Automotive
Eight safe and reliable Subaru Models you should consider for your teen driver
Eight Subaru Models Recommended for Teen Drivers
As a parent, I vividly remember the day I held my child in my arms for the first time, overwhelmed with a mixture of joy, love, and a touch of anxiety about the future. Little did I know that time would pass in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, my child would be eagerly waiting to obtain their driver’s license. It’s remarkable how fast they grow up. When it comes to selecting a car for a teen driver, safety and reliability become paramount concerns for us as parents. This is where Subaru shines, as a brand renowned for its unwavering dedication to safety and durability. In fact, among the vast array of Subaru models, there are eight standout vehicles that receive high recommendations for young drivers. These models include four in the new vehicle category and four in the used vehicle category, all achieving the coveted Best Choice rating. Join me as we delve into the details of eight Subaru models that are the perfect fit for our teen drivers.
Used Vehicle Category:
Subaru Impreza (2018MY, 2022MY): The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that offers excellent safety features, including all-wheel drive (AWD) and Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist system. It has a reputation for reliability and comes in both sedan and hatchback variants, offering versatility and practicality.
Subaru Legacy (2013-2021MY; built after August 2012): The Subaru Legacy is a midsize sedan that combines safety, comfort, and durability. With its spacious interior and advanced safety technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning, the Legacy provides peace of mind for both parents and teen drivers.
Subaru Forester (2018MY or newer): As a compact SUV, the Subaru Forester offers a higher driving position and ample cargo space. Its symmetrical AWD system provides excellent traction, making it a reliable choice for teen drivers, especially in areas with challenging weather conditions.
Subaru Outback (2015-2018MY, 2022MY): The Subaru Outback is a versatile crossover that strikes a balance between ruggedness and comfort. It offers generous cargo capacity, advanced safety features, and a capable AWD system, making it an ideal choice for adventurous teens and families alike.
New Vehicle Category:
Subaru Legacy: A midsize sedan, the Legacy has earned its spot among the recommended new vehicles due to its exceptional safety record and overall performance. With its spacious and comfortable interior, advanced safety technologies, and reliable handling, the Legacy offers a balanced and enjoyable driving experience.
Subaru Outback: For those seeking a versatile and capable crossover, the Outback is an excellent choice. Boasting a spacious cabin, generous cargo capacity, and Subaru’s renowned symmetrical all-wheel drive system, the Outback provides a confident and safe ride on various road conditions.
Subaru Forester: A compact SUV, the Forester stands out as a recommended new vehicle due to its combination of practicality, safety, and reliability. With ample cargo space, excellent visibility, and advanced safety features, the Forester is well-suited for both daily commutes and weekend adventures.
Finally, the Subaru Ascent, a three-row SUV, has garnered accolades for its spaciousness, comfortable seating, and impressive safety features. With its refined interior, robust performance, and ample room for passengers and cargo, the Ascent offers families a reliable and enjoyable driving experience.
Subaru’s Commitment to Safety and Reliability:
Subaru has a strong reputation for producing vehicles that prioritize safety and reliability. In fact, Subaru has earned more Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ awards than any other brand since 2013*. This recognition highlights Subaru’s dedication to building vehicles that offer the highest level of protection for drivers and passengers alike.
Furthermore, Consumer Reports consistently ranks Subaru as the best mainstream automotive brand, further reinforcing the brand’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Subaru’s reputation for reliability makes it a wise choice for parents seeking a vehicle that will keep their teen drivers safe and secure.
In conclusion, when it comes to selecting a car for a teen driver, Subaru offers a wide range of models that excel in safety, reliability, and overall quality. With four models recommended in both the used and new vehicle categories, Subaru provides options that suit different preferences and budgets. By choosing a Subaru for your teen driver, you can have peace of mind knowing that they are behind the wheel of a vehicle that prioritizes their safety and well-being.
*Please note that the information regarding IIHS TSP+ awards is accurate as of the knowledge cutoff date in September 2021.
From the Fraser Institute
During his victory speech Monday night, Prime Minister Mark Carney repeated one of his favourite campaign slogans and vowed to make Canada a “clean energy superpower.” So, Canadians can expect Ottawa to “invest” more taxpayer money in “clean energy” projects including electric vehicles (EVs), the revolutionary transportation technology that’s been ready to replace internal combustion since 1901 yet still requires government subsidies.
It’s a good time for a little historical review. In 2012 south of the border, the Obama administration poured massive subsidies into companies peddling green tech, only to see a vast swath go belly up including Solyndra, would-be maker of advanced solar panels, which failed so spectacularly CNN called the company the “poster child for well-meaning government policy gone bad.”
