A car can expand a high school or college student's educational horizons, allowing her to take advantage of opportunities like off-site classes and internships. Car ownership is also a great lesson in responsibility: Kids who pay their car's running costs, they have good incentive to drive carefully (if they break it or crash it, they walk). Here are ten cars that are reliable, easy to drive, affordable, and well suited to student life.
The Focus is one of my favorite small cars. Designed in Europe, it's roomy, cheap to run and a lot of fun to drive. The sporty ZX3 3-door hatchback will probably have the most appeal for young folks; it's good looking, easy to park, and has plenty of room in the back seat to haul friends. It also happens to be the least expensive version. Build quality is dodgy, but in terms of smiles-per-dollar the Focus is hard to beat.
Thanks to the wheelchair-accessible xB Rampvan, disabled students need not miss out on the opportunities and advantages of owning a car. The xB costs about 50% less than an accessible van, it uses less fuel, and - best of all - it's cool! With its automated ramp in back, instead of on the side, the xB isn't limited to van-accessible parking spots. Headroom is limited for tall wheelchair occupants, but the xB is great for shorter people, those who can transfer externally or as a companion car.
The Civic is easy to drive, extremely fuel efficient, and if well cared for will last forever. All new for 2006, the Civic boasts an admirable commitment to safety: Antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags are standard on all models. The body shell is designed to withstand an impact with a heavier vehicle, with coupes receiving extra bracing for side impacts. Civic is available as a jazzy coupe or sensible sedan; budget-friendly LX model offers great value-for-money.
The Hyundai Accent makes a great first car. It's small, easy to drive, and loaded with standard safety features, including front-seat-mounted side airbags and roof-mounted side curtain airbags. Alas, antilock brakes are not available on the cheapest Accent (the GS 3-door), but they are standard on other models. The SE 3-door is an attractive little car with a sporty nature; the more formal GLS sedan will suit kids in a rush to grow up. Price is low, warranty is long and character is strong.
Not all students are single teens; many have families of their own. For them, the Kia Optima is a great choice; it has all the room and amenities of mainstream Japanese sedans, but it's significantly cheaper to buy and run. The current model, redesigned in mid-2006 (and sold as a 2006.5), is packed with standard safety equipment and backed by a long warranty, and the base 4-cylinder engine is fuel efficient and has plenty of power. A great car for a young family.
When I was in college, small Honda Civic hatchbacks were the cars to have. Today the Civic has moved on to bigger and better things, and the hatchbacks are gone; they have been replaced (in spirit, that is) by the Fit. Like the Honda hatchbacks of yore, the Fit is cute, nimble and very frugal. Unlike them, it offers four doors and a back seat that's actually habitable for tall adults -- a much-appreciated improvement.
This 5-door wagon is mechanically identical to the Toyota Matrix and is built to the same high quality standards. The Vibe is an appealing package: Slick styling and plenty of room for cargo and friends. The Vibe is available with all-wheel-drive, a safety feature you should strongly consider if the car will frequently be driven in rain or snow. Antilock brakes are standard and side airbags are optional. Stick with the base model; the GT is more powerful but expensive to insure.
Years ago, the Volkswagen Rabbit was synonymous with cheap motoring -- and then it was gone, renamed Golf and moved steadily upwards in price and prestige. Though a hit in Europe, the Golf was all but ignored in the US. Now VW is bringing the Rabbit back, both in name and spirit. The Rabbit is stacked with safety equipment, brimming with style and priced to sell. Just like the original, the new Rabbit's versatility and style make it a good choice for students.
The Mazda 3 is one of my favorite subcompacts: It's cool to look at, great to drive, and available in both sedan and mini-wagon body styles. It has all the reliability you'd expect from a Japanese car with a bit more pizzazz. "i" models with the 2.0 liter engine are better on gas; drivers prone to speeding are more likely to get in trouble with the 2.3 liter "s".
If conservative clothes are more your style, the Corolla is a good choice; its grown-up image will serve its owner well through school, the job hunt, and the beginnings of a career. The Corolla's interior trim is a step above the coach-class accommodations usually found in its price range, which adds to long-term appeal and makes it an easy car to live with until those student loans are paid off.
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