There they go – headed off to college. Whether it’s their freshman year or their senior year, the parental angst is still there. You have the desire to let them go but to also keep them safe. To help them find their way, but also not to take any great risks.
Between registering for the right classes, buying books, and making friends, transportation should be the least of their concerns. As their parent, doing your research and helping them find the best car for them is paramount. Whether they are on or off campus, local or long distance, solid, reliable transportation will help make their college years seamless.
In addition to finding the right vehicle, it’s also important to couple that with good coverage and cheap car insurance that will give both you and them peace of mind as they travel.
Post pandemic brought along with it car manufacturing issues such as chip shortages and other delays, but things are looking rosier for 2022 and the public can look forward to a batch of vehicles that are safe, reliable, and well worth the money.
2022 Chevrolet Malibu: Starting at an economical $23,400, the Chevy Malibu is roomy and has a sizeable trunk, enough space for Junior to come home with all his laundry in tow. It offers wireless smartphone integration, a popular choice for today’s college students, while at the same time it has just enough horsepower to get them to where they are going safely, and you don’t have to worry about them entering it into a race at a speedway. It gets better than average gas mileage at 29/36 mpg, it also features an electronic parking brake (new) and has a number of options at an additional cost. Traditionally, the Chevy Malibu has ranked better than average as one of the most reliable cars on the road.
2022 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: An attractive vehicle, your college student will appreciate sporting style while also spending less on fuel costs. Superior technology features abound, and it boasts up to 54 mpg highway miles. Starting at a reasonable $27,050, it offers a quiet, comfortable ride with lots of front seat legroom and various options that include ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, 10 1/4” infotainment system and a very cool digital gauge cluster.
2022 Honda Insight: This hybrid sedan is both affordable and economical. Starting at just $25,210, it has excellent features such as the Honda Sensing safety tech suite (including road departure mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system, and lane centering assistance, to help you sleep at night). At up to 52 mpg, it’s also comfortable with smooth hybrid operations.
2022 Acura ILX: One of the classiest cars on the market, this award-winning vehicle starts at an attractively affordable price ($26,500). It’s compact and agile, and includes many safety features at the standard level. These include keyless entry/ignition, daytime running lights, and heated side mirrors. Opting for the premium package will get you Smartphone integration, blind-spot monitoring, and an infotainment display that is on par with other 2022 models. It is considered one of the most reliable of luxury compact cars.
Toyota Camry Hybrid: If any model in the vehicle world has a lasting and positive reputation, it’s the Toyota Camry. Starting closer to $30K, the Camry offers styling and lots of comfortable space for driver and passengers. It offers easy Smartphone integration as well as keyless entry/start, pedestrian detection and emergency braking, lane departure warning with steering assistance, road sign recognition, and even automatic high beams. And, if your student leaves his laptop in the backseat (or anything else for that matter) there’s a warning for that, too.
2022 Hyundai Accent: The most affordable of the bunch, the Hyundai Accent starts at just $16,645. Even with its subcompact design, it still offers suitable seating space. It offers safety features such as automatic emergency braking, 6-speed manual transmission, backup camera, and an engine immobilizer anti-theft system. What it might lack in pickup and power, it makes up for with great gas mileage and an impressive Hyundai warranty.
If you are looking for a reliable, affordable, economical vehicle for your college bound student, there are plenty out there available. Even if a used vehicle is your best choice, it’s always important to review your insurance coverage policy to be certain your son or daughter is prepared for any eventuality they may ‘run into’ during their college years.