If you’re shopping for a vehicle for yourself that you’ll share with your teenager or a new(ish) vehicle for them to drive, you might not at first think of a luxury SUV. After all, why give an inexperienced driver something so expensive and nice? Yet a used Audi Q5 may be just the thing to keep your kids safer, and then it’s well worth the money. Here’s why you should consider buying a used Audi Q5 for your teenager.

Is the Audi Q5 a good used car?

A used Audi Q5 is a great SUV for a teenager, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests vehicles and conducts research on driving and safety. It releases a list of the safest vehicles for teenagers every year. The most recent list is full of good new and used vehicles for teenagers and on that list are four used Audi Q5 models – the 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 model years.

The Audi Q5 made the list of the best used vehicles for teens thanks to its crash test scores and safety systems. The Best Used list includes vehicles with good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, original side, and roof strength and head restraint tests. They also must have a good or acceptable rating in the small overlap test on the driver side.

The Q5 has good ratings from the NHTSA and Consumer Reports

These four used Audi Q5 models are also on the list of the best SUVs thanks to good ratings from other organizations. SUVs on the list also include vehicles tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and those vehicles must have “4 or 5 stars overall or 4 or 5 stars in the front and side tests under the old rating scheme.” In addition, vehicles have to have electronic stability control as well as a curb weight of at least 2,750 pounds.

Consumer Reports also weighs in on the safest vehicles for teenagers. All of the recommended vehicles must have a 3 or higher for emergency handling. They also have to be able to brake from 60 mph in 145 or less on dry pavement. In addition, their reliability ratings must be better-than-average. Finally, any vehicle with a “higher than average claim frequency under medical payment or personal injury protection coverage” isn’t on the list.

The 2016 and 2017 Audi Q5 are IIHS Top Safety Picks+

Of these four used Audi Q5 model years, the 2016 Audi Q5 has the best safety scores from the IIHS. It’s a Top Safety Pick+, meaning it has good crash test results in the driver-side small overlap front test, passenger-side small overlap front test, and moderate overlap front test. It also must have good original side test results, roof strength, and head restraint tests. In addition, it has to have an advanced or superior rating for its available front crash prevention system for both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations and an acceptable or good headlight rating standard on all trim levels.

The 2018 Audi Q5 is a Top Safety Pick. To win this award the Q5 had to have good driver-side small overlap front test, passenger-side small overlap front test, and moderate overlap front test as well as good original side test results, roof strength, and head restraint tests. In addition, a Top Safety Pick should have advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian categories and acceptable or good headlight rating available.

Finally, one of the biggest benefits of luxury SUVs is that they often come loaded with advanced safety features that basic SUVs and vehicles don’t. If you’re shopping for a used SUV for your teen, consider the Audi Q5 – and check to see what safety systems it comes with. Additional safety systems can help keep teen drivers safer, and that’s better for everyone.