Buying a car for 16 year old

TLDR - A friend is buying their 16 yr old grandson a car and needs some suggestions. The requirements are:

1. Safe - every airbag and safety feature possible.
2. All wheel drive - the grandson works at a local ski resort. The police often close the canyon to 2wd cars during storms.
3. Something car like - no trucks (grandson's request)
4. Reliable
5. $19,000 budget

I've not paid any attention to regular cars for a very long time, so I know next to nothing about them. Suggestions of what or what not to buy would be greatly appreciated.

 

Subaru.

 

Is an SUV a car or a truck?

 

i hate subaru

 

In order to have EVERY safety feature possible and reliable you would need to buy a newer vehicle so this list is not possible on a budget of 19k. Tell the kid he doesn't get to choose and just buy him a Taco.

 

What part of the country is the 16 year old going to be driving?

 

not a truck. Not even close

 

Question directed at the OP, since the criteria was ambiguous (like a car, but not a truck)

 

I have driven every generation of Chevy Equinox. My last one was a 2023 AWD and it was great. Look for a 2018 or so with AWD. Very reliable cars. I hate them because, well they are chevy and I had no choice, also I drove so many of them and they remind me of my previous employer.
Aside from that go with a late model Equinox.

 

lol, the opposite of this

 

We have ford escapes at work and as long as you don't get the hybrid they are great. Good enough I bought my son one and it has been fantastic for 2 years

 

Does an SUV have a bed like a truck? Then it is a truck. Does the SUV look like a car? Then it is a car. I know this kid pretty well and cars are not his thing.

Mountains, snow, cold, steep curving canyon road. Hot AF in the summer.

The budget is what it is. And as far as buying him a Taco his grandfather wants to buy him something that the kid wants.

Did Subaru fix their head gasket problem? And don't the newer ones have a CVT transmission?

 

Here's an AWD Equinox close to me...but there are TONS out there. These are typically fleet cars and maintained well. My 2018 went 60,000 on the first set of tires. The battery lasted 5 years and 115,000 miles. They made me get a new one at 125,000 miles.

 

2012, 2013 Acura TL. Bought my college kid one last year. His is 2WD, but they do make them in AWD. Honda 3.7 will run a long time. Should be well within your price range.

 

Buy new or a new as possible. Another aspect not mentioned is credit. The kid buying new with possibly a cosigner will help him build his credit rating. You should also have the most reliable and with a warranty. If you have 19k cash use some as a down payment them invest the rest in a C.D..

 

Honda Crv, Element, Ridgeline

Toyota Rav4, Sienna AWD

Subaru

 

+1 on Honda element or CRV. I’d say rav4 as well but my Hondas have been far more reliable than my Tacoma.