If your college
student's back to school list includes a car, you will want to know which
vehicles are recommended for young drivers. To help students and parents
find the best car, CarMax, Inc., the nation's largest retailer
of used cars, and Driver's Edge, a national nonprofit organization
providing youth driver education, have teamed up to recommend the top cars
for college students.
"It's pretty tough to come up with a list of cars that will satisfy
both parents and students," said Steve Tepper, chief operating officer of
Driver's Edge. "Issues of looks, cost, safety, and performance don't always
line up, but there are some great cars out there that fit the bill
safety-wise while still being a cool car to drive."
"Typically, parents' top priorities when looking for a vehicle for
their student are price, reliability, and safety, while young people may be
more interested in style, features, and performance," said Ron Costa,
regional vice president of purchasing for CarMax. "We recommend conducting
online vehicle research first and then finding a car retailer that provides
a transparent, customer-friendly, and easy car buying process."
This year's top cars recommended for college students that fulfill both
the parents' safety and reliability demands and the young drivers'
requirements for looks and performance include (In alphabetical order by
manufacturer. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is standard unless otherwise
noted):
-- Audi A4
-- Dodge Caliber (models with optional ABS)
-- Honda Civic
-- Hyundai Sonata
-- Kia Optima (models with optional ABS)
-- Pontiac G6 (coupe or sedan with optional ABS)
-- Toyota Corolla (models with optional ABS)
-- Volkswagen Jetta
-- Volkswagen Passat
-- Volvo S40 (four door sedan)
"When deciding on a vehicle for a young driver, safety has to be a top
consideration," said Jeff Payne, president and founder of Driver's Edge.
"Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for people under
24, outnumbering the combined deaths resulting from drug use, guns, and
other violence." Driver's Edge recommends that parents review crash-test
ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
when considering any vehicle, along with the advice and ratings of the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The cars on the list are recommended only for drivers who have at least
two years of practical driving experience. (Smaller cars would not be on a
list of cars recommended for true novice drivers.) Driver's Edge and CarMax
used the following criteria to select the recommended cars:
1) Each of the selected models scored at least a four star rating from
NHTSA for both frontal and side impact protection in each of the last
four years. Exceptions are the Dodge Caliber and the Pontiac G6, each
of which have only been available since 2007 and 2006, respectively.
2) Each car offers an array of active safety features as either standard
or optional equipment (e.g., anti-lock braking systems, electronic
stability control, traction control, etc.).
3) Cost, reliability, and vehicle styling have been considered, but safety
considerations weighed more heavily in determining the cars to
recommend.
"It's not just about choosing the 'right' car," Payne said. "There is
no five-star rating or safety device that can take the place of a well
educated driver. A lousy driver can make even the safest of vehicles a bad
place to be. That's why we also recommend that all drivers seek out the
proper training and learn the skills needed to help them stay safer on the
highways, whether it's attending a Driver's Edge event or investing in a
quality performance driving school."
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