Looking for a safe, reliable vehicle for your teen driver? IIHS recommends 7 pre-owned Volkswagen models in recent report

Raising kids is full of joyous moments — their first steps, their first words, their first day of school. But when it comes time for them to get their driver’s license, their first few years on the road are nothing short of nerve-racking. As a parent of a new teen driver, it only makes sense that you’d want the safest car possible for them. You want something that is safe and reliable, without breaking the bank, of course.

Volkswagen has you covered. A recent report from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) recommended seven Volkswagen models on its 2018 list of recommended vehicles for teen drivers. Every year this list is compiled to assist parents with their considerations for their newly-minted driver, and focuses on important safety features in pre-owned models at reasonable prices. They categorized their picks as “Best Choices,” starting at under $20,000 and “Good Choices,” starting at under $10,000. The IIHS recommends that all vehicles for teen drivers have standard electronic stability control (ESC), which helps a driver maintain control of the vehicle on curves and slippery roads, and reduces risk on a level comparable to safety belts.

The Volkswagen models recommended in the “Best Choices” category are the Passat (2013 and newer, built after October 2012) and Jetta (2015 and newer). The vehicles on the “Best Choices” list earn good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and good or acceptable ratings in the driver-side small overlap front test. If rated by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), they earn 4 or 5 stars overall or 4 or 5 stars in the front and side tests under the old rating scheme.

On the “Good Choices” list (vehicles under $10,000), the Passat (sedan and wagon 2009-2012), Jetta (sedan and wagon 2009-2014), Tiguan (2009 and newer), and Routan (2012) were all recommended. Like the “Best Choices” list, these models also earned good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. If rated by NHTSA, they earn 4 or 5 stars overall or 4 or 5 stars in the front and side tests under the old rating scheme.

All prices for the used vehicles were provided by Kelley Blue Book ®, based on the lowest trim available on the lowest applicable model year and rounded to the nearest $100. Other pricing criteria included typical mileage and the vehicle being in good condition.

If you’ve got a teenager doing driver’s training or one who just got their license, stop into Bud Brown Volkswagen and/or check our online inventory pre-owned vehicles when shopping for their first set of wheels. Safety comes first (with style a close second) and you can’t go wrong with a Volkswagen in either. We look forward to meeting you!