The Best Used Cars to Buy for College Students

You’ve done it – high school is officially behind you. Now it’s time to head off to a brand new world. College is that and more and you may need a car during your pursuit of a higher education. Thankfully, there are plenty of models that combine affordability, safety, and the features that younger drivers want most. Here’s a look at some of the best.

  • 2006 Honda CR-V: It might seem strange to recommend that a college student buy an SUV, but the 2006 Honda CR-V isn’t just any SUV. It’s compact, which makes parking on campus easy. It also provides plenty of cargo space, and you get Honda’s reputation for reliability, as well. You’ll also find models with available all-wheel drive (standard format is front-wheel drive). It’s also notable that the cargo floor can be removed and turned into an impromptu table for tailgating or picnics.

  • 2011 Scion tC: Sure, it’s sporty looking. It’s low-slung and offers an aggressive stance. However, it’s not a sports car. It earned a 5-star overall crash testing score from the NHTSA (National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration), and the engine puts out 180 hp, meaning that you have enough power to handle almost anything that comes your way without being overpowered.

  • 2011 Volkswagen Jetta: Volkswagen might not have the most sterling reputation right now, but that actually works to your advantage as a used car buyer. The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta offers two choices of engines (115 hp from the 4-cylinder version and 150 hp from the 5-cylinder option). It’s also priced to move thanks to its age and the fact that Volkswagen’s reputation has taken a hit.

  • 2003 Acura TL: No, it’s not the sexiest car on the market. It’s also a four-door sedan. However, it does offer decent power and performance (225 hp from a 3.2-liter V6) with 17/27 mpg. It’s not a gas-sipper, but it’s also not a guzzler like an SUV would be. Finally, there’s Honda’s reliability backing it up.

  • 2010 Hyundai Tucson: The Tucson is a fun little compact SUV that offers personality, decent fuel economy and good cargo capacity. The higher ride height is nice to have, and it comes standard with an iPod connection. You’ll find other niceties available too, including Bluetooth connectivity.

Whether you’re a soon-to-be college student or a parent looking to buy your child a car for their first year at school, these are some of the best choices.


Next Step

Schedule Pre-purchase Car Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Pre-purchase Car Inspection. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Pre-purchase Car Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,493)

Rating Summary
5,137
193
39
38
86
5,137
193
39
38
86

Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
Excellent ! Jay is very detail oriented and forward thinking. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

How to Choose a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Due Due to a recent surge in popularity, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is making a comeback. Since the vehicle was manufactured only throughout the sixties, seventies, eighties, and the early nineties, most Jeep Grand Wagoneers are no longer on the...
How to Buy and Sell an Impounded Car
When drivers are caught violating certain traffic laws and are not determined fit enough to drive away from the scene, police have the option to impound the vehicle. Although most owners eventually pay the impound fee to get their cars...
Helpful Tips When Buying Your Next Used Car
Checking the service history, getting a vehicle history report, and a pre-purchase inspection are all helpful tips to get the best deal possible.

Related questions

Check Engine Light with code P0740
There are a number of symptoms that may accompany a P0740 code, it may be that your car will stall (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-stalling-inspection) at stop lights, or have trouble shifting (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-hard-to-shift-inspection), or you may not notice anything at all except your gas...
My car is leaking green fluid badly 2007 Acura TL
Hello - the only green liquid that should be in your vehicle is engine coolant (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/what-type-of-engine-coolant-should-i-use). Check your coolant reservoir for a low fluid level - may also have a warning light on your instrument cluster. As for the car...
Rough start but will start fine after about 5 minutes of running. Now ticking has developed.
Hi there. A ticking noise on the front of an engine that comes and goes could be the drive belt tensioner being worn, pulleys out of alignment causing the components to fail making the noise, or the timing belt tensioner...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com