Insuring a teenager is one of the biggest costs of a new driver’s first year, and the vehicle picked for the job can swing that premium by hundreds of dollars. Insurers weigh safety ratings, repair costs, and horsepower when pricing a policy, which is why some everyday SUVs and sedans consistently come in cheaper than sportier models. Here are nine vehicles that tend to keep teen insurance costs lower.
1. Subaru Outback: Safety Ratings Cut Costs
The Subaru Outback regularly lands on the Insurance Institute’s top safety picks list, a distinction insurers factor directly into the price of a teen policy. Strong crash-test scores across front, side and rollover tests signal a lower likelihood of costly injury claims, which nudges premiums downward even for an inexperienced driver behind the wheel.
The wagon’s all-wheel drive and modest horsepower also appeal to underwriters wary of a beginner overcorrecting on wet roads. Parents shopping for a first car often find the Outback’s blend of visibility and stability keeps both crash risk and insurance quotes in check.
2. Honda CR-V: A Budget-Friendly Compact Choice
The Honda CR-V has built its reputation as a practical, low-drama compact SUV, and that predictability translates into insurance quotes that stay on the affordable end of the compact-SUV field. Insurers price policies partly on repair history, and the CR-V’s long production run means parts are common and body shops know the vehicle well.
That familiarity keeps collision repair bills modest compared with newer or less common models, a detail underwriters weigh heavily for a teen driver statistically more likely to file a claim. Its moderate engine output and higher seating position add to the case for a lower premium.
3. Mazda CX-5: Crash Ratings Work In Its Favor
The Mazda CX-5 pairs a sporty look with genuinely strong crash-test performance, and it is the latter that matters most to an insurer pricing a teen’s policy. Its structural safety record has held up across multiple redesigns, keeping the compact SUV out of the higher-risk categories that drive premiums up for flashier competitors.
Standard safety technology on most trims, including forward collision warning, further reassures underwriters that a new driver has a backstop against common beginner mistakes. The result is coverage that costs noticeably less than sedans or SUVs with weaker ratings.
4. Subaru Forester: Another Subaru Safety Standout
Like its Outback sibling, the Subaru Forester consistently earns top safety recognitions that insurers translate directly into friendlier rates for young drivers. The Forester’s boxy, high-visibility design gives a beginner a clearer view of surrounding traffic, a factor that correlates with fewer at-fault collisions in insurer data.
Standard all-wheel drive helps in poor weather without requiring a driver to compensate with speed, which further limits claim risk. Combined with a modest resale value, the Forester tends to land near the bottom of insurance-cost rankings for first-time drivers.
5. Toyota RAV4: Common, Safe And Cheap To Fix
The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best-selling SUVs in the country, and that sheer volume keeps parts inexpensive and repair times short after a fender bender. Its federal crash-test ratings hold up well against class rivals, giving insurers little reason to charge a premium for the added risk of a new driver.
Because so many RAV4s are already on the road, mechanics and body shops rarely need specialty parts or extra labor to complete a repair. That combination of safety and repair simplicity is a large part of why it shows up so often on cheap-to-insure lists.
6. Honda Odyssey: The Minivan Discount
Minivans rarely top a teenager’s wish list, but the Honda Odyssey’s low horsepower-to-weight ratio and family-hauler reputation make it one of the cheaper vehicles to cover for a new driver. Insurers generally treat the Odyssey’s size and mission as evidence it will not be driven aggressively.
Its higher curb weight also offers more protection in a collision, which factors into lower injury-claim payouts over time. For a family with more than one child learning to drive, the Odyssey’s premium can be considerably lighter than a compact sedan’s.
7. Jeep Wrangler: Modest Value Keeps Rates Down
The Jeep Wrangler’s relatively modest market value compared with other SUVs works in a new driver’s favor, since insurers base a large share of a premium on how much a total-loss payout would cost. A base Wrangler configuration without heavy off-road upgrades keeps that payout figure, and the resulting premium, in check.
Its boxy shape and lower top speed capability in stock trim also read as lower-risk to underwriters than a sportier two-door. Families should note that added aftermarket lift kits or oversized tires can erase much of that savings.
8. Ford Escape: A Steady, Affordable SUV Pick
The Ford Escape sits solidly in the middle of the compact SUV pack, with safety scores and repair costs that rarely trigger the surcharges insurers apply to riskier vehicles. Its widely available parts network keeps collision repairs quick and inexpensive, a detail that matters given how often new drivers file smaller claims.
Standard driver-assist features on recent model years, including automatic emergency braking, give underwriters added confidence in a beginner’s ability to avoid a preventable crash. That combination keeps the Escape’s insurance quotes competitive against other compact SUVs marketed to families.
9. Hyundai Tucson: Solid Scores At A Lower Cost
The Hyundai Tucson has earned consistently solid safety scores in recent generations, a track record that keeps its insurance quotes competitive with better-known rivals. Its generous factory warranty also lowers the odds of an owner skipping maintenance, a detail insurers quietly reward with steadier pricing over time.
A comparatively modest starting price keeps its replacement value, and therefore its premium, below many competing compact SUVs. For a family cross-shopping several options for a teen’s first car, the Tucson often lands near the bottom of the insurance-cost list.
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