The Best Affordable Cars for College Students

Most college students still rely on parents to survive without having an income. This also means they need some of the most affordable cars to drive.

When your income level is nearly nonexistent, and the goal is to spend your time in class and studying toward your college degree, you don’t need to drive a car that costs a lot to operate or maintain. This means choosing a vehicle with good fuel mileage and impressive features that make it affordable and easy to enjoy on any road.

Here are some of the best and most affordable cars for college students to drive.

Toyota Prius Prime

The initial cost of this car might be a little more than most parents can afford, but for those willing to spend a little more to provide their student with excellent efficiency levels, the Toyota Prius Prime is the car to drive. This car can travel about 45 miles on a full battery, never using any of the gasoline in the tank. Even after the gas engine begins to get involved, this is one of the most efficient cars on the market.

Chevrolet Trax

The Chevrolet Trax was fully redesigned for the 2024 model year and is easily one of the best and most affordable cars for college students to drive. This little crossover is efficient and enjoyable on any road. It has a decent level of cargo room and space for up to five passengers to enjoy the ride together. This could be the right car for your student to drive, especially if they will bring home their laundry every few weeks.

Subaru Outback

Do you want to give your college student a vehicle that can handle every road and some trails? If so, the Subaru Outback is a great choice. This impressive SUV comes with standard AWD and roominess to make it one of the most useful vehicles for students who need to move their stuff in and out of dorms. There are tons of great safety features to keep your student out of trouble and a great powertrain that makes it easy to drive many miles on a tank of gas.

Mazda3

The Mazda3 is a typical choice for college students to enjoy one of the most affordable cars available and enjoy the sporty styling and driving manners. This little Mazda can go hard into and out of the corners, giving you an amazing drive wherever you need to go. The Mazda3 has two available powertrains, making it easy to have a fun drive. Even the turbocharged engine can work well using regular gasoline, which makes it much better than many other turbocharged engines that require premium gas to drive right.

Ford Maverick

Send your college student off to school with a vehicle that’s useful and right for many of their driving needs. The Ford Maverick is a compact pickup truck that can get things done. It has a refreshed engine lineup for 2024 and plenty of cargo and passenger room for your student to use every day. The standard hybrid powertrain makes the Ford Maverick one of the most efficient models available to you, ensuring your student can easily afford to come home on the weekends and for the holidays.

Toyota Camry

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the Toyota Camry is on a list of the best and most affordable cars for college students. The Camry might not be the most exciting choice on this list, but it’s one of the most practical, giving your student a roomy cabin and large trunk to handle their driving needs. This is a well-rounded car and a great choice for families, but that doesn’t keep it from being a good option for your student to take to school and enjoy a useful car all year long.

Kia Forte

If you want a compact sedan with a peppy engine and cute style, the Kia Forte could be the right little car for your student to enjoy while at school. The Forte comes with an impressive package of standard equipment, including an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HD Radio. The small base engine is relatively efficient, making it an easy option when you want your student to be able to handle the cost of gas for this little car.

Which of these vehicles are the best and most affordable choices for your college students to enjoy? These vehicles provide an excellent blend of practicality, affordable pricing, and efficiency, which makes them ideal for students who are away from home.