One might think that such a spectacular failure might have served as a cautionary tale for today’s politicians. But one would be wrong. Even as the EV transition slammed into stiff headwinds, the Trudeau government and Ontario’s Ford government poured $5 billion in subsidies into Honda to build an EV battery plant and manufacture EVs in Ontario. That “investment” came on top of a long list of other “investments” including $15 billion for Stellantis and LG Energy Solution; $13 billion for Volkswagen (or $16.3 billion, per the Parliamentary Budget Officer), a combined $4.24 billion (federal/Quebec split) to Northvolt, a Swedish battery maker, and a combined $644 million (federal/Quebec split) to Ford Motor Company to build a cathode manufacturing plant in Quebec.
How’s all that working out? Not great.
“Projects announced for Canada’s EV supply chain are in various states of operation, and many remain years away from production,” notes automotive/natural resource reporter Gabriel Friedman, writing in the Financial Post. “Of the four multibillion-dollar battery cell manufacturing plants announced for Canada, only one—a joint venture known as NextStar Energy Inc. between South Korea’s LG Energy Solution Ltd. and European automaker Stellantis NV—progressed into even the construction phase.”
In 2023, Volkswagen said it would invest $7 billion by 2030 to build a battery cell manufacturing complex in St. Thomas, Ontario. However, Friedman notes “construction of the VW plant is not scheduled to begin until this spring [2025] and initial cell production will not begin for years.” Or ever, if Donald Trump’s pledge to end U.S. government support for a broad EV transition comes to pass.
In the meantime, other elements of Canada’s “clean tech” future are also in doubt. In December 2024, Saint-Jérome, Que.-based Lion Electric Co., which had received $100 million in provincial and government support to assemble batteries in Canada for electric school buses and trucks, said it would file for bankruptcy in the United States and creditor protection in Canada. And Ford Motor Company last summer scrapped its planned EV assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario—after $640 million in federal and provincial support.
And of course, there’s Canada’s own poster-child-of-clean-tech-subsidy failure, Northvolt. According to the CBC, the Swedish battery manufacturer, with plans to build a $7 billion factory in Quebec, has declared bankruptcy in Sweden, though Northvolt claims that its North American operations are “solvent.” That’s cold comfort to some Quebec policymakers: “We’re going to be losing hundreds of millions of dollars in a bet that our government in Quebec made on a poorly negotiated investment,” said Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Paradis.
Elections often bring about change. If the Carney government wants to change course and avoid more clean-tech calamities, it should pull the plug on the EV revolution and avoid any more electro-boondoggles.
Kenneth P. Green
Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
MxM News
Quick Hit:
Major automakers are urging Congress to intervene and halt California’s aggressive plan to eliminate gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. With the Biden-era EPA waiver empowering California and 11 other states to enforce the rule, automakers warn of immediate impacts on vehicle availability and consumer choice. The U.S. House is preparing for a critical vote to determine if California’s sweeping environmental mandates will stand.
Key Details:
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Automakers argue California’s rules will raise prices and limit consumer choices, especially amid high tariffs on auto imports.
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The House is set to vote this week on repealing the EPA waiver that greenlit California’s mandate.
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California’s regulations would require 35% of 2026 model year vehicles to be zero-emission, a figure manufacturers say is unrealistic.
Diving Deeper:
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing industry giants such as General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, issued a letter Monday warning Congress about the looming consequences of California’s radical environmental regulations. The automakers stressed that unless Congress acts swiftly, vehicle shipments across the country could be disrupted within months, forcing car companies to artificially limit sales of traditional vehicles to meet electric vehicle quotas.
California’s Air Resources Board rules have already spread to 11 other states—including New York, Massachusetts, and Oregon—together representing roughly 40% of the entire U.S. auto market. Despite repeated concerns from manufacturers, California officials have doubled down, insisting that their measures are essential for meeting lofty greenhouse gas reduction targets and combating smog. However, even some states like Maryland have recognized the impracticality of California’s timeline, opting to delay compliance.
A major legal hurdle complicates the path forward. The Government Accountability Office ruled in March that the EPA waiver issued under former President Joe Biden cannot be revoked under the Congressional Review Act, which requires only a simple Senate majority. This creates uncertainty over whether Congress can truly roll back California’s authority without more complex legislative action.
The House is also gearing up to tackle other elements of California’s environmental regime, including blocking the state from imposing stricter pollution standards on commercial trucks and halting its low-nitrogen oxide emissions regulations for heavy-duty vehicles. These moves reflect growing concerns that California’s progressive regulatory overreach is threatening national commerce and consumer choice.
Under California’s current rules, the state demands that 35% of light-duty vehicles for the 2026 model year be zero-emission, scaling up rapidly to 68% by 2030. Industry experts widely agree that these targets are disconnected from reality, given the current slow pace of electric vehicle adoption among the broader American public, particularly in rural and lower-income areas.
California first unveiled its plan in 2020, aiming to make at least 80% of new cars electric and the remainder plug-in hybrids by 2035. Now, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the U.S. Transportation Department is working to undo the aggressive fuel economy regulations imposed during former President Joe Biden’s term, offering a much-needed course correction for an auto industry burdened by regulatory overreach.
As Congress debates, the larger question remains: Will America allow one state’s left-wing environmental ideology to dictate terms for the entire country’s auto industry?
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