Going to college can be an intriguing yet nerve-wracking experience. There is so much to do, and you don’t have all the time in the world. What should you consider essential? What is not necessary? Having the right answers to these questions can help you avoid a lot of bumps in the road.

One thing you that’s crucial to your academic productivity is how you get around. If you’ve chosen to get a car, there are some criteria you must consider to get the best use out of your purchase. Owning a car as a college student has become a necessity for various factors.

Comfort: Owning a car brings the level of comfort needed for a long commute to school. Public transport can be incredibly discomforting in college, and if you are someone who values their privacy, a private car will be essential to avoid crowds. Having your ride would make weekend getaways with your friends or beer nights with their mates more enjoyable. Also, if the location of your college is in a remote area, then a car is a top of the list necessity.
Meeting up with Appointments: Owning a car ensures that you don’t miss out on lectures, appointments, or other social gatherings because of the unreliability of public transportation. You get to have a level of control as regards your schedule. The likelihood of unforeseen circumstances is significantly reduced if you own a vehicle.
Convenience: Owning a car also affords you the freedom to do whatever you want to do. Want to take a midnight trip down the grocery shop and get some chocolates and stationaries? Sure, just hop into your car and drive. Want to go to campus in the middle of the night to study? Sure, just jump in your vehicle and go.
Financial: Though it might not look like it at first, buying a car will save you money in the long run. From saving you money on public transportation to other aspects. Investing in the best car will give you a long-term, cost-effective way of getting everywhere you need to be.

Status: College students are notoriously broke, and most of them do take public transportation. Having your car can boost your position and therefore set you apart from your peers. This status can come in handy when or if you are running an election as a student politician. The key here is to pick the ideal car that’s with within your budget and meets your needs adequately.

What should college students know when getting a car?

There are a variety of options to consider when buying a car, and it greatly depends on the individual’s finances and other factors.

New vs Used:

This can be a tricky area for you to navigate. Used cars can offer greater roadworthiness, lesser insurance premiums, and are remarkably cheaper than new cars, but then new cars beat them hands down in terms of technological advancement, comfort, and low maintenance fees. But the choice is yours to make.

Price:

Reports show that 54% of college students in the US have college debt. This reality makes purchasing a car a no go area. But don’t fret; In compiling our list, affordability is a factor we took into consideration. Used vehicles, older model cars or ones with less high tech enhancements are generally less expensive than vice versa.

Financing Options:

College students cannot afford to take out more oppressive loans since they are not working so that financing option is closed to them. Still, students with excellent credit history can afford to take out and are eligible for auto financing options at the dealership. Many dealerships offer a financing option for those who can’t afford the sticker price up straight. Make sure to verify that your dealership provides this option.

Insurance:

Insurance is another sore point for college students as they won’t be able to afford a high insurance premium. Insurance premiums on used cars or older models of vehicles are significantly less than those of their counterparts.

Gas Efficiency:

Buying cars with high gas efficiency can help you conserve precious funds. For being good for the environment, Electric vehicles are highly recommended if you want to stop worrying about gas and the environment. However, their prices may be out of reach for the average college students.

Safety Ratings:

This is another feature to put in mind when selecting a car at the dealership.
The campus is usually a very safety conscious place, so when buying a car, take note to put safety ratings into consideration.

6 Best Cars for College Students

In selecting these cars, we have put into consideration all the factors listed above. The vehicles are not listed in any particular order.

1. Nissan Altima

This mid-range vehicle packs a beastly punch. It is spacious, has a better gas economy, and is cheap enough for the average college student. It features a 5-person seating arrangement and has a horsepower in the range of 182-236hp. It has older 2017,2018 and 2019 models if you are looking for older models but getting an older model will make you miss out on the features the 2020 model possesses such as a rather large touch screen, Apple carPlay, and other upgraded features.

Price: $24,100 ($32,180 for top trim models).

Insurance Premium: $2,196 a year
Safety Ratings: 9.5(Very Safe)
Financing Options: Available
Gas Efficiency Ratings: 25-28 on the city, 34-39 on highways.

