College life is full of commutes. Whether going to your campus, heading grocery shopping, or planning spontaneous trips with friends on weekends, it requires abundant traveling. Many students use public transport to commute but it might lack on the convenience side. Hence, having a car makes things easier in college life. Here’s everything you need to consider when buying one.
What you need to Consider Before Buying a Car?
Budget
Money talks. Buying a car does not only mean the purchase price but also the insurance, maintenance, and fuel. Make sure to set a realistic budget, keeping these factors in mind.
Usage
How do you plan to use the car? Most probably, city driving. Then you need something small and compact. But if you’re planning to make a purchase for long road trips, then you should go for something robust, along with space and comfort.
Safety
You can’t negotiate on the safety side. Check the NCAP safety ratings for your considered car and ensure it has dual airbags with ABS settings. Safety will come first in the consideration list.
Best Cars for College Students
Hatchback Segment
Hatchback cars are perfect for daily traveling, especially on city roads. If you’re planning to buy a car for your daily commute, the hatchback segment will fit your needs.
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
o Perfect for city commutes.
o 1.2-litre petrol/CNG engine, 5-speed manual transmission, mileage up to 20 km
o 8-inch touchscreen, 6 airbags, ABS with EBD
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 5.92 lakh onwards.
Renault Kwid Climber
o Compact and practical with an SUV stance.
o 1.0-litre petrol engine, automatic transmission, 2 airbags, mileage up to 22 km.
o 8-inch touchscreen display, 2 airbags
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 6.32 lakh onwards
Tata Tiago
o A safe and reliable hatchback car.
o 1.2-litre petrol/CNG engine, 5-speed manual transmission, mileage up to 20 km.
o 3.5-inch touchscreen display, Harman sound system.
o 2 airbags, ABS with EBD
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 6 lakh onwards.
Compact SUV Segment
SUVs are attractive, especially among college students. Compact SUVs are good for commute usage if you want to go with this segment.
Nissan Magnite
o Affordable car in the SUV range.
o 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, automatic and 5-speed manual transmission, mileage up to 18 km.
o 8-inch infotainment system, 2 airbags, ABS
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 6 lakh onwards.
Renault Kiger
o Stylish and sporty appearance.
o 1.0-litre petrol engine, 5-speed manual and automatic transmission, mileage up to 18 km.
o 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless charging and smartphone replication.
o 4 airbags, ABS with EBD
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 6 lakh onwards
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
o Recently updated version available in the market.
o 1.5-litre petrol engine, 5-speed manual transmission, mileage up to 20 km.
o 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, sunroof, Arkamys sound system.
o 2 airbags, ABS
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 8.3 lakh onwards
Sedan Segment
Sedans have a class, if you have a budget of 10 lakhs, you can go for sedans.
Honda Amaze
o Durable and reliable, 10-year warranty
o 1.2-litre petrol engine, 5-speed manual transmission, mileage up to 18 km.
o 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 2 airbags, ABS
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 7.9 lakh onwards.
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Delta
o Stylish, spacious, and fuel-efficient.
o 1.5-litre petrol engine, 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission, mileage up
to 20 km.
o 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 2 airbags, ABS with EBD, hill-hold assist.
o Ex-showroom Price: Rs 10 lakh onwards.
Additional Considerations
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel is another factor. Look for cars that provide better mileage to save money in the long term. We’ve mentioned a few cars above that touch around 20 km of mileage, choose wisely.
o Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
o Renault Kwid
o Maruti Suzuki Brezza
o Maruti Suzuki Ciaz
Maintenance Costs
Maintenance comes as a part of car ownership. Some cars are cheaper to maintain than others. Hatchbacks are relatively cheaper to maintain. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and Tata Tiago are among cheap maintenance.
Resale Value
You’re not going to stay in college forever. A car with good resale value can be a wise investment. Brands like Maruti and Honda often have strong resale values.
Conclusion
College life is a high time to explore as much as you can. Investing in the right car makes it easier however, it has to be a wise decision. Depending on your usage and preferences, you can choose the right car, whether a hatchback, sedan or an SUV.
