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
July 2026
- Best 0% Finance Deals July 2026 Jul 09, 2026
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Jul 09, 2026
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Jul 09, 2026
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Jul 09, 2026
June 2026
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared July 2026 Jun 25, 2026
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Jun 25, 2026
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Jun 25, 2026
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals Jun 25, 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Jun 18, 2026
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars June 2026 Jun 18, 2026
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Jun 18, 2026
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Jun 18, 2026
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Jun 04, 2026
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!
