The Best Used Chevys for Your Teen Driver

There are many reasons to choose a used vehicle, including a desire to save money and to skip a lot of initial depreciation while getting the best value for a car. We also have many people come to us looking for a used Chevy for their teen drivers since a new model isn’t necessary for someone just beginning to drive. If you’ve been looking for a Mountain Brook used Chevy dealer to find a vehicle for your teen driver, we suggest you expand your search and visit us at Edwards Chevrolet Downtown. We understand the needs of our customers from throughout the Birmingham area, including Mountain Brook.

Although your teen driver might have some very specific needs you want in a vehicle, like enough space inside for equipment or supplies for their after-school activities, certain things are vital for any teen’s car. First and foremost, you want to make sure you choose a vehicle that will help keep your new driver safe on the road as they get more experience and develop into a safe driver with good habits. We know how stressful it can be having your kids gain their freedom and hit the road on their own for the first time. That’s why we’re here to help you choose a vehicle that will protect them and get them home safe every day.

General Considerations

Before we look at any specific models, there are a few general things we wanted to go over that you should remember when shopping for a vehicle for a teen driver. One of the key things to focus on is the full suite of safety features that any vehicle, Chevy or otherwise, comes with. Basic features include multiple airbags, good mirrors and overall visibility, and any advanced technology it might come with. A reverse camera system has only been mandatory since 2018, though you’ll often find them in vehicles from a year or so before that. Other systems like cross-traffic alerts, automatic braking, and lane warnings aren’t mandatory, but you’ll find them in many models, especially on higher trims.

One of the best things about the Chevy brand is the Teen Driver safety system that you’ll find on most models from the last few years. This system does numerous things, including letting you set a limit on audio volume, set a speed limit of 85 mph, and set a speed that will trigger an audio and visual warning if your teen exceeds it. You tie all of these features to a specific key fob so that you can drive the vehicle without restrictions, and it’s designed to help teach good habits to new drivers. There’s even an in-vehicle report card that you can check to see what safety alerts have been triggered and other details to determine where your teen needs some coaching and reinforcement to be a safer driver.

Beyond any specific features or technology, it’s important to consider the basic aspects of a vehicle to ensure it’s a good fit for your teen driver. You always want to choose a vehicle that has been well maintained so that the tires, brakes, and engine are all reliable and in great shape. In addition, avoid a large vehicle like a full-size SUVs; smaller rides are easier to maneuver and safer for a new driver. Plus, larger vehicles tend to attract more passengers, which increases distractions and dangers when a new driver is behind the wheel; if your teen has a restricted license, they’re only allowed to have one non-family passenger with them. Let’s now move on to some Chevy vehicles that we think are excellent entry-level vehicles for those just beginning to drive on their own.

The Chevy Malibu

The Malibu is a midsize sedan, making it large enough to help protect your teen driver without becoming so large that it’s challenging to drive safely. We suggest a model no later than 2016 when the latest generation begins and features like the available Teen Driver safety system are introduced. Most advanced safety technology on the Malibu has been available but not standard, so look for higher trims like the LT and Premier to find a used Malibu with the best overall features to keep your teen safe. There was a refresh on the Malibu for the 2019 model year, with a sleek new look, but nothing changed in terms of safety.

The Chevy Bolt EV

If you’d like to get your teen driver an all-electric model to enjoy, then the Chevy Bolt EV is a fantastic choice. This hatchback is perfect for getting to school, loading up with instruments or supplies they need, and everything else a teenager could want. It’s only been around since the 2017 model year and has had Chevy’s Teen Driver system standard in every model. A refresh and update for the 2022 model year made the Chevy Safety Assist package standard, including a forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and more. If you’re concerned about issues that some Bolt EV models had with batteries, be sure the recall has been carried out and the battery replaced on any used model you’re interested in.

The Chevy Trailblazer

One of the newest additions to Chevy’s lineup, the Trailblazer has already made a lot of fans and is a fantastic option when shopping for a used model. This subcompact crossover is designed to be a safe ride and give your teen driver enough room inside without too much passenger seating. First introduced for the 2021 model year, the Trailblazer comes with Chevy Safety Assist standard, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, and lane keep assist with a lane departure warning. Chevy’s Teen Driver system has also been standard since it was first released, making any used model you find a good choice.

The Chevy Equinox

If you want something larger for your young driver, then the Equinox is a fantastic option; this compact SUV is bigger than the Trailblazer without being too large. The current generation for the Equinox kicked off with the 2018 model year, so that’s about as far back as we’d go to ensure you get the best quality and latest features. Advanced safety features like front pedestrian braking and adaptive cruise control became available starting with the 2019 model, but you’ll need to find a Premier trim for these options. We suggest looking for a 2020 or later model as many advanced features, including automatic emergency braking with front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist, and more, became standard on every trim that year.

The Chevy Blazer

As a midsize, two-row crossover model, the Blazer is the largest SUV from Chevy that we’d recommend for a teen driver, and it’s a bit bigger than the Equinox. This has only been around since the 2019 model year, so you can find the latest safety features on most models, though you’ll need to look for a high-end trim like the Premier if you want the best technology to protect your young driver. For the 2021 model year, many advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking became standard on all but the lowest trim; this 1LT trim was eliminated for the 2022 model year, making these features standard on all Blazer models.

You can see that Chevy has a lot to offer when it comes to finding a great used vehicle for a teen driver. As long as you look for the best safety features possible and shop at a dealership with high-quality models, you can rest easy knowing your new driver is safe on the road. Now, all you have to do is pick the right one with everything your kid needs to succeed, and at Edwards Chevrolet Downtown, we have the vehicles you’re looking for to ensure your teen begins their driving journey with the best tools to keep them safe on the road.