“How can I help my teen choose a safe first car?”
This is a huge issue for parents. Their child is looking to buy their first car – often with parents’ financial assistance – and both want different things.
The grown-ups favour safety and reliability; the kids usually prioritise lifestyle, performance, tech and cool factor. Both sides are understandable.
But strong parenting is needed. I’m a dad to teens, and have been on the scene of countless fatal accidents as a newspaper journalist, including P-platers.
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It’s overwhelmingly affecting. I aim to get my kids in the safest cars we can afford.
We must look at objective car safety statistics. I believe the best is the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) produced by Monash University’s Accident Research Centre.
It lists 561 car models up to 30 years old, rated from one to five stars based on relative safety performance.
Ratings have been calculated through analysing 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million injured road users across Australia and NZ from 1987 to 2023.
Any used car you’re considering can be checked. Low star rating? Solid reason to tell your child that one’s a no.
We’d love our kids to be in brand new, super safe Volvos, but budget is the harsh reality.
The list is so important to find affordable used cars that have performed well in crashes.
Five star examples? A 2009+ Honda City; 2012+ Toyota Prius; 2016+ Holden Astra; 2012+ Hyundai i30; 2013+ Mazda3; 2013+ Nissan Juke and 2016+ Mitsubishi ASX.
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Some one star shockers include the 2001-12 Holden Barina XC; 2004-08 Ford Fiesta; 2002-11 Hyundai Getz; 2000-2011 Kia Rio; 2011-16 Nissan Micra and 1998-2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara.
These days, many young people want utes.
These are probably the worst first cars: heavy, hard to control, longer braking distances and more likely to roll.
Unless a ute is absolutely needed for work, just say no. Let them boost driving skills in a proper car for a few years first.
Send your motoring questions to cars@news.com.au
DIVE DEEPER
Would you consider buying a “grey” import from Japan? What about used cars where parts and panels may not be available in future, like locally-built Falcons and Commodores? How many kilometres on a used car do you think is too many? A 150,000km cut-off?
Wayne De Lacy, Donald
Great questions. Grey imports from Japan? The weak yen throws up appetising prices (I nearly bought a $20k 1998 Toyota Century V12 grey import last year), and it’s a solid option for the enthusiast.
But no warranty, region-locked infotainment (with Japanese characters), hard-to-source parts and costly insurance are potential woes many can’t abide.
Falcons and Commodores were produced in ample numbers that most spare parts should remain available. More will hit breakers’ yards in coming years.
And mileage? Think calculated risk. I’d favour a 250,000km engine with perfect service history over a 100,000km one with no records. My 2001 BMW 530i’s six-cylinder is at 290,000km and still sings.
Do homework through online owners’ groups. If a certain model’s engine seems to often fail around 150,000km, best swerve it.
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BOXED IN
I love my 2024 Hyundai Kona Premium, but now live in an apartment with very tight basement parking. What is the smallest SUV – petrol or hybrid – with the Kona’s features, like heated steering wheel, overhead camera and blind spot cameras?
Frances Forbes, email
Try a Mazda CX-3 Akari. It’s tiny for easy parking and has heated leather seats and 360-degree camera, but no warming steering wheel nor blind spot cameras when indicating. It’s also around $43,000 drive-away.
If feeling flush, try an Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida ($50k drive-away) with massaging heated leather, or Lexus LBX Sports Luxury ($60k drive-away) with heated leather seats and steering wheel, and 360-degree camera.
But you love your Kona: try solutions to keep it. If you’re worried about damage, buy rubber door protectors to ward off dings.
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SUPERMODEL UPKEEP
I’m considering a used Range Rover Velar, but wonder which is the best engine for reliability? The D180, D240 or D300? Owners report common problems with diesel emissions and AdBlue systems, and it going into limp mode or not starting at all. I also see over 300 Velars for sale, which seems excessive. Is this due to common issues and faults?
Sean Gribble, email
The Velar allure is obvious. It’s up there with the best SUV designs, and the Range Rover badge has unrivalled cachet.
Many Velars are used as urban cruisers, and diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and AdBlue systems simply don’t like that. Hence many reported issues. Unless you’re planning serious annual mileage, Velar owner forums show the petrol to be more reliable than diesel. Your fuel bills will be higher, but if your heart’s set on one, I’d favour a petrol. But deep dive owner forums – some of the bills look monstrous.
Only around 400 new Velars sell annually, so having 300 in the classifieds shows many want rid. In the UK (larger Velar market), the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey had Velar placed 22nd out of 24 large SUVs. Red flag.
Can I interest you in a Toyota Camry, Sir?
