Most Demanding Cars for College Students (New and Used)

When 48% of students have a car on campus, then why don’t you have it yet? U.S. student-related reports confirmed it. Quickly tally our options of brand new, second-hand, cheap (on low loans) cars for college students with your suitability and check mark those!

Buying a Car Can Be a Challenge for College Students. Why?

The challenges students face before buying

• High Interest Rate on Cars for College Students: (Due to part-time jobs, no long credit history, and no budget for loans)
• Long Repayment Terms (Limited income, so unable to repay the loan within less time, and long-term loans costs double interest)
• Low Cash For A Deposit (Students with less credit are unable to pay high down payment)

What’s that One BEST Tip and SOLUTION?

To avoid the above problematic situations, it’s best to buy affordable or cheap used cars for college students from the market, which the author lists below after personally visiting places and checking information from platforms.

College Students and Cars: Toyotas, Hondas, and Many More…

According to the survey, college students drive Toyotas (16%) or Hondas (15%) more than other types of vehicles. Take a look at these brands you may see on U.S. college campuses.

These are the car brands that college students currently drive

Best cars for college students 2024 Model (New Cars Around $25,000)

If money is not a problem for students in the U.S., then they deserve a better car. This will not only gonna help you in making friends in college but uplifts your overall status on campus. After extensive research, we compiled a list of cars for college students ranked top in 2024. These are the most compact cars in the market, with premium features, shapes, designs, and specs.

1) 2025 Honda Civic

• Price range: $24,250 – $26,250 
• Score: 8.5

2) 2024 Mazda Mazda3

• Price Range: $24,170 – $36,650 
• MPG: 23-27 City / 31-37 Hwy

3) 2024 Hyundai Elantra

• Price Range: $21,625 – $27,065 
• MPG: 31-32 City / 40-41 Hwy

4) 2024 Subaru Impreza

• Price Range: $22,995 – $27,885
• MPG: 26-27 City / 33-34 Hwy

5) 2024 Toyota Corolla

• Price Range: $22,050 – $27,150
• MPG: 31-32 City / 40-41 Hwy

6) 2024 Kia Forte

• Price Range: $19,990 – $25,390
• MPG: 22-30 City / 31-41 Hwy

7) 2024 Nissan Sentra

• Price Range: $20,890 – $23,980
• MPG: 30 City / 38-40 Hwy

8) 2024 Volkswagen Jetta

• Price Range: $21,435 – $32,585 
• MPG: 24-30 City / 35-42 Hwy

Good Cars For College Students (Most Reliable Options)

91% of college students say increased gas prices have impacted them. To overcome their problem, we list reliable cars for college students with good gas averages and low maintenance, servicing, and repair costs. Let’s see what these options are.

1) 2024 Toyota Prius

• Price Range: $27,950 – $36,365 
• MPG: 49-57 City / 50-56 Hwy

2) 2024 Nissan Leaf

• Price range: $28,140 – $36,190 
• MPGe: 121-123 City / 98-99 Hwy

3) 2023 Chevrolet Bolt

• Price Range: $26,500 – $29,700 
• MPGe: 131 City / 109 Hwy

4) 2024 Hyundai Elantra

• Price Range: $21,625 – $27,065 
• 31-32 City / 40-41 Hwy

5) 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage

• Price Range: $16,695 – $19,595 
• MPG: 35-36 City / 41-43 Hwy

Tip: The 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the most affordable hatchback cars for college students, costing around $16,695.

Best Used Cars For College Students (Under $10,000)

Used cars are always a good option for students with tight budgets. But it doesn’t mean they would choose a random car with the wrong specs and vulgar looks. You can still get the best-used cars under 10 grand that are reliable and good in quality and specification.

1) 2011 Chevrolet Volt

• Average Price: $7,000 
• MPGe: 35 City / 40 Hwy

2) 2012 Honda Fit

• Average Price: $7,899 – $8,617 
• MPG: 27-28 City / 33-35 Hwy

3) 2009 Audi A3

• Average Price: $5,841 – $9,388 
• MPG: 18-22 City / 25-30 Hwy

4) 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

• Average Price: $7,816 – $8,821 
• MPG: 31 City / 35 Hwy

5) 2009 Ford Mustang

• Price Range: $6,773 – $10,288 
• MPG: 15-17 City / 22-26 Hwy

Affordable Cars For College Students ($15k to $20k)

Most college students are always willing to buy a new car, even though their budget is limited. For those students, we have gathered data on some of the most affordable new cars currently booming in the U.S. market.

1) 2024 Kia Forte

• Starting Price: $19,990
• MPG: 22-30 City / 31-41 Hwy

2) 2024 Nissan Versa

• Price Range: $16,680 – $19,970
• MPG: 27-32 City / 35-40 Hwy

3) 2023 Hyundai Elantra

• Starting Price: $19,918
• MPG: 30-33 City / 40-42 Hwy

4) 2023 Mazda Mazda3

• Price: $19,174 – $19,174
• MPG: 23-28 City / 31-37 Hwy

5) 2021 Toyota Corolla

• Price Range: $15,543 – $19,300
• MPG: 28-53 City / 36-52 Hwy

Best Cheap Cars for College Students (New + Used)

It is hard to find cheap cars in 2024. But we have still come up with the five best options for you.

1) 2012 Mazda Mazda3

• Average Price: $5,651 – $9,056
• MPG: 18-28 City / 25-40 Hwy

2) 2020 Chevrolet Sonic

• Average Price: $13,418 – $16,405
• MPG: 26 City / 34 Hwy

3) 2020 Hyundai Accent

• Average Price: $13,425 – $15,867
• MPG: 29-33 City / 39-41 Hwy

4) 2019 Chevrolet Spark

• Average Price: $10,132 – $12,838
• MPG: 29-30 City / 37-38 Hwy

5) 2012 Toyota Yaris

• Average Price: $6,932 – $7,532
• MPG: 30 City / 35-38 Hwy

Wrapping Up With Top Suggestions

Overall, owning a car in college is a dream of every student nowadays. To help them out, we have provided many car options from which they can choose.

The top options in cars for college students are the 2025 Honda Civic, 2024 Toyota Prius, 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and 2009 Ford Mustang.

You should also consult your colleagues, parents, and seniors to make a more accurate decision.