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Best 2011 back to school cars for teenage drivers

Evelyn Kanter's photo
Green Car Examiner

Affordable, fuel efficient, safe.  That's what parents want for back-to-school cars for their teenagers beginning the new school year at high school or ccollege.  Here are the top three picks for the best back to school vehicles from the experts at NADA --

2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS  – The all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is an excellent pick starting with an MSRP of only $16,525 and offering 31 MPG combined.  The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze total cost of ownership over a five year period averages $35,076, or roughly $7,015.20 per year, and with one of the lowest maintenance costs per year on the market, roughly $396.00, this is a great vehicle option for a working student.  With a five star safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze would make any parent feel at ease watching their child pull out of the driveway in this vehicle.

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2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan S  – The 2011 Ford Fiesta is extremely practical for a first-time driver with a starting MSRP of $14,520 and averaging 32 MPG combined.  The 2011 Ford Fiesta is comfortable, loaded with technology, and received a rating of “good” from NADAguides regarding total cost of ownership over a five year period – averaging $31,872 over five years, or roughly $6,374.40 per year.  With a four star rating from NHTSA and selected as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS the Ford Fiesta is a great vehicle for any new driver.  

  • Also check out the 2011 Ford Focus, another best buy under $20,000 with a top safety rating

2011 Nissan Cube 1.8 S  – The 2011 Nissan Cube starts at $17,100 MSRP and offers a combined MPG of 29.  The 2011 Nissan Cube offers ample cargo space for those students with extracurricular activities and is excellent for carpool.  It received a rating of “good” from NADAguides regarding total cost of ownership over a five year period – averaging $34,959 over five years, or roughly $6,991.80 per year.  With a four star rollover rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS the 2011 Nissan Cube has a lot to offer first time drivers.

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Best 2011 back to school cars for teenage drivers include Ford Fiesta
Best 2011 back to school cars for teenage drivers include Ford Fiesta
Photo credit: 
Ford

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Veteran journalist Evelyn Kanter has more than 20 years experience reporting about cars, travel and the environment. An award-winning investigative consumer reporter she's also been known to put on a helmet to roar around a racetrack at warp speed. E-mail her with your comments and questions.

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