I learned on a Volvo wagon that was only three years younger to me. It was safe, had all of the amenities a teenager needed (four wheels, a working motor, a working manual transmission, and the necessary bits to connect them to the driver) and I learned to love it because it taught me how to take care of a car. I don't think that would have happened if my parents had bought me a brand spankin' new car. However, if a new driver is going to get a brand spankin' new car, I think that some sort of small-ish, efficient, safe vehicle would be a good choice. Many hybrids fit well within that category. For what it's worth, I'm glad he's not interested in a Tahoe. The stakes are much higher when you make a mistake in a vehicle that big, and a new driver will make mistakes. My preference would be a HCH (smaller, likely to be more stable) but that's just me. No reason why the Vue wouldn't work, too.