Almost every Mazda model has been named in the updated list of recommended new and used vehicles for teens, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR) in the United States.
“The most dated car in the driveway may not be the best choice for your teen,” said Mazda North American Operations Director of Vehicle Safety Strategy Jennifer Morrison. “But good news, there are plenty of new and used Mazda vehicles that are both affordable and loaded with safety tech according to this updated list. Mazda is proud to have vehicles in nearly every category to choose from.”
IIHS and CR have jointly produced the list of recommended vehicles for teens since 2020 with the intention of helping families prioritize safety without breaking their budgets. Teen drivers are already at heightened risk because of inexperience and immaturity, so vehicle choice is particularly important for this demographic.
Both new and used vehicles on the list have average or better scores (3 out of 5) from CR for braking and for emergency and routine handling. They also have usability scores for controls and displays of at least 2 out of 5, meaning the vehicles with the most confusing and distracting setups are excluded. All have standard electronic stability control.
When it comes to protection in crashes, all recommended used vehicles have good ratings in five IIHS tests: original moderate overlap front, original side, driver-side small overlap front, roof strength and head restraints. The recommended new vehicles are winners of the 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+award, which means they excel in the Institute’s newer, more challenging crash tests. They also have standard good or acceptable headlights and standard, good-rated seat belt reminders, and high-performing automatic emergency braking. The last feature, however, may not be offered in a some of Mazda’s markets.
“Having a teen driver myself, I find peace of mind knowing they are behind the wheel of a vehicle with top safety ratings and systems like automatic emergency braking and seat belt reminders,” said Morrison. “These are standard features on new and used Mazda vehicles because they have been proven to reduce crashes and mitigate injuries. A benefit I’m happy to provide to my teen, and yours.”
