If your teen is embarking on the driving journey and needs a brand new SUV, these options from Subaru, Toyota, and Mazda check all the boxes. These three SUVs for teens under $30,000 offer a stress-free ownership experience for the whole family, thanks to all the safety features. All of these 2023 sport utility vehicles have scores from the safety groups listed below.

The best SUVs for teens under $30,000 include the Subaru Forester

Consumer Reports thought the 2023 Subaru Forester was an excellent SUV for teens. It has a comfortable interior, solid fuel economy, and plenty of safety features to keep your teen safe. These standard safety features include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. Automatic emergency braking and lake-keep assist are also standard.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2023 Subaru Forester its Top Safety Pick Plus award. That means the Forester performed well on necessary tests like moderate front overlap, side crash, and the new automatic emergency braking pedestrian test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Forester a five-star safety rating and high scores on its frontal, side, and overall crash tests.

Base MSRP Range: $26,395 – $36,495

Mazda’s CX-5 is one of the best SUVs for teens under $30,000

For the 2023 Mazda CX-5, there isn’t much to dislike for teens or adults. It has sporty handling and a comfortable interior, plus plenty of space in the cargo area. The CX-5 has more to offer buyers in a reasonable price range for the segment. Important safety features like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning are all standard.

Mazda also equipped the 2023 CX-5 with lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control for those long drives. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also gave this Mazda the Top Safety Pick Plus award. It scored well on all the essential crash tests, making this one of the SUVs for teens under $30,000. Don’t forget the five-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Base MSRP Range: $26,700 – $39,650

Don’t forget the reliable Toyota RAV4

You will probably see many 2023 Toyota RAV4 SUVs on the road soon enough, but for a good reason. Experts and owners agree that this Toyota is reliable and comfortable. Cargo space is acceptable, shrinking a bit for the 2023 year. However, it comes under $30,000 and has enough features to keep parents happy.

Toyota included some safety features standard, but you might need to go up a trim level to get everything. Forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking come on the base RAV4. This Toyota still received the IIHS Top Safety Pick award and a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On tests like the overall crash, side, and passenger rear tests, the RAV4 received top marks.

Base MSRP Range: $27,575 – $38,530

Overall, these SUVs for teens under $30,000 will hopefully leave everyone feeling stress-free and safe on the roads. Also, many of the features here are available on the 2022 models. If you can find a better deal on an outgoing SUV, take those savings and start a repair fund.