty style for an affordable price.

In its five years of production, the subcompact sedan went through three name changes: Scion iA (2016), Toyota Yaris iA (2017-2018), and Toyota Yaris (2019-2020). During that production run, it did not change a lot. But the fundamental parts of the Yaris were phenomenal.

This little sedan has excellent crash-safety scores and standard pre-collision technology, and it’s fun to drive while at the same time delivering exceptional fuel economy. The Yaris iA is available with manual or automatic transmissions, and the Mazda-built manual gearbox is one of the best in its class. It’s just a really solid small car. The interior is surprisingly roomy, and there’s a large trunk as well. You can find a Yaris iA for under $15,000, making this a great first car for anyone.

2013-2016 Mazda CX-5

SUVs are popular, and that’s not going to change any time soon. The extra ride height and rugged capabilities of SUVs, like the Mazda CX-5, give you a sense of adventure and freedom you’re not going to find in the average car. Mazda’s are known for giving you a slightly sportier and slightly more luxurious driving experience over their mainstream competitors while maintaining an affordable price (both to purchase and maintain).

The “sportier” feeling comes from the responsive steering and handling as well as the optional all-wheel drive (AWD), which helps new drivers to better maintain control of the road. In terms of “luxury,” you’ll get many standard features like daytime running lights (DRL), power side view mirrors, automatic headlight shut off, push-button start, air conditioning, and AUX & USB port radio functionality.

The CX-5 is available in a manual and automatic transmission. The manual transmission and forward-wheel drive automatic transmission will get you combined 29 MPG, while the AWD automatic transmission will deliver 28 MPG combined.

2017-2018 Hyundai Elantra

Like many small sedans, the Hyundai Elantra has always lived in the shadow of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Those are both excellent cars, which is why it’s hard to find them in a recent model year for under $10,000. But there are plenty of Elantras available for under $10,000, and it’s a great car. In fact, it’s one of the best cars for new drivers.

Awarded the prestigious Top Safety Pick for both 2017 and 2018 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Elantra packs a lot of protection within its compact frame. It received the IIHS’s highest grades in the front overlap, side crash, and rollover tests.

The Elantra also comes with a secret weapon: a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That means many used examples are still within the original warranty terms, helping young drivers save money if a major issue arises. And Hyundai has found other ways to stand out, giving the Elantra a generous set of standard features like power windows, power locks, air conditioning, an adjustable steering wheel, CD player and satellite radio.

2012-2015 Toyota Prius C

Don’t mistake this vehicle for its more-popular, industry-changing older sibling, the Toyota Prius. The Toyota Prius C is the more compact Prius offering, with the “C” standing for “city”; despite its size, it packs a major punch of affordability, reliability, and safety, making it a great option for new drivers.

The Prius C’s small size makes it easy to maneuver and know exactly where your car is on the road; despite its size, its hatchback rear-door and folding rear seats make it practical for hauling any equipment your teen needs for extracurriculars – yes, even a tuba! Despite this size, it is still a safe vehicle, being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2012, 2013 and 2015.

What you’ll love as a parent is the affordability and the reliability. Not only does the hybrid engine deliver amazing fuel economy (up to 53 MPG city!), Toyota’s hybrid powertrain has withstood the test of time and proven itself to be a near-bulletproof drivetrain. But, if something does go wrong, it’ll be affordable to fix and you won’t have to go to any specialists to work on it like you do with some German brands.

2011-2014 Subaru Outback

Is it a station wagon or an SUV? The Subaru Outback has always defied convention, which makes it a pretty cool car. The all-terrain wagon debuted in the late ’90s as a more rugged version of the Subaru Legacy family sedan. The Outback has always come with standard all-wheel drive and a little extra ground clearance. That’s why it’s become a staple of skiers and snowbirds all across the northern US.

The Outback has been an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 13 years running, performing well in crash tests and staying ahead of the pack with regard to safety technology. And this Subie is also the roomiest car to make it on this list. Pop open the rear liftgate, and there’s 34.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Folding down the back seat makes room for two mountain bikes or a week’s worth of camping gear.

All that possibility does come at a price, though, and Outback resale values have stayed pretty high. But families willing to invest in a higher-mileage model with over 100,000 miles on the odometer will come across many clean and well cared-for examples under $10,000.

Vehicle pricing information featured in this article is based on data available to TrueCar as of 6/12/2023. Pricing is subject to change without notice and individual vehicle listing price may vary by factors such as location, individual vehicle attributes, and dealer.