Choosing to own a vehicle is just the first step; choosing the right one that is perfect for your lifestyle, convenience, budget, and safety is the main part. If you decided to buy a car, then there are certain criteria you should take into consideration in order to make the most out of your purchase. We will link sources that examine the reliability and general amenities of a few popular cars, so that you can decide which is best for you.
The cars mentioned on the list are reliable, affordable, and equipped with safety features to make driving safer for college students. Several cars listed below, including the Toyota Corolla, were designated as Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
A couple of the biggest advantages to the Honda Civic are that the gas mileage is excellent, reaching almost 40 miles per gallon on the highway in certain years, and that it is as reliable as cars can get. Plus, cars generally will get better gas mileage than larger peers, offering double the savings. Also, fuel economy is usually better on New Cars, which may also be more reliable.
One major difference is the Ford Fiesta does not have four-wheel drive, and the smaller engine in the Fiesta (you really do not want much bigger ones for a college kid) gets better fuel economy, at a whopping 37 miles per gallon on the highway, making it a serious competitor against the likes of Toyota and Honda. The Ford EcoSport has even managed to achieve 41 miles per gallon on the highway in certain years, although that is not really fast for an all-around efficient vehicle. With a 4-cylinder, you can expect to get 32 to 40 miles per gallon, making the vehicle an excellent choice for people that also want great gas mileage.
The Honda Accord is inexpensive to insure, requiring an average of $1,336 per year for insurance. The spaciousness also makes finding cheap auto insurance affordable for college students; the Sonata, on average, gets $1,335 in insurance quotes.
The Hyundai Elantra will make an excellent choice for the budget-conscious college student, or someone just looking for a utilitarian car for getting around the city. Subarus top-selling car would fit well with students interested in being outdoorsy, but wanting something that is a bit more utilitarian than a SUV. It also has added features like heated and ventilated seats, micro-climates (so that different temperatures can run in different parts of the vehicle), and heated steering wheels.
According to Money Crashers, a Jeep Wrangler is a great choice for college students, not just because it is fun to drive, but also because it is ideal to get around on campus. They are among the best cars for college students that often carry either people or non-person freight across campus, into the city, and out beyond. CR-Vs start at a reasonable price, and you will probably be able to find a better deal on used models, making them an excellent, reasonably priced choice for the college student.
Consumer Reports explained that, for the most part, used cars are a better choice for college students. Buying a new car is more expensive and is out of reach for most families, so a used car is a good, cheap option.
If you are a young person getting ready to begin college, or a parent looking to purchase a car for your college-bound child, finding one that is affordable, reliable, safe, and effective is crucial. There are a lot of types of vehicles, so making a decision about which is best for students around the country can be incredibly difficult. The Toyota RAV4 would be an excellent vehicle for the student looking for something that is cheap, but who also wants to go off-the-beaten-path and go exploring.
While compact SUVs have gotten really popular for their higher seating position and extra cargo room, smaller cars are still a good choice for college students looking to save a little bit of gas. If you want a bit more space — but you still want something smaller, or something that gets better gas mileage than SUVs — then the medium-size car may be the right fit.
Using proper seats and provided harnesses, college students will find trucks and SUVs capable of carrying much more than, say, a smaller coupe, which only fits comfortably two. Because trucks or SUVs are much larger than cars, students will not have any trouble fitting most of their possessions inside them and getting them across in a single ride.
A bit roomier then midsize cars, the Toyota Camry offers a reasonable insurance price of $2,112 per year, or roughly $176 per month. The vehicle offers a reasonable sticker price and good insurance rates, at an average of around $890 a year or about $74 a month. The 04 Camry might not look like the kings horse, but it is still a nice enough vehicle.
In our data, it is the third-most-popular vehicle driven by college students, beloved for its reliability, strong safety ratings, and fuel economy (up to 24 combined miles per gallon). For those reasons and more, best value affordable college car has been awarded to Honda in the past. The Volkswagen Jetta comes loaded with safety features, is fuel-efficient, and has a stylish, timeless design you will be proud to drive through college.
Since it is available with four-wheel drive, the Mazda3 was considered as well when ranking our best snow cars. Mazda has not changed a lot over the years, so 2018 2016 and 2020 models are nearly identical, so it is recommended that university students either grab a used model if money is tight, or get an earlier model if they are financially flush. Used cars, older models of cars, or ones that are not as hi-tech are usually cheaper than vice versa.
