The Crossover SUVs Your Teen Wants You to Buy Used (So They Can Borrow It, Of Course)

Reaching legal driving age is a big deal for teenagers across the country, since with a car comes a new sense of freedom. But before your teen starts borrowing your vehicle for school functions and important social engagements at the mall, you need to be sure they understand the responsibility.

When shopping for used SUVs for sale near Morristown, you want to be sure you’re getting a vehicle that’s appropriate for frequent teenage use, but not so basic and boring that you don’t enjoy driving it yourself.

Take a look at some of the used crossover SUVs that teens and their parents can actually agree on to help you get started on your search for a vehicle that makes sense for everyone—adults and adolescents alike.

SUVs That Are Easy to Drive

It is a time-honored American tradition that many teenagers have to endure time behind the wheel of a pre-owned vehicle with a few “quirks.” However, if you’re going to be sharing that vehicle, you might not want too much “personality.” Instead, you can both benefit from a crossover SUV with a solid, economical ride.

Many of the auto market’s smaller SUVs have hit the sweet spot of “just right” power. The subcompact Honda HR-V has been powered by a 158-hp 2.0L engine since the current generation began in 2023. This much power is typical across similar subcompact SUVs like the Chevy Trailblazer and more recent Nissan Kicks models.

But if you trust your teen with a little more power, the Hyundai Kona gained a very fun 190-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine during the 2024 refresh as an option on several trim levels.

The highest-horsepower honors go to the compact Toyota RAV4, which has been cruising with a 203-hp standard engine since 2019. While it’s not sports-car-level fast, it may be enough to prevent developing a lead foot.

All-Wheel Drive for Extra Traction

And what about all-wheel-drive options? Since Morristown experiences what may be more than its fair share of rain each year, all-wheel drive is a popular option, and it can be found in some capacity in nearly every crossover SUV. One exception is the 2021 Nissan Kicks; all-wheel drive didn’t enter this model’s lineup until the 2025 release of its third generation.

There are a few standouts, however. Honda’s Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System is well-regarded in the industry. The Chevy Trailblazer’s ACTIV trim, introduced in 2021 alongside the model itself, features an off-road-tuned suspension to complement its all-wheel-drive system, making it an excellent choice for trips to Panther Creek State Park.

Last but not least, while the Toyota RAV4’s TRD Off-Road and Adventure trims are appropriately named for their thirst for off-road excursions, they maintain meticulous on-road manners.

Driver Assistance & Safety Ratings

It stands to reason that nearly every parent has worried about their child driving alone. No matter how much you trust your teen, the other drivers on the road may not be as reliable.

Therefore, parents should carefully review the safety features of their prospective SUVs with their teens. Look for detailed safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Each organization provides independent scoring for front, side, rear, and even rollover crash protection.

You may also want to review an SUV’s driver assistance technology closely. Nearly every crossover SUV offers forward collision mitigation and lane-keeping assistance, but look for the extra features that will help keep a teen on track when taking care of a car for the first time.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, for example, includes a walk-away automatic locking feature to ensure your teen’s belongings don’t remain up for grabs in public parking lots. The HR-V also has a standard driver attention monitor that uses sound, light, and vibrations to signal the driver when fatigue or distractedness is detected and it’s time to take a break.

Chevy’s Teen Driver tool has helped keep kids safe behind the wheel for years. Teen Driver technology first appeared on the 2021 Trailblazer, allowing parents to set speed limits and monitor their teen’s driving activity. This mode also mutes the sound system until the driver has buckled their seat belt.

SUVs That Are Just the Right Size

While some of us wish we could provide our newly-licensed teen drivers with an armored tank, you might need to buy them more than one parking permit to take such a vehicle to school. Therefore, many parents choose an SUV that’s big enough to protect their teen, but nimble enough to scoot through urban areas.

Most crossover SUVs offer a split-folding rear seat, but the accommodations don’t end there. Check for back-row niceties like the rear air vents on the Toyota RAV4, or the rear-seat consoles in the Hyundai Kona that give your teen’s buddies a chance to not spill their drinks on your upholstery.

Many of the vehicles in the crossover segment have similar cargo dimensions, ranging from 25 cubic feet with all seats occupied to 50-55 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona impresses with its cavernous 63.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, coming close to that of the compact RAV4, but the Trailblazer may have the most innovative approach to hauling gear and supplies. Not only does its rear seat fold, but the front passenger seatback folds flat, too, making room for set pieces, camping gear, adventure toys, and materials up to 8.5 feet in length.

SUVs Cool Enough to Be Seen In

While you’re worrying about crash test ratings and merging onto I-81, your teen is likely worried about having a car that looks good and has all the features.

Though they will never know the thrill the nation felt when CD players became standard, today’s teenagers will have plenty of cool stuff at their disposal. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have been standard in many SUVs since the early 2020s, making it easier for you to stay connected to your teen while they’re on the road.

But when you’re sharing a car, that means you’ll want to enjoy it, too. The leather interior on a Honda HR-V EX-L, along with its power moonroof, will give your shared SUV a sense of distinction. And the two-tone paint options on the Nissan Kicks pair well with its Zero Gravity seats, representing both form and function.

Following its 2024 redesign, the Kona gained an angular, futuristic front end that many drivers adore, while the Trailblazer offers so many exterior appearance options that nearly every driver can find a model with curb appeal.

Then, of course, you’ve got premier sound systems, like the seven-speaker Bose setup in the Trailblazer or the 11-speaker JBL system offered in the RAV4. Your inner sixteen-year-old might feel a little jealous, but remember: you get to enjoy this sound system, too!

Which Crossover SUV Would Your Teen Choose?

Many parents reminisce about their first car while shopping for a used crossover SUV to share with their teen. From clunky to quirky, nearly everyone remembers their first car distinctly.

Sharing an SUV with your teen doesn’t mean you have to drive a car with peculiarities. Today’s smaller SUVs are ideal for drivers of all ages. From sporty engines to killer sound systems, there’s a lot to love about the crossover SUVs on today’s pre-owned market, even for a well-seasoned driver with discerning taste.