Posted on: Sunday, September 14, 2003

Teens, parents can agree on these cars

Associated Press

Consumer Reports magazine recommends five cars — two used and three new — for parents in the market for vehicles for their teenage drivers. Here's a look at those suggestions along with explanations of what makes them hip to teens and attractive to parents, according to Consumer Reports:

Among used autos:

• Acura Integra: The plus for teens is that it is a "nice-looking" car that is also available as a sporty coupe. As for parents, the Integra is consistently rated by the magazine as one of the best used cars, for reliability, safety and gas mileage.

• Mazda Protege: Teens appreciate the Protege for its small size but spacious trunk, which is useful for carting stuff to and from home. Parents dig the reasonable price. Consumer Reports said the suggested used-car price for the 1995 Protege is between $6,000 and $8,000.

For new cars:

• Honda Civic: Teens like the fact that the Civic is easy to handle and is roomy for its size. Parents appreciate that the Civic has excellent crash-test results.

• Volkswagen Jetta: Teens deem the Jetta to be cool looking and comfy. Parents like that it comes with a host of standard safety features.

• Subaru Impreza: Teens think the Impreza is fun to drive, while parents find it's reliable and doesn't require frequent trips to the shop.