Starting car price: $16,500
Fuel economy: 26 city and 36 highway mpg
Engine specs: 2-liter, four-cylinder
The Focus Sedan S is one of the more fuel-efficient among our choices for a teen's first cars. It also has Ford's MyKey safety system, which allows parents to put speed and audio limits on the vehicle.
Additional standard safety features include electronic stability control, and front, side, and side-curtain air bags. Consider the 2012 model, which is already available. It's an IIHS Top Safety Pick in its class and scores better than previous models on side-impact tests.