When it comes to your driving-age children, you want them to drive a safe, reliable vehicle that will get them through college and onto their next career, ideally without breaking the bank.
For 2026, Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety compiled a list of affordable vehicles that will do exactly that. This list is based on data from both organizations to determine which ones will fit certain budgets, giving young drivers a safer vehicle to drive for the long term.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, nine new and used Subaru models made this year’s list.
These organizations came up with a list of 45 used vehicles starting for less than $10,000 or 29 used vehicles priced less than $20,000. This list was based on a comprehensive evaluation by both organizations that are based on their collective data through specific criteria. That includes vehicle cost, vehicle type, size, reliability, emergency handling, braking distance performance, and safety ratings from crash test data.
Making this list requires each eligible vehicle to achieve average or better scores from Consumer Reports for braking and for emergency and routine handling. Reviewers also look for controls that are easy to use and will not cause distraction when operating them. From the IIHS data, these vehicles must carry a “Good” rating on the driver’s-side small-overlap front crash test. Reviewers even looked at new vehicles who earned the 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation.
Eligible vehicles must also earn a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating from the IIHS for headlights, as well as equipped with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Which nine new and used Subaru models made the list with high marks? Among the Best Choices for used vehicles, they include the 2019-2023 Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid, 2020-2025 Legacy, 2020-2025 Outback, 2019-2025 Forester, and 2023-2025 Solterra. The Good Choice list for Used Vehicles include the 2014-2025 Impreza in both sedan and wagon, 2016-2025 Crosstrek, and 2015-2019 Legacy. The only new vehicle that made this list was the Ascent.
One common thread with all of these Subaru models is their track record on safety. Equipped with the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology; a Subaru is protected through a suite of features developed to detect issues and protect it in case of a collision. They are also engineered with built-in body structures to protect their occupants.
These Subaru models are great vehicles for your young drivers to enjoy as they start off on the next chapter in their lives. To find the right vehicle for them, contact us at Twin Falls Subaru to see what we have to offer to your teen driver.