Top 10 Best Cars for College Students in the USA
Whether you are a college student or have teenage siblings, who will soon be a collegiate student, and you want to invest in an efficient car, stay on this page. Here, you get all the details regarding the different types of vehicles that are suitable especially for college students. Sometimes, parents or elder siblings get confused while choosing an appropriate vehicle for the younger ones. Therefore, we have prepared a list of the top 10 best cars for college students in the USA, as of the recent 2024 data.
Parameters to be Considered
Generally, people want their first cars to be affordable, reliable, safer, and fuel-efficient for themselves or their children. Despite this, there are several other parameters, based on which we have prepared this list to provide you with the best car matching your requirements. So, look beneath for the key metrics that we have used to compare our top-10 student cars in the USA:
- Units Sold
- Price
- Engine Capacity
- Power and Torque
- Fuel Efficiency
Our List of Top 10 Best Cars for College Students
As discussed above, we have listed the best top 10 cars for college students in the USA in descending order, including information regarding the key specifications of each car in brief. The main criteria that we have followed to list these cars is the highest number of units sold of the car. So, find your perfect ride from the list below:
10. Subaru Legacy
The all-new Subaru Legacy upholds the 10th position in our ranking, with a total of 9,450 units sold as of June 2024. Starting at just $24,895, the legacy goes up to $38,195 enough to attract students to make a purchase. It is equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is capable of producing 182 HP at 5,800 RPM. This car is also fuel efficient with 35 MPG on the highway and 27 MPG in the city. Its stylish and versatile features include all the necessities for college students.
9. Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 ranked 9th with 17,827 units sold in the first 2-quarters of 2024. You can enjoy the 4-cylinder engine with 186 lb-ft of torque at a variable range of $23,950 to $35,800. With such a powerful engine, Mazda generates around 191 horsepower at 6000 RPM. Moreover, this car has a comparative fuel economy as the legacy with 27-MPG in the city and 37-MPG on the highway. Due to these extraordinary features, Mazda 3 has become one of the popular choices of many students.
8. Volkswagen Taos
The exclusive Volkswagen Taos bags 8th position in our countdown with 32,276 units sold in the first two quarters of the year 2024. With a starting range of $23,995 for its base model, Taos provides all the necessary features to college students that they look for. With its 1.5 liter turbo-4 cylinder, this car delivers 158 HP at 5500 RPM and 184 lb-ft of torque. This car is more fuel-efficient than the Legacy and Mazda 3, with 28 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway.
7. Kia Seltos
If the student is more of an SUV? Then, the new Kia Seltos is the perfect match. The no. 7 Seltos is giving close competition to the Toas with the almost same no. of units ( 32,786) sold in 2024’s first two quarters. The Kia Seltos is worth $24,590 in the US for its base model and goes up to $31,090. The 2-liter 4-cylinder engine of Seltos produces around 146 horsepower and 6,200 RPM. With such an exceptional engine, the Seltos delivers around 28 MPG fuel economy in the city and 34- MPG on the highway.
6. Ford Maverick
For all the students who prioritize utilities with budget, then the new Ford Maverick is the perfect choice for them. With its 8-speed automatic 2-liter EcoBoost engines, it produces around 250 horsepower at 5500 RPM and 277 lb-ft torque at 3000 RPM. Most importantly, you can expect 23 MPG fuel economy in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. All these features made the Ford Maverick rank in our 6th position with 36,693 units till June 2024. In comparison to others, Ford offers a reasonable price of $23,920 and $34,960 for its base model, making it a viable choice for college students.
5. Hyundai Kona
The new Hyundai Kona has maintained its hype by selling around 42,929 units already in the mid-year. Starting at just $24,250, the top model goes highest up to $31,900 in the US market. The Kona has a very powerful 2-liter MPI-Atkinson 4-cylinder Engine that offers 147 horsepower at 6200 RPM. One more interesting thing about Kona is that it delivers around 190 hp in the N-line modes, and a solid fuel economy of 29 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway.
4. Mazda CX-30
Reach new heights with our 4th-ranked Mazda CX-30. It is based on the Mazda 3 compact car and high-class cabin furnishings. In comparison to the Taos and Subaru Crosstrek, the CX-30 has a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder offering powerful 191 hp at 6000 RPM. Despite its exceptional engine performance, the Mazda CX-30 is a perfect blend of performance, fuel economy, and design. It delivers 26 MPG City and 33 MPG Highway fuel economy. The hype of this car can be estimated from its numbers, which are reported to be 51,222 in 2024, available at just $24,995.
3. Chevrolet Trailblazer
This super sharp Chevrolet Trailblazer, a small SUV has a lot of standard features, making it be positioned at top-3 in our countdown. As per the US sales data, this car is the third most sold car in the US, with a total no. of 52,099 units sold till mid-2024. Talking about its key specifications, it has an impressive ECOTEC 1.3-liter Turbo engine delivering 155 hp at 5600 RPM. What makes it different from others is that it is a remote-controlled vehicle, giving you ease of use. Of course, it is highly fuel efficient generating 29 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highways. You won’t believe that you can own it for just $24,395!
2. Honda HR-V
So, now it’s the most awaited no. second on our countdown, which is the Honda HR-V, laced up with the latest technology and innovation. As per the reports, around 76,263 units of the new HR-V have been already sold till the second quarter of 2024. With an affordable starting price of $24,600, the Honda HR-V has a 4-cylinder engine, delivering 158 horsepower at 6500 RPM and 138 lb-ft of torque. Moreover, it comes with exceptional safety features and is highly fuel efficient producing 26 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highways.
1. Honda Civic
So, be seated, here begins the fun-to-drive transportation with our no.1 car for the students, i.e., the Honda Civic. With a whopping 129,788 units sold in just the first 6 months of 2024 in the US only, the Honda Civic is deemed to be the most reliable vehicle for students. Students can easily own it at just a starting value of $24,250 to experience the 4-cylinder engine that promises 150 Horsepower at 6,400 RPM. Additionally, its 7-inch colored touch screen and other interactive features make it more favorable for teenagers. Comparative to all other cars, the Civic has 32 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway.
So, the above-presented information on the top 10 best cars for college students in USA is based on the latest 2024 data. It is now obvious that the Honda Civic is the most efficient and Subaru Legacy is the least efficient vehicle for college students. Hopefully, our blog will help college students to find a suitable fit for themselves. If you are a car enthusiast and want to know more, get in touch with us!
