Starting car price: $21,380

Fuel economy: 23 city and 34 highway mpg

Engine specs: 2.4-liter, four-cylinder

The Accord has long been a favorite for a teen's first car because of its safety and its affordable car price, and 2011 models are no exception.

This year, the four-door sedan received the highest overall rating -- five stars -- from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, which tests cars and measures them based on crash and rollover safety.

This accomplishment is especially noteworthy because beginning with 2011 models, NHTSA updated its tests to make them more stringent.

The Accord's safety features include stability control, traction control, which helps regulate wheel spin during acceleration, and a four-wheel antilock braking system. It also has electronic brake-force distribution, which helps keep the car stable when the driver brakes.

The Accord has front, front-side and side-curtain air bags, and it's also designed with active front head restraints, which help passengers reduce the chance of whiplash in a rear impact crash.

Young audio enthusiasts can enjoy a six-speaker sound system with AM and FM radio and a CD player, which come standard.