U.S. News & World Report lauded Hyundai with six category wins in the publication’s annual 2025 Best Cars for Teens awards – the most of any brand.
Three wins were for new car categories (out of eight total) and three were earned in used car categories (out of four). This is the fourth-consecutive year that Hyundai has been recognized with more Best Cars for Teens awards than any other brand by U.S. News’ automotive experts.
These award wins underscore Hyundai’s unwavering commitment to offering attainable vehicles with the safety, reliability, and technology that’s ideal for young and first-time drivers.
Hyundai dominated The 2025 Best New Cars for Teens
| 2025 Hyundai Elantra | Best Car for Teens $25K to $30K |
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | Best SUV for Teens $25K to $30K |
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | Best SUV for Teens $30K to $35K |
Hyundai dominated The Best Used Cars for Teens
| 2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | Best Used Small Car for Teens |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | Best Used Small SUV for Teens |
| 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid | Best Used Midsize SUV for Teens |
“We are honored to be recognized by U.S. News as the Best Car for Teens because this award isn’t just about specs. It’s about trust. Teens want style, tech, and freedom. Parents want safety, reliability, and peace of mind. Hyundai delivers both, without making anyone compromise,” said Olabisi Boyle, senior vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motor North America. “Teens view our vehicles as proud rides, and this award reflects our belief that the next generation deserves great design, smart tech, and real protection right from their very first keys.”
“Hyundai’s domination of our Best Cars for Teens awards demonstrates its continuing commitment to building affordable, safe and compelling vehicles for drivers young and old,” said Zach Doell, editor of vehicle testing, U.S. News & World Report. “All of this year’s winners offer top-notch crash scores and safety systems, including an app that can help monitor driving behavior, which should help reassure parents as they hand over the keys. But these winners are also affordable to buy and run. That past new-vehicle winners, like the 2022 Elantra Hybrid and versions of the Tucson and Santa Fe are now Best Used Cars for Teens winners reaffirms their long-term value propositions.”
Each Hyundai model recognized by U.S. News & World Report comes standard with advanced safety technologies including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning.
Many also include teen driver controls and connected features that allow parents to monitor driving habits to help promote safer learning experiences on the road.
To earn a spot on the Best New Cars for Teens list, vehicles must demonstrate exceptional performance in predicted reliability, crash safety, advanced driver assistance systems, and critical acclaim.
For Best Used Cars for Teens, vehicles from model years 2020–2022 must also offer strong safety scores, low ownership costs, and enduring positive reviews from automotive experts.