What’s a Good First Car for Teens?

by Arianne Granada

One of the scariest moments for parents is when their teen gets their first car.

The teen years are exciting, but they can also be worrisome for parents as teens are more prone to taking risks. Teens are likely to be more accident-prone due to inexperience, immaturity, and peer pressure. Because of this, many parents may find themselves hesitant or even afraid of letting their teens drive a car without adult supervision.

These are natural reactions—but that doesn’t mean you have to surrender trusting them with their first car completely! Parents can help their teens avoid these pitfalls by providing a safe environment for them behind the wheel.

If you’re looking for a reliable good first car for your teen, we have a roundup of beginner-friendly cars and their remarkable features you and your teen will love.

Mazda3 / Mazda3 Sport

Cost: Starting from $23,281

Mazda3

Why your teen will love it:

If you’re looking for a good first car that offers great bang for your buck, The Mazda3 or Mazda3 Sport is one of our top choices. It exemplifies Mazda’s premium design aesthetic and even won Canadian Car of the Year back in 2020 and 2021. You can get it with a manual transmission, giving young drivers a chance to still learn how to drive manual.

DID YOU KNOW: Some studies show manual vehicles are less likely to be stolen—so it’s a natural deterrent for theft!

Why you’ll love it:

The Mazda3 is designed to keep your teen safe on the road. It has advanced safety features like Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring. This helps improve visibility and lets your teen know when there is danger nearby.

2022 Hyundai Elantra

Cost: Starting from $20,553.35

2022 Hyundai Elantra

Why your teen will love it:

Your teen will love it because it has a 2.0 Litre tank with great engine power, technology and fuel efficiency in an affordable price range.

Why you will love it:

If you are looking for a car with a decent price tag, also fuel savings and quality, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra is your car! It will not only offer you a smooth ride but also keep fuel consumption to a minimum.

2022 Mazda MX-5

Cost: Starting from $33,300

2022 Mazda MX-5

Why your teen will love it:

A custom Bose sound system for the Mazda MX-5 is the perfect way to make your teen’s car their own. The headrest speakers and subwoofer allow them to experience the premium sound system to its fullest, whether they’re cruising along with their friends or just listening to music on their own. This custom design will fill their ride with passion and style.

Why you will love it:

The 2020 Mazda MX-5 is packed with safety features to keep you safe on the road. The standard Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert complement technology like lane departure warning and Smart City Brake Support Front to keep your teen focused on what’s ahead.

2022 Nissan Sentra

2022 Nissan Sentra

Cost: Starting from $20,098

Why your teen will love it:

This 4-door compact sedan is low and wide, with ideal proportions that complement its premium interior design. It comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern car. The 2022 Nissan comes with smartphone connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, keyless entry and push-button start, leather seating and remote start.

Why you will love it:

The 2022 Nissan Sentra has the Safety Shield 360, which consists of Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. It also is one of the most affordable sedans in Canada.

Mazda CX-9

Cost: $41,300

2022 Mazda CX-9

Why your teen will love it:

Mazda Connected Services allows your teen to tap into their vehicle like never before. When they get the MyMazda app, they can warm-up or cool down their Mazda CX-9 based on the last climate-control setting, lock or unlock doors from anywhere they’ve got cellular service, and even check up on vehicle health. All they need is their smartphone.

Why you will love it:

The CX-9 is Mazda’s three-row SUV. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently introduced a new, more stringent, side crash test—which the CX-9 earned a top “good” rating. This SUV was only one of three to get this rating, which is a big accomplishment, considering the CX-9 was up against much newer models.