Every student dreams about the personal vehicle. Cars greatly enhance personal mobility, which enables students to manage their time better, especially if they live far from campus and public transportation is a poor option. Plus, the car means fascinating road trips and fun with friends. However, buying a car is not so easy for students, who may lack resources. Fortunately, today, there are many affordable cars on the market, so even students can realize their dream. At the same time, the choice is not limited only to compact vehicles, and there are some sport utility vehicles (SUV) available. Although they are a little bit more expensive, it will be a better option for students living in the countryside.
In this brief analysis made by our technical experts from GPAlabs, several factors played a major role, including:
- price range (new-used)
- fuel consumption in miles per gallon (MPG)
- safety
- add-ons onboard.
Without further ado, here are five affordable cars:
- Honda Fit
- Mazda 3
- Ford Fiesta
- Kia Soul
- Honda CR-V
Let’s take a look at them in more details.
Honda Fit: Spacious Subcompact Hatchback
Honda Fit is a stylish, reliable, and very spacious car for its size. It also comes at a low price range of $4,000 – $16,190. The fuel economy is outstanding, ranging from 29-33 MPG in the city and up to 36-40 on the highway. Meanwhile, the student would enjoy an impressive volume of tech and safety features on board, like rearview camera, 5-inch infotainment display with Bluetooth and USB ports for multimedia.
Mazda 3: Reliable Sedan
Mazda 3 is reliable and affordable, especially if one looks for a used car. Then the price starts at just $3,000. The new Mazda would cost $19,000, but for that price, you will get a solid car with elegant design, modern infotainment system, and great safety marks. The wallet would be happy as well since its combined MPG is 31.
Ford Fiesta: Best Value for Money
Ford Fiesta is the best way to afford a car and make your bank account feel safe. The new Ford Fiesta costs as much as $14,260 and used starts at $4,000, which makes it one of the most affordable cars on the market. Moreover, for that price, you will get a fantastic fuel economy of 25-27 MPG in the city and 32-37 on the highway, low price of repair, necessary add-ons like voice activation, Bluetooth, USB, and a 4.2-inch display, and basic safety tools like a rearview camera. However, Fiesta has some troubles with safety and reliability rankings and has less room if compared to competitors.
Kia Soul: Affordable Subcompact SUV
For those seeking more room and cargo space, SUV may be a good option. Kia Soul is a subcompact SUV which starts at just $17,490, with used options of previous generations starting at $7,000. Soul does well in terms of fuel consumption, with 25-27 MPG in the city and 31-33 on the highway. The latest model includes such specs as smartphone synchronization (iOS or Android), wireless device charging, touch screen multimedia center, and driver drowsiness monitoring.
Honda CR-V: Full-Fledged Suv For Starters
For those having little more money, Honda CR-V is a nice option of affordable, full-fledged SUV. It is spacious and cost-saving in terms of fuel, with MPG of 25-28 in the city, and 31-34 on the highway. The price starts at $24,350, but previous generations of CR-V cost as much as $4,000.