To find the right vehicle for a teen driver, a variety of characteristics should be considered, but safety and reliability should be at the top of the list. As such, the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports collaborated to put together a collection of top recommended vehicles for teens, with the GMC Terrain taking a spot of honor in the midsize SUV category.
Per a national IIHS phone survey of parents of teen drivers, 83 percent of those surveyed said that they purchased a used vehicle for their teen. As such, affordability was taken into account when putting together the list of recommended vehicles, with prices ranging between $5,000 and $20,000. The IIHS also included crash testing data.
What’s more, Consumer Reports provided information on reliability, as well as performance in braking and emergency handling tests.
Vehicles chosen were then divided into two tiers – Best Choices, and Good Choices. The Best Choices earned top marks in IIHS and NHTSA crash tests, and each Best Choice is equipped with standard electronic stability control, has a curb weight in excess of 2,750 pounds, and earned above-average reliability scores as determined by Consumer Reports. Emergency handling scores must also be a three out of five or higher per Consumer Reports, while dry braking distances from 60 mph to a stop must be 145 feet of less. Finally, the IIHS says that any vehicles with “substantially higher than average claim frequency under medical payment or personal injury protection coverage” are not included in the list.
The GMC Terrain was recognized in the list of midsize SUVs, specifically the 2014 GMC Terrain, and the 2016 and newer GMC Terrain. The IIHS lists pricing at $9,400, making the Terrain the least-expensive model among midsize SUV Best Choices. Pricing is based on Kelley Blue Book value averages from July 1st, 2020, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year.
Other notable GM models recognized as top recommended vehicles for teen drivers include the Chevy Equinox and Buick Encore.
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Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Comments
I’ll go out on a limb and guess that the recommendation committee was short on teens.
In other news, TikTok users recognize the Camaro ZL1 as the top recommended vehicle for families with kids.
It’s the other way around–the parents on the committee recommend the Terrain because it has all the sex appeal of a rainy Tuesday afternoon. My grandmother loves her Terrain for how numb it is.
Had my previous one for over 4 years. Wrecked it unfortunately in June and the only car / SUV I wanted was a Terrain. I got it end of June and would not trade it for anything. I’ve always been a hard driver and the Terrain has not failed me in the 4.5 years of having it. Family trips, road trip and all… The best thing.
The Terrain is absolute crap! My daughter still owes on hers and cannot even drive it. Everything went out quickly. It dies every couple blocks… We pulled the cam and it was covered in metal shavings. Absolute junk!
Had my previous one for over 4 years. Wrecked it unfortunately in June and the only car / SUV I wanted was a Terrain. I got it end of June and would not trade it for anything. I’ve always been a hard driver and the Terrain has not failed me in the 4.5 years of having it. Family trips, road trip and all… The best thing.
Biggest piece of junk GMC has ever made. I have $15,000 into this car and it sets in my driveway engine is totaled. They don’t tell you that the car Burns oil so fast that every time you gas up you have to oil up . GMC has no integrity and will not help its customers
Have a 2016 Terrain SLT with the 3.6L V6 .. Totally Happy with Looks, Performance, and Reliability.. Had it 2 years and 47,000 Miles and Nothing Done but Regular Service, never used any oil between changes and Tires will be good at least until 50,000 Miles .. Until starts showing signs of serious trouble will keep this one as long as possible to do so ..