No doubt going to college is one of the most exciting things for students in life. After selecting the right college, buying books, and registering for the courses, the most important thing students and parents worried about is transportation. It doesn’t matter if you are a young adult who wants a nice car to commute to during college life or a parent who wants to buy a safe car for their child this article is going to help you in the process.
Before moving toward the list of best cars to buy for college students, there are plenty of factors that are needed to be taken into account.
Size Of A Car
Most of the young drivers fell for sporty cars with stylish looks and parents often surrender in front of the wish of their child. Although, it seems harmless to buy a sporty small size car still IIHS ( Insurance Institute For Highway Safety) thinks otherwise, according to them midsize and large cars are preferable for college-going students.
IIHS has reported that the death rate after crashes falls with the increase in the size of a car. It doesn’t stop here some other studies have also shown that large and midsize cars have lower death rates than small and subcompact cars.
So, you need to be very careful before making any buying decision. Try to find a midsize or a large car with stylish looks. By doing that you can not only make your child happy but can also ensure safety.
Safety Features
Besides preferring midsize or large cars there are also some other ways to ensure that you are buying a safer car for your child. Safest cars are those which have the latest safety features. To buy a car with high-tech safety features you have to buy a new car if it’s affordable. A car with the latest safety features can also lower your insurance costs. However, if you have a plan to buy a used car you can still look for the necessary safety features in the potential car.
You should look for features such as daytime running lights, electronic stability control, and anti-lock brakes. These features are ensuring the safety of a driver for years. If you have an option of a less expensive car without these safety features and a bit more expensive car with the above-given safety features you should go for the second option.
New drivers usually don’t care about speeding and may end up with severe accidents. So, as a responsible parent, you should ensure the safety of your child. If you are a young driver and buying a car by yourself don’t forget the above-given tips during the process of buying a car.
What Are the Best Cars For College Students? Honestly, safety always must be first before answering this question.
Fuel Efficiency
As the monthly budget of a student is limited it’s a wise decision to buy a fuel-efficient car. If a car’s fuel consumption is high a student may have to make difficult choices just to drive a car. Students can disturb their living, food, and study expenses for their cars. The CEO of CarBuyingTips.com Jeff Ostroff summed this up in these lines.
“When gas prices are low, people go out and buy SUVs and pickup trucks like there is no tomorrow,” he says. ”But six months later, the gas price could double.”
So, don’t forget to check the fuel consumption of the car you are buying.
Car Ratings
A brand new car with the latest safety features may be out of the budget for a college student. So, it’s necessary to know what is more important to look for in a car. In 2013, the US government has made some features compulsory in every vehicle. These features are traction control, anti-lock brakes, and stability control. So, even if you have a plan to buy a used car try to look for a car with the model year of 2013 or more.
IIHS has suggested the four key principles for parents to look for before buying a car.
Electronic Stability Control
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) is an industry-standard in cars since 2012. So, in case you see a car with the model year before 2012 ask for ESC. Electronic Stability Control is very helpful for drivers in maintaining control on slippery roads and curves.
Horsepower
It’s always better for younger, less experienced drivers to have less horsepower in their cars.
Crash Test Ratings
Don’t just settle for normal crash test ratings. Try to find the vehicle which earned the best ratings in terms of safety.
Size
As explained earlier small or mini-size cars are not safe for young drivers. Try to find a mid-size or large car. A small SUV can also do the work but don’t forget to check its safety ratings.
5 Best Cars to Buy for College Students
Here is the list of 5 cars which are most suitable for college-going students.
1. Toyota Camry (2021)
Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan that offers a comfortable ride. It’s ranked as one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S. Toyota Camry comes with the latest high-tech safety features which are worth spending money on.
It has a V6 3.5-liter engine with the capability of making 301 horsepower. All-wheel drive is also available if you go with a standard 4-cylinder engine. Camry comes with a TRD trim featuring an aggressive body kit and a stylish suspension.
If we talk about its interior it has a capacity of seating 5 people with an availability of 15.1 cubic feet of space in its trunk.
2. Hyundai Elantra (2021)
Hyundai Elantra is fully upgraded for the 2021 model. Hyundai Elantra offers safety features of automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane centering, driver attention warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, collision warning, and many more.
If we look into its interior it has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, high-beam assist, an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, and two USB ports. The mileage of an Elentra if combined is 37 mpg. It has the body style of a 4-door sedan and the platform on which it is made is Hyundai-Kia K3.
The transmission options for Hyundai Elentra are 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic. If we look at its dimensions it has a height of 1,430 mm and a length of 4,680 mm.
3. Kia Forte (2021-2022)
A roomy cabin, a modern infotainment system, and low fuel consumption make this car one of the best for college-going students. It has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and if combined with an automatic transmission it can go up to 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.
It has a basic warranty of 5-years/60,000-mile and a powertrain warranty of 10-years/100,000-mile making Kia the provider of one of the longest warranties in the market.
Kia Forte has body-style options of a 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback. Its dimensions include a length of 4,640 mm and a height of 1,440 mm. Unique offerings of Kia Forte give parents peace of mind and a surety that their child is in a safe vehicle.
4. Mazda3 (2021)
Mazda3 is known for its stylish design and aesthetic looks. It’s available in the engine options of a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. If we talk about Mazda3’s interior it has a display of 8.8-inch with smartphone compatibility and 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space. An option of an all-drive wheel system is also available.
It’s a hybrid vehicle powered by a 24 V lithium-ion battery. It has transmission options of 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic. Looking into its dimensions you’ll find a wheelbase of 2,725 mm, a length of 4,661 mm, and a height of 1,445 mm.
5. Honda Accord
Having great crash scores and a long list of safety features makes the Accord one of the most suitable cars for college students. Honda Accord offers a comfortable ride with a spacious cabin and punchy powertrains.
The cabin of an Accord offers two rows of comfortable seats and 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Accord comes with two turbocharged engines of 1.5-liter which can make a horsepower of 192 and a 2.0-liter having a capability of making 252 horsepower. 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway are offered by a standard engine which is ideal for college-going students.
We hope that this article will help you to find an ideal car for your child or yourself if you are a college student. Don’t forget the above-mentioned tips and advice. Best of luck with the exciting journey of finding a good car.
