What Car Should My Kid Take to College?

July 25th, 2023 by

 

Well, the time has finally come. Your child is soon going off to college. You’ve equipped them for this, and yet you’re still worried, and rightfully so. Watching them go off on their own is scary, though you can prepare them for success by finding the right car to protect them while they’re away. Whether you’re looking for optimal fuel efficiency, extra storage, or hauling capacity, we at McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in Springdale, AR, are here to help you find the perfect vehicle for your teen before they leave home!

Safety

Safety always comes first. Heck, one of the first things you taught your kid was to buckle up when they got into the car. Thankfully with modern technology, newer vehicles offer a suite of safety features to ensure they leave prepared for anything. Some of these technologies help with visibility or protection from disaster. Blind-spot monitoring provides spacial awareness before you change lanes, and lane departure warning helps keep you where you need to be by vibrating the wheel or by making slight adjustments. Backup and surround cameras also help keep you in tune with where you’re vehicle is while parking in those tight spots. One passive safety feature in the 2023 Ram 1500 is six airbags throughout the truck’s cabin, which react to the occupancy and severity of collisions. 

Click here to see our selection of Ram 1500s!

Vehicle Type

A vehicle’s size is essential when picking the right car for your kid. If you’re searching for a smaller vehicle for your teenager to take to college, sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes are excellent choices. These cars rest closer to the ground and can offer surprising power behind the wheel while showcasing sleek style and personality and can provide superior fuel economy. However, a truck may be better if they have tools, equipment, or more oversized items they need to haul around. If your kid has an adventurous spirit, an SUV is an excellent option and would let them easily traverse rugged terrain. But one vehicle type that many people don’t consider is the minivan. This design is not cool, hip, fly, or whatever the kids say these days, but its passenger capacity and storage space should not go unnoticed. The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica is a road-trip wonder with features not found in other body styles. It seats up to eight passengers and offers Stow ‘n Go floor seating and storage as well as a built-in Stow ‘n Vac vacuum system for quick crumb cleanups. Your college student can haul all their friends around and then fit all their stuff when it’s time to pack up and come home, saving you from renting a U-Haul.

Click here to see our selection of Chrysler Pacificas!

Fuel Efficiency and Performance

One of the most important factors to consider when searching for a car for your kiddo is performance. You want to prepare them for whatever obstacles they may need to cross while being aware of fuel efficiency and how much gas they plan to go through each week. Hybrids are an excellent answer to this dilemma. Specifically, the 2024 Dodge Hornet is available as a plug-in hybrid and seamlessly switches between gas and electric. It gets 32 miles on a single charge and 360 total miles with gas and electric combined, making this a one-of-a-kind muscle car with personality, style, power, and fuel efficiency. 

Are you interested in a hybrid? Click here to read about the Jeep 4xe!

Finding the right car for your son or daughter before they head off to college can be challenging. It’s hard enough watching them go, and the choices can become overwhelming. But we at McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in Springdale, AR, hope this helps you narrow down what ride your child will drive off to college. 

Click here to learn about Jeep Ducking!

Posted in New Vehicles