Latest IIHS study: Saab 9-5 NG and Saab 9-4X among safest used cars for teen drivers!

 The month of July tends to be the most dangerous for teen drivers.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety put hundreds of vehicles to the test to find the safest options for teen drivers. Wednesday, the organization released a list of their results.

The study also found many teens are in vehicles that don’t offer good crash protection and lack important safety technology.

The insurance institute tested cars ranging in price from $5,000 to $20,000.

What they found was bigger, heavier vehicles protect better in a crash, even though more than half of teens drive smaller cars. They also found teens should stay away from high horsepower and that electronic stability control is a must. The E.S.C. feature can help a teen keep their vehicle in control on curves and slippery roads.

A lot of cars came out on top.

Here are a few of the best, listed by make, model, recommended year car was made and median price.

LARGE CARS

1. Saab 9-5 sedan, 2010 and later, $17,500!
2. Lincoln MKS, 2009 and later, $15,500
3. Buick Regal, 2011 and later, $13,500
4. Ford Taurus, 2010 and later, $13,500
5. Buick LaCrosse, 2010 and later, $12,900
6. Volvo S80, 2007 and later, $9,000

MIDSIZE SUVs

1. Volvo XC60, 2010 and later, $18,000
2. Saab 9-4X, 2011-12, $17,800!
3. Toyota Highlander, 2008 and later, $17,100
4. Toyota Venza, 2009 and later, $15,900
5. Ford Edge, 2011 and later; built after February 2011, $15,500
6. Ford Flex, 2010 and later, $15,100
7. GMC Terrain, 2010 and later, $14,900
8. Kia Sorento, 2011 and later, $14,500
9. Infiniti EX, 2008 and later, $14,400
10. Chevrolet Equinox, 2010 and later, $13,700
11. Dodge Journey, 2010 and later, $11,200
12. Subaru Tribeca/B9 Tribeca, 2006 and later, $8,500
13. Volvo XC90, 2005 and later, $7,300

GOOD CHOICES:
Recommended used vehicles for teens starting under $10,000

Vehicles on this list earn good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front test and good or acceptable ratings in the side test. If rated by NHTSA, they earn 4 or 5 stars overall or 4 or 5 stars in the front and side tests under the old rating scheme. They also have standard ESC and a better-than-poor rating for head restraints and seats.

Prices, rounded to the nearest $100, were taken from Kelley Blue Book on July 1, 2014, for the lowest trim level and earliest applicable model year based on the following criteria: vehicle in good condition, typical mileage and private party purchase in Arlington, Va.