New drivers have a few needs that experienced drivers usually don’t have to worry about. The vehicles should be inexpensive, both because the budget is probably tight and because teen drivers are more likely to get into accidents. The controls should be responsive and easy to use, and the safety systems should be top-notch. Kia is a good brand when you want plenty of quality at surprisingly low prices, but a few of their vehicles stand out as being exceptional choices for new drivers. 
The Sportage
The 2019 Kia Sportage has won awards for being an excellent vehicle for teen drivers. This compact crossover is easy to handle, especially for an SUV, and the 2019 model comes with quality materials throughout the passenger cabin. It also has a good reliability rating, and this helps because new drivers often don’t service their vehicles or replace oil or parts as often as they should. Most importantly, the middle trim of the Sportage can come with advanced driver assistance features like rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking.
The Optima
The 2019 Optima is Kia’s midsize sedan and a solid member of the company’s lineup. Like the Sportage, the Optima comes with an upscale interior design and a smooth ride, but something that’s new for the 2019 model is better safety features on more trims. For instance, every trim of the 2019 Kia Optima comes with a rear parking sensor, a blind spot collision warning, and a forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking. While these driver assistance features are still a long ways away from self-driving cars, they can already help prevent accidents from happening.
The Rio
If a bargain is important, the 2019 Rio is your best choice. This subcompact vehicle went through a complete redesign for the 2018 model year, so the handling, engine, design, and features are still very new. The Rio gets great gas mileage compared to vehicles in larger classes, and while the horsepower is a gentle 130, it feels great to drive. That’s a helpful compromise when you’re handing the keys to a new driver. The 2019 Rio doesn’t have all the driver assistance features of larger cars, but you can get an available forward collision warning.
The Soul
Like the Rio, the 2019 Kia Soul is a subcompact vehicle that offers buyers a real bargain. As a subcompact crossover, it offers more interior space than the Rio, although it doesn’t have the available all-wheel drive of the Sportage. On the other hand, each of its three trims comes with a different engine, letting you choose how much power your new driver should have. For driver assistance, you should choose the Plus trim because its available features include a forward collision warning, smart cruise control, and a lane departure warning.
With low prices, fine interiors, good handling, and a surprising number of driver assistance features, all four of these Kia vehicles are good options for new drivers. Choose one that’s in your budget and has the best feature list, and you’ll see just how good a Kia can be.
Image by RL GNZLZ via CC BY-SA 2.0
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.