Table: Best Cars for Your Kids to Drive

January 28, 2008 RSS Feed Print

TOP PICKS

Car MPG above average? Ranked above average? Top crash-test scores? Top rollover score? Curb weight above average? Overall score
(out of 5)
MINI Cooper hatchback $18,700; 28 mpg Yes Yes Yes Yes No 4
Toyota Tacoma pickup $14,280; 20 mpg Yes Yes Yes Yes No 4
Toyota Corolla sedan $14,405; 28 mpg Yes Yes Yes Yes No 4
Dodge Charger sedan $22,350; 18 mpg Yes Yes NA Yes Yes 4
Chrysler 300 sedan $25,270; 18 mpg Yes Yes NA Yes Yes 4
Honda Fit hatchback $13,950; 28 mpg Yes Yes Yes Yes No 4
Scion xD hatchback $15,170; 27 mpg Yes Yes Yes Yes No 4
Kia Spectra5 hatchback $16,620; 23 mpg Yes Yes Yes Yes No 4
Chevrolet Equinox SUV $23,355; 17 mpg No Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
Honda Civic coupe/sedan/hybrid $14,810; 26 mpg Yes Yes Yes Yes No 4

DECENT PICKS

Car MPG above average? Ranked above average? Top crash-test scores? Top rollover score? Curb weight above average? Overall score
(out of 5)
Ford Escape SUV $18,770; 22 mpg Yes Yes Yes No No 3
Kia Sorento SUV $20,995; 15 mpg No Yes Yes No Yes 3
Volkswagen Jetta sedan $16,990; 21 mpg No Yes Yes Yes No 3
Chevrolet Cobalt sedan $13,710; 24 mpg No Yes Yes Yes No 3
Toyota Matrix hatchback $15,510; 26 mpg Yes Yes No Yes No 3
Suzuki SX4 hatchback $15,270; 22 mpg No Yes Yes Yes No 3
Hyundai Elantra coupe/sedan $13,525; 24 mpg No Yes Yes Yes No 3
Pontiac G5 coupe/sedan $14,945; 25 mpg Yes No Yes Yes No 3
Volkswagen Rabbit hatchback $15,490; 22 mpg No Yes Yes Yes No 3
Scion tC coupe $15,300; 20 mpg No Yes Yes Yes No 3

NOT QUITE

Car MPG above average? Ranked above average? Top crash-test scores? Top rollover score? Curb weight above average? Overall score
(out of 5)
Ford F-150 pickup $17,345; 14 mpg No No NA Yes Yes 2
Jeep Liberty SUV $20,330; 16 mpg No No Yes No Yes 2
Ford Mustang coupe $19,250; 17 mpg No No Yes Yes No 2
Toyota Yaris coupe/hatchback $12,175; 29 mpg Yes No No Yes No 2
Kia Rio5 hatchback $12,915 27 mpg Yes No No Yes No 2
Mazda3 sedan/hatchback $13,895; 24 mpg No Yes No Yes No 2
Ford Focus coupe/sedan $14,375; 24 mpg No No Yes Yes No 2
Pontiac G6 coupe/sedan $17,895; 22 mpg No No Yes Yes No 2
Hyundai Accent coupe/sedan $10,775; 27 mpg Yes No No Yes No 2
Volkswagen New-Beetle coupe $17,365; 20 mpg No No Yes Yes No 2
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