IntelliChoice.com Ranks Best "Back to School" Cars for Students
Dodge Caliber and new Japanese subcompacts offer fuel efficiency plus utility
CAMPBELL, CA (August 30, 2006) - PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice.com, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today released its ranking of new cars for students going back to school.
"There are five primary factors that decided the 10 models we selected," said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com. "To begin, every single one is very fuel-efficient. As student budgets can be limited, this is a key consideration. They also offer great utility for their size and allow students to haul school stuff or athletic gear or their friends, and stay comfortable on road trips. Third, most are all-new designs that feature the latest in safety technology and engineering so parents can rest assured that their loved ones are protected. All of these vehicles reward their drivers with an element of 'individual style' that was missing from this segment in the past. But lastly, and perhaps of greatest importance, all should prove to be very cost-efficient cars that will reward their owners with very low Cost of Ownership over time... or at least until graduation!"
Bell added, "The new subcompact cars from Japan's Big 3 - the Honda Fit, the Nissan Versa and the Toyota Yaris - have received great acclaim so far, and here again they prove their value. Exciting new entries are the redesigned Chevrolet Aveo and all-new Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass."
IntelliChoice.com's best "Back to School" cars
| Target Price | 5 Year Cost | |
| Toyota Yaris | $11,950 | $22,556 |
| Kia Rio LX | $13,159 | $24,282 |
| Chevrolet Aveo LS | $11,042 | $24,339 |
| Honda Fit | $14,650 | $24,870 |
| Hyundai Accent GLS | $12,893 | $25,425 |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | $16,065 | $25,940 |
| Dodge Caliber R/T | $13,272 | $28,754 |
| Subaru Impreza 2.5i | $17,729 | $29,789 |
| Nissan Versa S | $12,450 | (new model) |
| Jeep Compass | $15,184 | (new model) |
About IntelliChoice.com
Part of PRIMEDIA's Enthusiast Media, IntelliChoice is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice web site (www.intellichoice.com), consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price vehicles. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and online buying services.
