Find the Best Car Deals Near You ⤵
10 Best Cars for College Students
August 30, 2012
It's that time of year when students are heading to college. With money tight and gas being expensive, their car needs to be fuel efficient, safe, and inexpensive.
Based on these factors, CarsDirect this week released their list of the top 10 Best Values for College Students.
As always, I recommend you use the RydeShopper to get the most savings when shopping for these vehicles.
| Rank | Vehicle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012 Volkswagen Jetta | Great styling and comfort. TDI gets high mpg |
| 2 | 2012 Nissan Versa | The least expensive new car on the market |
| 3 | 2012 Toyota Yaris | The least expensive Toyota offering. |
| 4 | 2012 Kia Soul | A fine vehicle with youth-friendly features |
| 5 | 2013 Chevrolet Spark | Top pick among a new generation of "micro" cars |
| 6 | 2012 Ford Focus | Up to 40 mpg with high-tech interior |
| 7 | 2012 Hyundai Veloster | Fun to drive, gets up to 40 mpg |
| 8 | 2012 Chevrolet Sonic | Class-leading horsepower with improved reliability |
| 9 | 2012 Kia Forte | Packed with features for a low price |
| 10 | 2012 Hyundai Accent | Good fuel economy and solid car |
Signup for The Weekly Newsletter
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
February 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Feb 20, 2026
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Feb 20, 2026
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Feb 20, 2026
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Feb 20, 2026
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Feb 12, 2026
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Feb 12, 2026
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars February 2026 Feb 12, 2026
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Feb 12, 2026
- Best 0% Finance Deals February 2026 Feb 05, 2026
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared February 2026 Feb 05, 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Feb 05, 2026
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Feb 05, 2026
January 2026
- Best Car Deals by Category Jan 23, 2026
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Jan 23, 2026
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Jan 23, 2026
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals Jan 23, 2026
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Jan 15, 2026
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Jan 09, 2026
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!