2.     Toyota Camry

With this stylish car, you can never go wrong. Whether you are looking for comfort, safety, price savings, and convenience, the Toyota Camry offers all this in a beautiful, well-designed package.

The Camry features an upscale interior with excellent infotainment and superb engines. However, it might be a little pricey.

Price: $24,425

Insurance Premium: $1,432
Safety Ratings: 10
Financing Options: Available
Gas Efficiency Ratings: 22-29mpg on the city, 31-41mpg on highways.

3.     Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is a forerunner of economical hybrid cars. Known for its beauty and small size, the Prius boasts of acceleration of 0-62mph which is commendable for a hybrid vehicle of its size. Its engines produce around 120bhp of power. The Prius operates a hybrid engine but can go up to 36mph on electricity only. Reviewers listed the Prius as not being fun to drive on rocky roads and unstable areas due to its low traction. Compared to the others, the Toyota Prius lags well behind on gas efficiency.

Price: $28,000($13,307 for used version)
Insurance Premium: $1,188 a year
Safety Ratings: 10
Financing Options: Available
Gas Efficiency: 58mpg on the city, 53mpg on the highway.

4.     Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai is renowned for producing aesthetically pleasing cars, and the Sonata is no exception, easy on the eyes, the Sonata is the campus partygoer’s car with its 12-speaker Bose Premium speaker. Perfect for cruising around campus, the Sonata has a spacious and roomy interior and a world-class infotainment system. The Sonata’s engine is a 191hp four-cylinder engine. The 2021 model also comes with adaptive cruise control, advanced pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, and other neat features. The price for the 2021 model can be a little pricey, so college students are advised to buy earlier models to cut costs.

Price: $23,600
Insurance Premium: $2,112 a year
Safety Ratings: 10
Financing Options: Available (in selected states)
Gas Efficiency: 27mpg on the city, 37mpg on the highway.

5.     Mazda 3

The Mazda is a sporty car that is both versatile and powerful. Whether your routing requires long morning or short daily runs, the Mazda is excellent for a variety of purposes. It has great fuel efficiency, a nice interior, athletic performances when you put it through the hoops, a horsepower of 155-184hp. It is equipped with advanced cruise control, a rearview camera.

The Mazda hasn’t changed much within the years, so the 2018,2016 and 2020 models possess almost the same features so college students are advised to get the used model in case of cash crunch or if financially buoyant to get a new earlier one.

Price: $20,200
Insurance Premium: $1,980 a year
Safety Ratings: 9.8
Financing Options: Available
Gas Efficiency: 25-30mpg on the city, 35-41mpg on the highway.

6.     Honda Civic

The Honda Civic was built with safety in mind. It comes with an engine more powerful than other earlier models. Comes with the Honda Sensing safety features and with a spacious cabin capable of sitting more people comfortably and with a sporty feel. The Civic has a 158-306hp engine.

Price: $19,550
Insurance Premium: $1,836 a year
Safety Ratings: 9.7
Financing Options: Available
Gas Efficiency: 22-32mpg on the city, 28-42mpg on the highway.

Going to college is an experience; not everyone gets the opportunity to have. It is up to you to eliminate any challenges that can reduce your academic productivity. Deciding to own a car is only the first step; picking a vehicle that is ideal for your lifestyle, convenience, budget, and safety is the major part. Now that you have the information needed to decide what car best complements your desired college experience. Nothing should stop you from pulling up to college in a great vehicle that suits you perfectly.

If you require further consultations, Contact us today.

Resources

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/hyundai/sonata
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/hyundai/sonata#:~:text=How%20Much%20Does%20the%20Hyundai,than%20many%20other%20midsize%20cars.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/mazda/mazda3/2016
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/honda/civic/2019
www.stilt.com/blog/2018/08/10-best-cars-for-college-students/#
https://www.investopedia.com/student-loan-debt-2019-statistics-and-outlook-4772007