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Toyota’s inaugural hybrid version of its understated yet revered Corolla gave customers a reasonable second choice to the Prius. With comparable fuel economy, better looks, and extraordinary build quality, the 2020 Toyota Corolla is perfect for any used car shopper, especially teenagers.

No, the Corolla isn’t a ground-pounding muscle car—quite the opposite. But the days of teenagers desiring V8 power have waned in the face of high fuel prices and widespread climate sentiment. Moreover, parents can have peace of mind knowing their children probably won’t want to race the fuel-sipping hybrid against peers. The Corolla Hybrid provides much more mpgs than horsepower at the top end. Yet, the five-seater isn’t an unenthusiastic car. For eight specific reasons, it’s one of the best cars teenagers can drive.

#1: Excellent gas mileage

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Toyota

The gasoline-only Toyota Corolla has fantastic fuel economy, but the hybrid—as can be expected—is even better. The EPA says the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid will achieve 53 mpg in the city and 52 mpg on the highway. Therefore, gas money from summer jobs will go a long way with transportation.

#2: Truncated trim levels

One of the stressors in selecting a used car is figuring out what features come in various trim levels. Luckily, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has just one—the base LE. Teenagers won’t be missing out either with its intuitive infotainment setup.

#3: Hose-able interior

One of the bright spots of the LE trim level is its cloth upholstery. After those sometimes messy weekends, there’s no fear of ruining the interior with cleaning chemicals—or even a pressure washer on the floorboards. See, those plasticky bits have an upside.

#4: Cheap replacement parts

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid front seats | Toyota

Given their ubiquity, Toyotas often have cheaper replacement parts that are more accessible than most. Nevertheless, the Corolla’s reliability will assist in lessening the average repair bill. RepairPal asserts the average annual maintenance cost is $362, lower than most cars.

#5: Eco-coolness factor

While aggressively muscular V8 sports cars are desirable for many teenagers, some are put off by them in a climate change-conscious era. Therefore, pulling up in the diet Prius will likely earn your children coolness points when matriculating into their liberal arts college.

#6: Impressive safety features

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid interior | Toyota

One of parent’s priority concerns for their road-going teenagers is safety. Fortunately, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is stocked with Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0. Features include automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward collision control with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, and road sign detection.

#7: Inexpensive to insure

Nerd Wallet reports that the Corolla Hybrid is roughly $1,499 annually to insure with full coverage. While actual rates will depend on the driver and whether the insurance is carried under their parent’s policy, the Corolla is cheaper than most to insure.

#8: It’s a responsible car

One of the best things about the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is how it makes the driver look. Despite the tie-dyed dancing bears decals on the back glass, the Corolla presents the driver as someone who is primarily worried about getting from A to B reliably—not showing off.

How much is a used 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid?

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Toyota

Another outstanding characteristic of the Corolla Hybrid is that it holds its value well. However, that may not be the brightest spot for used car buyers. Given the unique way used cars are valued amid global supply chain kerfuffles, a used 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is likely as much as a brand-new model.

Autotrader shows that three-year-old models with under 50,000 miles go for nearly $25,000. That’s a couple thousand more than the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid’s original MSRP of $23,100. Although that may not be the best prospect, the Corolla Hybrid will likely last long into the driver’s post-graduate years.

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