When your teenager gets their driver’s license, it can be a bit daunting. It can be scary to realize that the youngster you’ve cared for all their life is taking the first steps toward independence by heading out on the road. But, you still have a big role to play, and helping them choose the right first car is very important.
While your teen might want a flashy, powerful car with all the latest gadgets, you need to guide them toward a safe and reliable car that also offers good fuel economy. Whether you’re looking for a new or used vehicle, the Chevrolet lineup has some great options for young drivers.
Chevy Malibu
The Chevy Malibu is a stylish and elegant midsize sedan that features sporty touches and fastback styling that will keep your teen driver’s street cred intact. The current model features a spacious interior and a lively, fuel-efficient engine. The base L trim is well-equipped, but stepping up to the LS model gives you access to many additional safety features.
It comes standard with automatic headlights, daytime running lights, 16-inch aluminum wheels, and power mirrors. The spacious cabin seats five people in comfort and you can fit 15.7 cubic feet of gear in the roomy trunk. Folding down the 60/40 split rear seats gives you even more cargo capacity.
Standard interior features include a driver information center, cruise control, air conditioning, a tilting and telescoping steering column, and a 12-volt power outlet. Keeping you connected is the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with an 8-inch touch screen, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, voice command, and Bluetooth for audio streaming and hands-free calling.
The Malibu LS trim features teen driver technology which helps to encourage better driver behavior. It enables you to set speed warnings, restrict the car’s speed, and limit the audio volume. The Buckle to Drive feature prevents the driver from shifting out of park for 20 seconds if their seatbelt isn’t buckled. You can even get an in-vehicle report card with information on how your teen has been driving.
When equipped with the Driver Confidence I and II Package, the Malibu LS offers a following distance indicator, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, lane change alert, side blind-zone alert, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. You also get automatic high beams and rear parking sensors.
Helping to keep your young driver on track is electronic stability control with traction control and brake assist. Electronic grade braking helps to maintain a constant speed when heading downhill.
Chevy Equinox
If you’d feel more confident with your teen in a larger and heavier vehicle, the Chevy Equinox compact crossover SUV could be a practical choice. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the 2016 and later Equinox as one of the safest and most reliable vehicles for teen drivers.
The Equinox is available in L, LS, LT, and Premier trim levels. It sits tall on the road to give the driver superb all-around vision, while its distinctive head-turning styling makes it stand out from the crowd. Standard exterior features include 17-inch alloy wheels, and body-color door handles. Your young driver might appreciate the extra features of the LT model, such as xenon headlights and deep-tinted rear glass.
Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that delivers 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The Equinox offers agile handling and sporty performance around town and confident cruising on the highway. You’ll get up to 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg for highway driving. All but the L trim offer the option of all-wheel drive.
The Equinox’s spacious and versatile cabin has seating for five along with 29.9 cubic feet of luggage space. With the rear seats folded flat, you get a 63.9-cubic-foot cargo area. You get all the connectivity of the Malibu along with a 7-inch touch screen.
Late models come standard with teen driver technology and Chevy Safety Assist, which includes a following distance indicator, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Opting for the LT adds the option of the Driver Confidence II Package.
Chevy Spark
For a fun and funky option, the Chevy Spark is an extra-small hatchback with a big personality. It’s a fuel-efficient compact that just might be the ideal car for zipping around town. It’s offered in a range of vibrant colors so your teen can choose the perfect Spark to match their style. A rear aero spoiler adds to the Spark’s sporty appearance
The Spark is powered by a responsive 1.4-liter engine that gives you 98 horsepower and 94 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or a seamlessly shifting continuously variable transmission. With its compact size and nimble handling, you can negotiate the city streets with ease and get into the smallest parking spots. The Spark returns up to 30 mpg and 38 mpg for city and highway driving, respectively.
The trendy cabin matches the character of the exterior. With a full complement of four passengers, you have 11.1 cubic feet of luggage space. The 60/40 split rear seats fold down to give you 27.2-cubic feet for cargo. Interior features include cloth or leatherette upholstery, high-back bucket front seats, air conditioning, and a tilting steering column. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with a 7-inch touch screen gives you all the connectivity you need.
Standard safety features include electronic stability control, traction control, hill start assist, and a rear vision camera. A tire pressure monitoring system and oil-life monitoring system alert you to maintenance needs. An available Driver Confidence Package adds forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.
The features of these Chevy vehicles will satisfy your teen and the driver assistance technology will help to give you peace of mind while your young driver is on the road. Visit us at Huffines Chevrolet Plano to see our full range of new and used Chevy vehicles.
Image via Chevrolet Pressroom