2023 Honda CR-V Ranks High as Car for Teens and College Students

If you are a parent of a teen getting their driver’s license, you may wish that the day they get their license, they magically turn 21 with five years of driving experience behind them. Without that option, you teach them as well as you can, give them all the warnings they can stand, and keep an eye out as they explore their independence. You might be able to influence their decision for their first car, and if they go off to college, the car that takes them there. Rairdon’s Honda of Burien is pleased to mention two studies where the Honda CR-V was top-ranked as a vehicle for teens and college students.

Their Driving Can Change After They Get Their License

Unfortunately, no matter how well you trained your teen before they get their license, their behavior may alter once out on their own. According to a recent federal study, teen drivers are eight times more likely to be in an accident or near-miss in the first three months after getting a driver’s license versus their final days with a learner’s permit. Specifically, teens are four times more likely to experiment with risky behaviors such as jack-rabbit starts, sudden braking, and hard turns, than when learning. And while overt risky behavior was more prevalent among boys, the accident and near-accident change rates were the same for both genders throughout both driving periods.

Your first inclination may be to put them in something old and built like a tank, to have metal plenty around them as protection. But that would be based on old impressions of safety. A safe vehicle is one that can turn and brake quickly when needed, not a quality the land barges of the past were noted for. In terms of protection from an impact, it is best to look for vehicles with top ratings in impact tests, like the CR-V. The impact standards are raised regularly, so generally the newer the vehicle the better the safety. For teens in particular, the best safety feature is one that enables hands-free cell phone usage. Studies show handheld phone use was noted in just over 30 percent of driving instances. Even worse, teens used a cell phone while speeding during five percent of studied trips. Outside of safety, you also want a vehicle that will suit their needs and won’t cost too much to operate. 

Top Rated by U.S. News & World Report

For these and other reasons, US News & World Report rated the 2023 Honda CR-V as the best vehicle for college students. They cite it as a good choice in combining economy with passenger and cargo space, often a factor when heading to and from home between semesters. They also point out that “it’s loaded with safety technology and fares well in crash tests” and that its 190 horsepower delivers a peppy but still “relaxed driving experience.”

Highly Rated in Several Other Studies

Another group looked at an aggregate of 10 similar such studies from various automotive research sites. Their methodologies differed, with some looking at new and used vehicles, some segmenting by category, others by price, and so on. In just about all these studies, the CR-V was prominently mentioned, and when taken all together, the Honda CR-V came in second overall as the best vehicle for teenagers. Since “second” begs the question of who’s first, it was the Mazda3 Hatchback. While the Mazda is certainly a good car, it definitely lacks the room and cargo space of the CR-V. 

Kelly Blue Book’s study says this: “The CR-V has sharp styling, comfortable seating for five, and boasts good cargo space and fuel efficiency.” Another quote, “You get a practical, compact SUV that can handle snow, ice, mud, and just about any other weather condition,” comes from study group Rategenius. And in their own study, CARFAX said, “If you’re looking for a well-rounded compact SUV, the Honda CR-V is tough to beat. It’s safe, upscale, accommodating, and fuel-efficient,” 

Those are good praises to be considered by any new or replacement car shopper. If you are looking for a car for your teen, college student, or even yourself, you should visit Rairdon’s Honda of Burien for a close look at the all-new 2023 CR-V, or those in our used inventory for Certified and other Pre-Owned CR-Vs.