For parents and teens, choosing a car for a first-time driver can be an anxiety-filled process. Teens want a sporty car they won't be embarrassed to drive to school. Parents want safety, safety, safety.

Cross a new car off the list because the chances of a new driver putting a dent in it, or worse, are roughly 1 in 4.

Late-model used cars offer a just-right combination of modest power and performance, top-notch crash scores, advanced safety features and decent reliability scores that safety experts say parents should seek in any car intended for a new driver.

 Among the vehicles best suited for teen drivers: the Honda Accord (24 points,) the Ford Fusion (22 points) and the Toyota Camry (22 points).

You won't see pickups, sports cars, or tiny subcompacts on the list. Pickups are too easy to roll. Sports cars tempt young drivers to drive too fast. Subcompacts don't put enough metal between your kid and obstacles they may hit, even though today's small cars are dramatically better engineered than the tiny hatchbacks baby boomers drove in the '70s and '80s.

Read the rest of this Wall Street Journal article HERE