Business & Tech

Cars: What's The Best Car For A College-Bound Kid?

High school graduation is right around the corner and a car makes a great gift. Here are some recommendations from AOL Autos on the best (and safest) cars to buy for your college-bound child.

A traditional gift for a high school graduate can be as small as a watch or as big as a car. If you are able to afford a car for your graduate, AOL Autos has some great advice when shopping.

Avoid SUVs and small cars

"A higher center of mass in SUVs usually gives them unforgiving handling characteristics compared to passenger cars. Small cars should be avoided because they do not always provide the passengers the same protection that larger cars do, especially in collisions with other larger vehicles."

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Steer clear of sports cars

"According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an insurance-industry affiliate, the statistics show that younger people are more likely to be in a speed-related crash in such vehicles."

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Newer vehicles are generally better

"Newer models offer more safety features, plus they have better structural crash protection (i.e. the car will sacrifice itself for the driver, not the other way around). Newer cars are also less likely to suffer from stalling problems or other component failures that might cause a lack of control, especially for inexperienced drivers."

Based on this advice, check out these models:

Chevrolet Impala

Buy locally: Carter Chevrolet of Manchester or Gengras Chevrolet in East Hartford.

Ford Taurus

Buy locally: Bill Selig Ford in Windsor, Family Ford of Enfield, Ray Seraphin Ford in Vernon or Hoffman Ford Lincoln in East Hartford.

Honda Accord

Buy locally: Lia Honda of Enfield or Liberty Honda in Hartford.

Toyota Camry

Buy locally: Gale Toyota/Scion in Enfield or the Hartford Toyota Superstore.

Nissan Altima

Buy locally: Harte Nissan in Hartford or Lia Nissan of Enfield.


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