The Safest First Cars for Teenagers

In Australia, your teenager can be off on their own driving by the time they are 17, which is likely before they have even finished high school. This can be a difficult time as an anxious parent or for nervous teens who may have a feeling of trepidation about driving solo on the roads for the first time. One thing that can help ease your nerves a little bit is knowing that they are in one of the safest first cars on the market. Keep reading to see our recommendations for the safest vehicles for teens.

Shop for the safest vehicles for teens with the team here at Torr Automotive. As one of the most trusted Brisbane car wholesalers, we will help you find the safest car for the best price. Call us on 1300286844 or get in touch online.

Safest First Cars—How Are They Assessed?

Vehicle safety has historically been focused on how the vehicle protects its occupants in a crash, but vehicles today offer much more than just crash protection. The safest vehicles on the market help prevent or reduce the severity of a crash, and if a crash does occur, they provide you and other drivers with a higher degree of protection.

Vehicles today are designed and built with a balance of passive crash protection and active crash avoidance. When these are effective, a car can receive a high Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety rating. Features like structure, seatbelts, airbags, collision avoidance technologies, and post-crash response are all considered in the safety of a vehicle.

Our Recommendations for the Safest First Cars

When it comes to a car for your teenager, you will want to strike a balance between safety, reliability, and price. Below are our picks for the safest vehicles for teens in Australia, all with 5-star ANCAP safety ratings:

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 achieved a 5-star ANCAP rating, which is no surprise for a company that sets the bar so high for safety. Where this car shines is in its adult occupant protection, scoring an impressive 98%. Mazda traditionally does extremely well in crash tests, so other makes are also worth considering. The Mazda 3 can range in price from around $12,500 for a 2019 model to $33,990 driveaway on the new 2025 models, making it a perfect small car for new drivers.

Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry is another great choice for a teen’s first car. This classic from Toyota has achieved a 5-star safety rating from ANCAP since 2011. This car scored perfectly on the side impact score and features impressive safety assist technologies, like automatic emergency braking and lane support systems. The price for this car starts around $16,000 and goes up to $45,000+ for 2025 models.

Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is a brilliant car for first-time drivers, especially the front-wheel-drive variants manufactured after 2017. Newer models feature autonomous emergency braking as well as lane support systems with lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and emergency lane keeping. Paired with blind spot monitoring, this vehicle puts in a lot of leg work to avoid a crash. Get your teenager in one of these from $12,000 to $39,990 driveaway on 2025 models.

Honda Civic

Another small car with a 5-star ANCAP safety rating is the Honda Civic. Featuring Honda’s advanced airbag system, sensors help determine the severity of the impact for optimal deployment of the airbags. Pair all the car’s safety features with Honda’s manufacturing and quality control process, and they are a safe bet. Prices for Civics built between 2016 and 2025 start at $11,200 up to $49,990 drive away on 2025 models.  

Toyota RAV4

Some teenagers want a bit more adventure, and that comes with a bigger car. The Toyota RAV4 is a reliable and famously safe car with a 5-Star ANCAP Safety Rating. Models built between 2016 and 2025 are a great choice for teens. Newer models come equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, boasting driver-assistance technologies including features like pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, and road sign assist. This mid-sized car starts around the $13,5000 mark used and around $45,700 driveaway on new models.

Choose The Safest First Car with Torr Automotive

With a foundation built for understanding what to expect from the safest first cars on the market, the choice is now in your hands. Finding a balance of safety and price can be tricky, but it isn’t impossible. As you browse used or new vehicles, we highly recommend that you check the ANCAP Safety website to see how the make and model stacks up.

With our car buying service and Brisbane car wholesalers, it has never been easier to get into a new car. Whether it’s your first car or the car of your dreams, we are here to help. Reach out to our team today on 1300 286 844 or get in touch online.