Buick Encore Among ‘Best Choice’ SUVs for Teen Drivers
Photo: Buick
When young adults hit the road, it’s important to make sure they’re protected — along with everyone else around them. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to keep your teen driver safe, a recent study recommends a used Buick Encore as one of the best ways to do so.
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Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Consumer Reports collaborate on a roundup of the safest, most affordable pre-owned vehicles for young drivers. This study’s goal is to help parents find trustworthy teen transportation for $20,000 or less.
The IIHS/Consumer Reports list recommends “best choice” and “good choice” options across several vehicle sizes and segments. The Buick Encore earned the higher ranking — 2016 model year and newer models were included as “best choices” for safe driving in the small SUV segment.
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Inclusion on the “best choices” list comes with strict requirements. A vehicle must weigh more than 2,750 pounds, have standard electronic stability control tech, and be able to brake from 60 mph to a stop in 145 feet or less. Also a must: “Good” ratings in four IIHS crash tests and a “good” or “acceptable” rating in one more — or similar ratings from the NHTSA.
On the Consumer Reports side of things, “best choice” vehicles need better-than-average reliability and emergency handling scores. They also can’t be associated with a high rate of medical or personal injury insurance claims.
In addition to meeting these standards, the Buick Encore comes standard with a backup camera, daytime running lights, and a tire pressure monitoring system. A choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is available as well. On higher trims, the Encore offers a few extra safety features, including side blind zone alert and rear cross traffic alert.
To learn more, read The News Wheel’s overviews of every Encore model from 2016 to the present. You may also want to check out the GMC Terrain SUV, another “best choice” for teen drivers.
A longtime editor/writer and recently transplanted Hoosier, Caleb Cook lives in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. See more articles by Caleb.