The Best Cars for Back to School

Back to school sometimes requires more expensive purchases than pencils and notebook paper and researching a vehicle is a daunting task. These are the top three fuel efficient vehicles also known for safety: the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO, the 2012 Ford Focus SEL, and the 2011 Nissan Juke.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco Starting at $16,525, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO has the amenities of a mid-size car with a fuel economy of a compact. Getting 28 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway, this car tops the list in regards to gas prices for students motoring around campus or taking a trip home. Not compromising on power, the Cruze Eco has a 1.4L turbocharged engine commanding 138 horsepower, a 6-speed manual transmission with an ECO overdrive gear. Loaded with numerous safety additions this vehicle comes with a safety cage surrounding the passenger compartment along with 10 different standard airbags. A six month subscription to Onstar is standard with every 2012 Chevrolet Cruze ECO. This popular feature includes automatic crash response with voice-controlled directions and connections. The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO proves to be a good choice for students returning to school by offering a safe, quality car for a reasonable price. Visit the website for additional details.

2012 Ford Focus SEL With 7 fuel efficient Focus models to choose from, the 2012 Ford Focus SEL stands out from the crowd. Starting at $23,300, this vehicle is available in sedan or a hatchback has a multitude of extras to please parent and students. Although it doesn't compete with the Cruze ECO's gas efficiency, the 2.0 L Ti-VLT direct injection I-4 engine and 6-speed Powershift automatic transmission gets a modest 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. However, the 2012 Ford Focus SEL makes up for this with the multiple airbags situated around the interior including one that becomes a canopy surrounding the passengers. Parents will have an added advantage with the sophisticated MyKey owner control features by setting miles per hour limits and muting the audio system until the safety belt is buckled. The included SYNC system also provides hands free assistance with directions or talking on the phone. Please refer to the website for more feature details.

2011 Nissan Juke This crossover won the 2011 Top Safety Pick awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for an advanced air bag system and push button ignition. Starting at $19,570, the 1.6L direct ignition, 4-cylinder engine gets 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. The Juke also comes with a navigation system, Sirius XM satellite radio, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Although a little pricier, the 2011 Nissan Juke has over 35 cubic feet of cargo space and a comparable Bluetooth system to Chevrolet and Ford. The push button ignition will remind you of a luxury vehicle as well as the option to make a Juke your own with custom wrapping. Please visit the website for additional details.

Chevrolet Cruze Eco, Chevrolet

Ford Focus SEL Sedan, Ford

Nissan Juke, Nissan