Whether you're driving carpool, headed to high school or off to college, a new set of wheels might be all that you need this fall. Sure, they're a little more expensive than pens and pencils, but they're a heck of a lot more useful.
The student list
Yes, students want something that's cheap to buy, cheap to service and cheap to keep fueling up, but they also probably want something fun. Studies have indicated that younger drivers are far less interested in their wheels were than their parents were, but we're not sure why: The selection of exciting cars has never been better than today. We set a budget of $20,000 and we dictated that all of the cars on our list had to be fun to drive, expressive and in tune with the latest tech.
Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback. Forget the old Aveo, Chevy's new Sonic Hatchback rides and handles like a luxury car and, with an available 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it scoots (almost) like a sports car. Moreover, Sonic's versatile five-door body looks good and has plenty of space for moving into (or out of) the dorms.
Base price, $15,560. Up to 40 mpg.
Jeep Patriot 4x4. You'll be hard-pressed to find a cheaper new 4x4 SUV or crossover on the market than the Jeep Patriot, but that doesn't mean you're settling for second class. A classy interior and better-than-expected off road ability combine with classic, Jeep Cherokee-inspired chisled good looks for an SUV worth putting on your shopping list.
Base price, $17,745. Up to 28 mpg.
Kia Soul. Kia didn't invent the boxy subcompact segment, but it did certainly define it. Arguably the best value on the market today, the Soul is refined and roomy, but bursting with personality. We love the available Soul-embroidered upholstery and the mood lights that flash in sync with the thumpin' audio system.
Base price, $14,400. Up to 35 mpg.
Mazda Mazda3. Proving that cheap, cheerful and sporty aren't mutually exclusive, the Mazda3 Skyactiv is definitely the most fun way to achieve 40 mpg on the market. Skyactiv, which sounds like a comic book character to us, is Mazda's term for its ultra high tech fuel economy strategy, a move that doesn't compromise driving fun!
Base price, $18,700. Up to 40 mpg.
Subaru Impreza. Sure, all-wheel-drive Subarus are known to be unstoppable in wintry terrain - that's why they're so popular in the Northeast and in the Rockies - but that traction is just as useful in a Florida downpour or even a spirited drive through the canyons in Los Angeles. What makes the 2012 Impreza especially, uh, imprez-ive is its industry-leading 36 mpg.
Base price, $17,495. Up to 36 mpg.
The carpool list
Cupholders, versatile seating and plenty of cargo space: These are long the hallmarks of a good family car. But moms and dads these days deserve more, so our list focuses on family haulers that go above and beyond the call of duty. Every car on our list needed to stand out from the crowd for a good reason. We set a price ceiling of $35,000, which is just slightly over the average price of a new car these days.
Acura TSX Sport Wagon. Sure, the TSX maxes out at five passengers (we don't endorse strapping unruly children to its roof rack), but this wagon is one of the most unfortunately overlooked cars on the market. A gigantic cargo area combines with sports car dynamics to make it anything but your parents' station wagon.
Base price, $31,360. Up to 30 mpg.
Dodge Durango. Call us sexist, but... dads, this one's for you. The Durango is undoubtedly the manliest three-row family-hauler on the market thanks to its son-of-Ram pickup looks. But that's not all - a terrific interior and a chassis shared with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class mean it feels and drives like a vehicle twice its price.
Base price, $28,995. Up to 23 mpg.
Honda Odyssey. Chrysler might have invented the minivan game, but Honda rules the roost right now. The world's most flexible interior offers such goodies as an available gigantic HDMI-capable dual-screen flop-down TV for the kids, plus an ultra-easy folding third row for parents with their arms full. When the kids are at school, the Odyssey rewards by being noticeably more agile and, dare we say it, sporty than other vans.
Base price, $28,375. Up to 28 mpg.
Nissan Altima. A "family car" used to be a four-door sedan, and there's not one that offers much of a stronger value equation than the new-for-2013 Nissan Altima. On sale since this summer, the Altima offers a class-leading 38 mpg (topped only by pricey diesels), a spirited driving experience and a commodious interior with seats inspired by NASA. That'll earn bragging points at the next PTA meeting.
Base price, $21,500. Up to 38 mpg.
Toyota Prius V. It won't win any beauty awards, but the big poppa of the Prius family is definitely the most fuel efficient way to haul five passengers and their cargo - at least until the Ford C-Max Hybrid hits the market. Still, Toyota has long led the hybrid game for a reason and the V - for versatile - branches the brand in a new direction.
Base price, $26,550. Up to 44 mpg.
Most photos by Mark Elias and Andrew Ganz.
