If you want your college students to visit, send them off with one of the best and most affordable cars that will get them around.
Before buying a car for your college-bound offspring, find out if the college allows first-year students to have cars. If so, make sure the car you send them with is one that will get them home regularly. Going to college is sometimes the first time students are away from home for an extended time and you’ll want to ensure they can come home and veg out on your couch for a weekend if they want to feel the comforts of home for a couple of days.
The Toyota Corolla is a Logical Choice
When you want to spend $25,000 or less, there are still some new models that can fit into your budget. The 2022 Toyota Corolla is one of these cars. This compact sedan is a great choice for students heading to college. The Corolla is efficient, safe, and reliable; all of which are the most important factors in buying a car for a student. The LE trim could be the sweet spot for your student to have the right car to drive.
A Redesigned Hyundai Elantra Gives Your Student a Great-Looking Car
Hyundai redesigned the Elantra two years ago and gives us one of the most attractive compact sedans in the market today. The SE trim can be one of the best and most affordable cars for college students to drive. You’ll find a full package of standard safety features, an efficient powertrain, and a stylish vehicle that your student will love to drive. Send them off the right way with this gorgeous little Hyundai.
The Mazda3 Could be the Safest Choice
The Mazda3 earned a Top Safety Pick+ distinction from the IIHS, which makes it one of the safest cars you can give your child to drive. This car offers a powertrain that delivers 31 mpg combined, and its one of the most attractive small cars in the market. Your student will have a lot of room in the hatchback version of this car, which could be important for moving in an out of the college dorms. Let them enjoy the style and versatility of this impressive Mazda.
Could the Kia Seltos Make Sense
When your budget is $25,000, the 2023 Kia Seltos fits into the mix. This small SUV is surprisingly roomy and hits all the right marks for safety and quality. You’ll be glad to send your student off to college with the full suite of safety features and they will love the roominess offered. These qualities make the Seltos one of the best and most affordable cars for college students to drive. Of course, your student will love the connectivity offered in this Kia SUV as well.
The Practicality of the Nissan Sentra Isn’t Lost
Compact sedans are among the most practical cars in the market, which means the Nissan Sentra is a car that makes a lot of sense for your student to drive. The 2022 Sentra brings upscale styling, sportiness, and the “zero gravity” seats which makes this car one of the most comfortable you can drive on any road. The fuel mileage reaches up to 39 mpg on the highway, making the ride home on weekends more efficient for your student. Take away those gas price excuses with the Sentra.
What Student Wouldn’t Love to Drive the Kia Soul?
For years, the Kia Soul has brought a fun and funky style to the road. This car is easily one of the best and most affordable cars for college students to drive. You’ll find incredible value in this little Kia. The Soul has a comprehensive list of safety features, a large rear area for cargo, and an efficient powertrain. This Kia doesn’t cost a lot to maintain, which makes it even more affordable for your student to drive and enjoy.
The Hyundai Kona Could be the Right Mix
If your student is attending a college that’s located in a large city, they might need a small SUV to get around and maneuver in tight places. The Hyundai Kona is perfect for this activity. This subcompact crossover brings a generous cargo hold, an impressive roster of safety features, and the fuel mileage you want to enjoy. Parking this small SUV is easy, even if your teen isn’t used to parallel parking.
Add the Benefits of AWD with the Subaru Crosstrek
Even though most of the vehicles on our list overlook the benefits of AWD, the Subaru Crosstrek doe not. This small and active SUV could be perfect for your student to drive. This is one of the best and most affordable cars for college students and it gives them something more. If they want to take an adventure to a lake or ride on some light trails, every model of this Subaru can handle the ride. Let them have the safety and fun of the Subaru AWD system in the Crosstrek.
The Honda HR-V is an Excellent Subcompact Crossover to Drive
Do you own the larger Honda CR-V? If you want to give you student a smaller version of what you drive, the HR-V is the right choice. This little crossover returns a combined fuel mileage of 28 mpg and it’s one of the safest models in its class. The Honda Sensing Suite of driver alerts work extremely well, and your student will be glad to have the impressive level of connectivity offered in the base LX model of the HR-V.
The Honda Civic is a Sensible Choice
Your young driver wants a car that’s fun, you want them to have a car that’s safe. Meet in the middle with the Honda Civic. This affordable compact sedan can be the best choice for your student to drive. The car is a Top Safety Pick+ model and it earned the 5-Star rating from the NHTSA. You’ll know this is one of the best and most affordable cars for college students when you see what the Civic brings to your drive.
Which one of the best and most affordable cars for college students will you choose? These ten are just the starting point of what you can offer your student to remind them that you’d like them to come home and visit regularly.
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