Top cars for college students

When picking out a car for your little boy or girl who’s getting so big and heading off into the world on his or her own for the first time, there are a few considerations that should be at the top of your mind.

 The best cars for college students are safe, reliable and affordable. They also come with matching insurance premiums. In most cases, a pre-owned car is the way to go. There are plenty of safe, reliable and affordable cars that will be easily and affordably insured for a college student made before this year.

 But that reliability element gets less and less predictable as the car gets older. When picking out a used car for your college student, look for one that is no more than 10 years old with fewer than 65,000 miles on it. Check to see if routine maintenance has been performed, and have a mechanic check the car out before agreeing to buy it. Mechanics typically perform this service for next to nothing.

 While a used car is typically the best for affordability, there are several affordable and safe new cars out there that are perfect for college students.

 Here are CIQ’s picks for the top five new cars for college students:

1. The 2011 Nissan Versa is great for college students. It’s compact, easy to drive, has a Good safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and gets great gas mileage—28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. With a base price of $9,900, it’s also a good car for a college student’s budget.

2. The 2011 Toyota Corolla is not the most exciting car in the world for a college student, but it is one of the safest and most reliable options. Your college student will be safe in a Corolla, which was the IIHS’ top safety pick in 2010 and has an Excellent safety rating from the organization. It gets 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway and starts at $15,450.

3. The 2011 Subaru Impreza is another safe choice for your college student. With a top safety rating from the IIHS, it’s a sure thing your young one will be in good hands and will get all the insurance premium discounts that come with that safety. Since the car is also all-wheel drive, it’s a good choice for a kiddo heading to school in snowy and icy climates like the northeast and the Rocky Mountains. With 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, it won’t be too hard on the pocketbook either. It starts at $17,659.

4. The 2011 Ford Focus is another great college car. It looks good, is reliable and safe and gets 25 mpg in town and 35 mpg on the highway. It starts at $16,640.

5. The 2011 Honda Fit is a great car for those college students attending schools in cities. It’s compact and gets around easily. It’s safe, cute and reliable and gets 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. It starts at $15,100.