Best Car for College Students:#5-Kia Spectra January 31, 2008

            

Price: $17,995 (2007 sedan)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Hwy): 24/32 mpg
Crash tests: 5 stars frontal, 4 stars side (4-dr); Good frontal offset

The Spectra has been designed inside and out to impress even the most demanding parents to meet the needs of their college sons/daughters and has earned 5 star car safety rating. So parents will be most happy and feel secured for their young.

A good compromise between cost, safety and efficiency on a tight budget, the Spectra sedan rides comfortably and handles well. Front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags are included, but ABS is optional. The Spectra is also available in a sportier Spectra5 five-door hatchback variant that might prove more useful and appealing than the sedan.

Best Car for College Students:#4-Jeep Compass January 31, 2008

          

Price: $17,035
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Hwy): 23/27 mpg (est)
Crash tests: 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side

The Compass comes with standard electronic stability control and side curtain airbags, and all-wheel drive is available for all-weather traction. Options include a powerful sound system with outward-facing tailgate sound speakers, ideal for summer parties.

Safety features are common to Jeep Compass Sport 4X2 and Jeep Compass Limited 4X4, including side-curtain air bags, head protection, seatbelts in all five positions, electronic stability control (ESP) with ERM (Electronic Roll Mitigation), anti-lock brakes, and brake assist for panic stop.

Best Car for College Students:#3-Toyota Corolla January 30, 2008

         

Price: $16,820
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Hwy): 26/35 mpg
Crash tests: 5 stars frontal, 4 stars side; Good frontal offset, Acceptable side

The Corolla is one of the best, most trouble-free cars available. Fuel economy is stellar, Consumer Reports rates reliability tops, and the Corolla ranks 4.5 out of 5 stars in J.D. Power’s Overall Quality — Mechanical. Make sure you option up to both the seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain bags, along with ABS

Best Car for College Students:#2-Scion tC January 29, 2008

          

Price: $16,720
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Hwy): 21/29 mpg
Crash tests: 5/4 stars frontal, 4 stars side

The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates the xA, xB and xD because the name xC has already been taken by Volvo for its XC70 and XC90 models. According to Scion, tC stands for “Touring Coupe.”

One of the most fashionable, and popular, choices among young buyers is also quite practical. The tC isn’t a sports car, but it looks like one to some. It also has a roomy interior that feels luxurious and wouldn’t be out of place in a much more expensive car. Side-impact and side curtain airbags are now standard on the tC for 2008.

Best Car for College Students:#1-Hyundai Elantra January 29, 2008

                 

Price: $15,895 (2007 sedan)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway): 25/33 mpg (estimated)
Crash tests: 5 stars frontal, 4 stars side (4-dr); Good frontal offset

Hyundai Elantra ranked #2 in 2006 and 2007 in the category of most fuel efficient sedans and most efficient non-hybrid mid-sized sedan.

The economical but well-equipped Elantra stands out as a good student choice for its roomy and comfortable interior and good gas mileage. Six airbags and Antilock Breaking System (ABS) are standard, and electronic stability control is available on the more expensive SE model.