IIHS: Parents Should Steer Teen Drivers Toward Bigger, Heavier Vehicles

ARLINGTON, Va. (CBS) – The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is out with their list of the best cars for teens, and it's challenging what some parents have always thought about safety.

The group says new crash tests reveal it's best to get an older and larger used vehicle than a newer, smaller one that costs the same. IIHS said that even with newer safety features, those in the smaller cars are more at risk for injury.

The institute also wants young drivers to stay away from high horsepower engines that can tempt them to test the limits, only drive vehicles with electronic stability control and pay attention to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ratings.

Below is a list of the "best choices" for teens from the IIHS. See the full report here.

Midsize Cars:
Volkswagen Passat 2013 and newer; built after October 2012 $6,600
Volvo S60 2011 and newer $7,900
Ford Fusion 2013 and newer; built after December 2012 $8,100
Subaru Legacy 2013 and newer; built after October 2012 $8,300
Honda Accord coupe 2013 and newer $8,900
Volkswagen Jetta 2015 and newer $8,900
Mazda 6 2014 and newer $9,000
Honda Accord sedan 2013 and newer $9,400
Subaru Outback 2013 and newer; built after August 2012 $10,300
Acura TL 2012-14; built after April 2012 $10,700
Lincoln MKZ 2013 and newer $11,900
Toyota Prius v 2015 and newer $14,700
Volvo V60 2015 and newer $14,800
Audi A3 2015 and newer $15,000
Acura TLX 2015; 2017 and newer $16,500
BMW 2 series coupe 2015 and newer $18,600
Infiniti Q50 2014 and newer $18,600

Large Cars:
Volvo S80 2007 and newer $3,900
Ford Taurus 2013 and newer $10,000
Chevrolet Impala 2015 and newer $13,200
Infiniti M37/Q70 2013 and newer $14,400
Toyota Avalon 2015 and newer $17,500
Acura RLX 2014 and newer $18,600
Buick LaCrosse 2017 and newer $19,800

Small SUVs:
Mazda CX-5 2014 and newer; built after October 2013 $10,700
Fiat 500X 2016 and newer; built after July 2015 $11,300
Nissan Rogue 2014 and newer $11,500
Subaru Forester 2014 and newer $12,000
Buick Encore 2015 and newer $12,300
Honda CR-V 2015 and newer $13,500
Ford Escape 2017 and newer $14,600
Toyota RAV4 2015 and newer; built after November 2014 $14,800
Hyundai Tucson 2016 and newer $15,100
Mazda CX-3 2016 and newer $15,100
Kia Sportage 2017 and newer $15,900

Midsize SUVs:
Volvo XC90 2005 and newer $3,700
Ford Flex 2011 and newer $8,700
Chevrolet Equinox 2014 and newer $11,700
GMC Terrain 2014 and newer $12,900
Volvo XC60 2013 and newer $12,900
Kia Sorento 2016 and newer $15,900
Nissan Pathfinder 2015 and newer $16,300
Nissan Murano 2015 and newer $17,200
Ford Edge 2016 and newer $17,600
Toyota Highlander 2014 and newer $17,600
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2017 and newer $17,700
Acura MDX 2014 and newer $19,600
Hyundai Santa Fe 2017 and newer; built after March 2016 $19,800

Minivans:
Honda Odyssey 2014 and newer $12,700
Kia Sedona 2015 and newer $12,800
Toyota Sienna 2015 and newer $17,500

Small pickup:
Toyota Tacoma Access cab 2016 and newer $18,100

Large pickup:
Toyota Tundra Double Cab 2014 and newer $19,000