2014-2015 Ford C-Max Among Best Used Cars For Teens Under $20,000

May 30, 2022 7:37 am

The Ford C-Max may no longer be in production, but the small and efficient model is still racking up plenty of accolades. Most recently, that involved the 2017 Ford C-Max, which made Consumer Reports‘ Best Used Cars and SUVs for $15,000-$20,000 list back in December. Now, the 2014-2015 C-Max has also been added to CR‘s Best Used Cars for Teens Under $20,000 list as well, joining the 2015 and 2018 Ford Fusion, as well as the 2011 Ford Taurus in that regard.

Purchasing a vehicle for a teen is a bit more difficult than experienced adults since most parents must balance both cost and safety when making that decision, particularly since teens are, on average, the riskiest drivers on the road and experience crash rates far higher than other age groups. That’s precisely why Consumer Reports teams up with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to come up with a list of vehicles that are reliable, safe, and affordable.

In that regard, the 2014-2015 Ford C-Max made the cut thanks in part to its average list price of $8,400. To make this list, vehicles must also have above-average reliability scores based on CR‘s member surveys, average or better scores on emergency handling tests, have dry braking distances of less than 145 feet from 60 miles-per-hour, good ratings in four IIHS crashworthiness tests – moderate-overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints – and either four or five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if the vehicle has received a rating.

“In compiling these lists, we found that some of the same models that were on last year’s lists are actually more expensive now even though they’re a year older due to the tumultuous market,” said Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. “As the same amount of money may not be going as far, it’s even more important to make it a safe and reliable choice.”

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By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.