My Number 1 Pick for Best Cars for Teens

With a sixteen-year-old in the house, a lot of thought has gone into this decision. My number one pick for the best cars for teens is by far the 2018 Kia Rio. Between the safety features, size, cost, and style, the only surprise is that my teenager and I finally agree on something. A first car is a huge deal, and we're usually bickering about, well, all the things. I was able to experience the brand new Kia Rio during the National Press Introduction in Baltimore. All thoughts and opinions shared here are my own.

#1 in Best Cars for Teens

Mom's Reasons:

The safety features are next level. Not only does the 2018 Kia Rio have six airbags, a stable, wide-wheel base, and a 30% increase in body tensile strength, the available tech has me reaching for my checkbook. The UVO3 infotainment system is equipped with 19 services at no charge, including:

• Curfew alert – Via an app on my phone, I can set time and distance parameters for my teen driver. If he breaches either, I get an alert. I'm already a total SnapMap stalker, so this is a fantastic time-saver!
• Parking minder – New drivers especially need all the help they can get when maneuvering tight parking spots. AND, I just realized when you put the car in reverse, the volume of the music dramatically lowers, forcing you to be totally in tune with your surroundings. As soon as you put the vehicle back in drive, the volume reverts to where you had it.

No texting and driving! One of the many things that make the @kia Rio a perfect first car for teens. W/ @MagicalSiblings to #discoverkiario pic.twitter.com/OEITtgj9wt

— Christa Thompson (@FairytaleTVLR) September 3, 2017

• Android Auto/Apple CarPlay – Once synced via your phone, your Rio is a hands-free fun zone. You can verbally command Google to play your favorite songs, guide you to your destination, and make your phone calls. When linked, your phone is locked, so there is no temptation to text and drive.

The Kia Rio is also super budget friendly. With a starting price of just $13,900, this is the perfect first car. Plus, it's wicked efficient. In the presentation at the press event, they said the Rio would get around 27 city and 37 highway miles per gallon. However, when Natasha and I road tripped home through the mountains in SPORT mode, (post coming soon,) we were averaging 39.5 MPG!

Adam's Take:

His first impression: “Woah, it looks cool! Especially on the inside!” That sharp, two tone, red and black interior is definitely impressive. The 5-door hatchback is also preferred amongst his age group.

It's the perfect size. After I made him learn how to drive in my massive F-150, he can now drive almost anything. But he loves that this is big enough for his friends and all their athletic gear, but small enough to be “so easy” to drive. The Rio's turn radius is crazy comparatively speaking. But, they also doubled the number of teeth in the steering column, so it's much more responsive.

Adam is also thrilled to hear about the affordability and fuel efficiency. Twenty bucks to practically fill the tank once a month? That's a teenage budget dream.

Best car for teens–yes–but also Grandparents and anyone on a budget. Who do you know that would love the 2018 Kia Rio?

Find out more about the Kia Rio and follow Kia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest updates! Bookmark this page for all my personal Kia adventures too!