We all care about the safety of our children, so Vista Auto, your Summit County used car dealer has found some great information on what cars best fit your teenager's needs.

If you are looking for used cars for teens, stop by either one our showrooms in Silverthorne or Glenwood Springs and visit with any of our knowledgeable staff.

Best First Cars for Teenagers - Top Recommendations
Because of the wide variations in availability and characteristics of used cars, we'll stick to a discussion of new cars. However, used cars tend to have many of the same characteristics of new cars of the same make and model.

Just keep in mind that newer cars tend to have better safety equipment, better reliability, improved gas mileage, and, in some cases, lower insurance rates - because of improved safety and reliability. Some older cars have high insurance rates because they are more often stolen (for parts) than new models. Honda Accords from the early 1990s are a good example.

Although most of the following recommendations are for smaller, less expensive vehicles, many teenagers prefer to drive larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks. However, we don't recommend large SUVs for teens due to the higher skill level and experience required to control them in emergency situations, the high cost of operation, and expensive insurance. Even smaller SUVs such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and the   are much less stable than a conventional sedan or coupe.

We'll list some of our top first-car recommendations below, listed in no particular order. These are certainly not all the cars that might meet the needs of teenage drivers and their parents, but are some of the most popular.

Good Cars for Teenagers - Safest Cars for Teens and Young Drivers
If you are looking for Summit County used cars, Vista Auto, you car dealer in Summit County has cars dealerships in Glenwood Springs and Silverthorne.

Honda Civic - This is the most popular car among teens - and parents. This car has almost all of the qualities desired by both teens and parents: economy, style, safety, reliability, performance, low insurance rates, good size for passengers, and driving comfort. There are tons of accessories, custom appearance products, and performance options for the Honda Civic. Base price for a new Civic is about $14,500. The new re-styled model has won Motor Trend magazine's "Car of the Year" award and is a Consumer Reports Magazine Top Pick award. Honda also produces a fuel-efficient hybrid version of this vehicle, at a slightly higher cost. Used models of the Honda Civic are readily available, reliable, and hold their value very well. For a car with similar qualities, but larger with more interior room, consider the Honda Accord.

Scion - Toyota has created a line of popular vehicles that specifically targets young drivers. The Scion is full of standard features, and optional features, that appeal to teens, is relatively inexpensive, and has a good-performing and fuel-efficient engine. It also has some great safety options such as side air bags.

Honda Fit - This small 4-door hatchback is a winning combination of Honda reliability, comfort, interior space, features, and safety equipment - and a whopping 34 miles per gallon of gas on the highway. It's a fun car that also will haul a teenager's stuff - and lots of it. It is also safe and relatively cheap to insure and maintain.

Toyota Corolla - This Toyota vehicle shares many of the characteristics of the Honda Civic and is a favorite among teenagers as both a new and used vehicle. It's reliable, with good performance, has plenty of room inside, and there are many options from after-market companies for styling and performance improvements. Buyers of this vehicle, and others in our list,should consider getting the stability control option when available. It's one of the most effective safety features being offered on cars today.

Feel free to stop by your used car dealership in Summit County and visit with one of our friendly sales team members and ask them any questions about used cars for sale in Summit County.

Vista Auto, is your premier dealership for used cars in Summit County.  We have four buying locations for you to choose from: Vista Subaru and Jeep Chrysler Dodge in Silverthorne, and Vista Chevrolet and Subaru in Glenwood Springs.  So pay us a visit and see if we can find your new driver the perfect new used car.