The Nissan Cube was a top pick, new and used, for NADAguide's best back-to-school car list. 08/29/2011
With the new school year just around the corner, many different industry experts are publishing lists of the best cars for the back-to-school season. NADAguides recently came out with their own list of the best new and used cars based on price (less than $17,500), safety ratings and total cost of ownership in a five-year period. All of the cars that made the cut have either four- or five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and were top safety picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
"This time of year, parents and teenagers alike are anxiously researching the best vehicles for getting to and from school safely and economically," said Troy Snyder, the director of product development at NADAguides.
The Nissan Cube made the top three for both new and used cars, as not much was changed from one to the other. The new model starts around $17,100 and the 2010 sells for around $16,500. It's also got a unique, futuristic design that is meant to appeal to younger drivers, and with a combined fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon, the Cube can help young drivers and parents save money at the pump, regardless of which model year you prefer.
The 2011 Ford Fiesta is the least expensive on the list, costing less than even the used cars - the Toyota Corolla and the Kia Soul. NADAguide suggests that this new car is a good choice for new drivers because it comes standard with a navigation and information screen, and can be upgraded to include Ford SYNC voice recognition software. It also gets an average 32 mpg and got an overall four-star safety rating from the NHTSA.
Other cars that made the list include the 2010 Toyota Corolla, the 2010 Kia Soul and the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.