Best Used Cars For College Students: Five Things to Consider

As most current and former students know, affordable cars are the best cars for college students. Beyond the purchase price, you should also take these factors into account:

• Reliability: We remember having to work between classes and know how inconvenient an unreliable car can be in this situation. Stick to brands that are well-known for their reliability and obtain a vehicle history report. A reliable used car can also last for years after graduation.
• Repair and Maintenance Costs: All cars, even the most reliable, will need work from time to time. When this need inevitably arises, the best cars for college students will cause a far less severe budgeting headache. We recommend avoiding luxury or high-performance cars for this reason.
• Fuel Efficiency: As with maintenance, you don’t want frequent fill-ups to demolish your weekly budget. Stick to something that uses regular gasoline and delivers at least 25 MPG combined, or search for affordable used electric vehicles.
• Practicality: Many college students may need to transport equipment or large projects throughout their time at school — and of course, take friends to Kentucky Wildcats games. Look for a spacious interior with split-folding seats or a large trunk.
• Safety: While not always the case, most college students are still new to driving. The best cars for college students will ease both their and their parents’ worries. Look for an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating, along with features like blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assistance. Also consider how easy the vehicle is to drive — compact sedans are easier than full-size trucks, for instance.

Although determining the best used cars for college students involves further criteria like insurance costs, our car dealership in Lexington, KY, can still help you and your soon-to-be college student make the best choice with our high-quality selection of used cars for sale in Lexington, KY.

Best Cars for College Students: Our Top 10 Choices

While every student’s preferences will vary, 10 models in particular tend to be widely regarded as the best cars for college students. Whether you’re looking at recent-year used cars or new cars for sale in Lexington, KY, pay attention to these 10 vehicles:

• Subaru Impreza Hatchback: Spacious, safe, feature-packed, and affordable
• Subaru Crosstrek: The Impreza, but as a higher-riding SUV
• Subaru Forester: More power, fun, style, and space
• Toyota Corolla: The long-time compact sedan champion
• Toyota Camry: A larger, more powerful Corolla
• Toyota Corolla Cross: The Corolla, but as an SUV
• Toyota Prius: The steadfast hybrid hatchback
• Honda Civic: The Corolla’s main competitor
• Honda CR-V: A versatile and affordable SUV
• Nissan Sentra: An extra-affordable sedan with good features

If you specifically consider used cars for sale in Lexington, KY, keep in mind that the best cars for college students will be handpicked for quality and provided with detailed vehicle history reports, like those at our car dealership in Lexington, KY. Furthermore, going the used car route can give you access to lower prices and a larger model selection than if you committed to new cars for sale in Lexington, KY.

A handful of past-generation models that can be great cars for college students include:

• 2013–2017 Subaru Crosstrek: Enhanced affordability on one of the best cars for college students
• 2010–2014 Subaru Outback: Similar dimensions and specs to the new Forester, but with more cargo room
• 2010–2015 Toyota Prius: A solid choice for value and efficiency
• 2015–2020 Honda Fit: A fun, affordable, and practical hatchback that sips fuel
• 2013–2017 Honda Accord Coupe: Some extra sportiness in their campus companion

We put special emphasis on the Subaru Crosstrek because it is widely considered to be one of the best cars for college students. It’s affordable, easy to maneuver through campus parking lots, and gets efficient mileage for Spring Break road trips. It has great styling and can haul plenty of stuff for a trip. The Subaru Crosstrek will also give the entire family confidence thanks to its top safety features.

Additionally, a first-generation Subaru Crosstrek is one of the best used cars for college students because the IIHS gave it the Top Safety Pick award in 2013 and 2014 and the Top Safety Pick+ award in 2015 and 2016.

Source: https://www.carsfellow.com/best-cars-for-college-students-in-2024/