Sport utility vehicles, especially the smaller ones, are inherently less stable than cars because of their higher centers of gravity. A more stable car would, at worst, skid or spin out. Even if your teenager drives a car with a sedate image, it's possible that sooner or later he or she will be in a wreck. This is why it's also important to pick a vehicle that offers good crash protection. Don't let your teen drive a small vehicle.
Small vehicles offer much less protection in crashes than larger ones.
This doesn't mean you should put your child in the largest vehicle you can find. Check out the safety ratings for mid-size and larger cars. Most of today's cars offer better crash protection than cars of 6 to 10 years ago. So avoid older vehicles. For example, a newer mid-size car with airbags would be a better choice than an older, larger car without airbags.