Nine Fantastic Used Cars for College Students

August 9th, 2024 by

A gray 2013 Honda Civic SI is shown parked near used cars for sale near Mebane.

Whether you live on campus or off-campus (or you’re reading this to help your kid out with a car), having your own set of wheels can make life a lot easier. From getting to class each day, running errands you need to take care of, getting to a part-time job, or heading home on the weekend to see family, a car can be just as essential for college students as anyone else. That might be why you’re looking for used cars for sale near Mebane; if so, then you’ve come to the right place.

At CBS Quality Cars, located conveniently in Roxboro, we’re passionate about offering great pre-owned vehicles to meet the needs of a wide range of drivers. For college students, we generally suggest going with a small model to keep your costs low and don’t overextend your budget. Get something reliable and that you can afford; a fancy new car will feel even better once you graduate and get a good job. So, let’s take a look at some of our favorite options for a great used car that’s perfect for getting you (or your kid) to class each day.

#1 – The Toyota Camry

Undoubtedly one of the most popular options for anyone interested in a used car while shopping on a budget, the Toyota Camry is a midsize marvel and a terrific overall pick. This is a sedan, so it might not be quite as popular as a sporty SUV, but it’s part of a Toyota legacy for reliability and dependability that can’t be beat. It’s also been around for more than 40 years, so there are a lot of Camry models out there when you’re looking at used options—though you don’t have to go quite that far back. To keep your costs low, you might look back at models from the sixth generation of the Camry (2008 through 2011) or the first part of the Camry’s seventh generation (2012 through 2014) if you have the budget for it.

#2 – The Honda Civic

Right up there with the Toyota Camry in terms of a great used car for getting around Mebane and making it to class each day is the Honda Civic. This is a smaller compact car, which means it can be even more affordable than a Camry, though that small interior is something to keep in mind. You might not be able to get as many friends into this thing, or if you do, they won’t necessarily be as comfortable—of course, if you’re a parent reading this, then you might think that’s a good thing. Depending on your budget, you might go for the latter part of the Civic’s eighth generation (2009 or 2010) or the first half of its ninth generation: 2012 models should be quite affordable, though it was updated in 2013.

#3 – The Mazda3

Another great option for a compact car is the Mazda3 from Mazda. It is a great choice and is also well known for its affordability and reliability year after year. First introduced just over 20 years ago, the Mazda3 has proven itself time and again, earning a large number of fans along the way. Its small design makes it affordable and fuel efficient, so it keeps your costs lower while you drive around Mebane and get the most from it. The third generation for the Mazda3 is a good one to focus on, which launched with the 2014 model year; it received a facelift for 2017, so those models will have updated features but can also cost more.

A black 2021 Kia Soul is shown parked near a mountain.

#4 – The Toyota Corolla

We keep the compact car train rolling with another great option from Toyota: the Corolla. While we listed the Camry first, that’s not so much an order of preference or quality as it is simply a matter of keeping things organized. The Corolla has been around since the 1960s and earned its place in automotive history as one of the most popular cars on the road—more than 50 million of them have been sold across the world since it was released. Here in the US, we got the 11th generation Corolla starting with the 2014 model year and these are great options for used cars; look at the years just before that to stick to a tighter budget.

#5 – The Honda Accord

Going back up to a slightly larger option, the Honda Accord is a midsize sedan that’s been around since the 1970s and gained a lot of fans in that time. We like midsize models such as this for getting around Mebane, and it’s ideal if you need something you can load up with laundry to take home on the weekend or have your friends pile into on a Friday night. If you’re on a tight budget, look for an eighth-generation Accord (2008 through 2012), though a ninth-gen version (2013 through 2017 with a facelift for 2016) will get you some advanced features.

#6 – The Toyota Prius

One of our favorite models for something that’s fun to drive and incredibly cost-effective, the Prius is a compact car that’s been around for more than 20 years. If you’ve heard of the Prius, then you likely know that it’s a hybrid, and that’s one of the main reasons it’s such a great choice for college. Fuel costs might not be at the forefront of your concerns, but they’ll add up quickly if you need to drive daily—the Prius is one of the most efficient rides out there, so you’ll pay less for gas. A third-generation Prius is a great choice for some of the most reasonably priced models out there (2010 through 2015), though a fourth-gen model from 2016 or later is an excellent pick if your budget supports one.

#7 – The Kia Soul

For something more spacious than the cars we’ve looked at so far, check out the Kia Soul. This is a subcompact SUV with an iconic, boxy look that a lot of people love—its overall shape is a blend of hatchback and SUV design. The rear cargo isn’t massive in this one, but it’s very spacious inside for passengers. Plus, the roomy backseat is perfect for stuff you need to bring along with you when you don’t have other people riding along. Since it can comfortably fit five adults, it’s a popular option on campuses and for getting around Mebane. A first-generation model (2010 through 2013) is a great choice on a tight budget, while a second-gen Soul (2014 through 2019) gets you advanced features.

A red 2020 Honda Fit is shown driving on a road.

#8 – The Honda Fit

Our other top choice for an SUV, the Honda Fit, is also a subcompact model, so it’s not a massive beast, making it perfect for campus parking and getting around town. Technically, this is a subcompact hatchback, but its design is similar to that of a small SUV, so we tend to see it that way. No matter how you look at it, the Fit is a good time on the road and highly fuel efficient, so you don’t have to worry about too much gas money. While the model was discontinued in North America in 2020, you’re sure to find an abundance of models on the used market.

#9 – Special Mention: The Chevy Impala/Buick LeSabre/Others

A final option we’d like to mention is select GM models from the early 2000s, specifically those with the 3800 V6 engine in them. The models you’ll generally want to look for are the Buick LeSabre, Chevy Impala, and Pontiac Bonneville from 2000 through 2005. This engine was available before that, but your best overall bet is this window at the start of the 2000s. We know that’s a long way back to go for a used vehicle, but the 3800 V6 is one of the best engines GM ever made and incredibly reliable; so one of these cars from 20 years ago can still have a lot of life left in it if the engine was maintained well.

Reliable Performance is Essential for Mebane Drivers

At the end of the day, finding the right vehicle as a college student isn’t as easy as it might seem at first glance. You have a lot of options available to you, particularly if you’re interested in used vehicles, and the most important thing to look for is reliability and dependability. Always look for a vehicle history report on a used model you’re interested in, and shop with a dealership you know you can trust. It can be tempting to go for flashy features and the latest tech, but that can stretch your budget too far and leave you in a tight spot if you find your vehicle needs a little work done in a year. Focus on something with a proven track record that you can trust to get you where you need to go and use some of the money you save to enjoy your time at college—it’s well worth it!