Back-to-school car shopping, anyone?

It’s that time of the year again. A lot of schools have opened this week, and with the parents working, it’s not really practical to use the family car to transport both parents and their school-bound children, especially if one considers the occupants’ different schedules, the traffic condition, as well as the location of the work place and school.

In particular, the college student will need a car of his/her own to better handle essential tasks like hauling books, completing school projects, and lugging sports gear, extra clothes and uniforms. The car, likewise, should have a solid safety rating, be reliable enough to avoid costly repairs, and more importantly, affordable enough so as not to drain the family fortune.

We’ve picked out a few new cars that meet all those requirements, and a handful with such features that should discourage these youngsters from driving like madmen.

Toyota Wigo

TOYOTA’S budget hatchback is set to win

Equipped with a 67-horsepower, 1-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine (mated to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual), this tiny hatch offers student spacious interior with tons of legroom, front and rear.

Toyota seems to have done its homework, pricing the Wigo very competitively—just P534,000 for the top variant —and at par, if not better, than the leading rivals.

Fuel budget won’t be a problem: In heavy traffic, this car will return an admirable consumption of 9 kilometers per liter, and improving to 13 kpl on more open roads.

Mitsubishi Mirage

THE MIRAGE G4 is positioned to fit the needs of emerging markets.

Both models (hatchback or G4 sedan) take pride in attaining a fuel efficiency of over 20 kpl on traffic-free roads. Powered by a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder Mivec engine (mated to either a CVT or five-speed transmission that delivers 76 HP), this compact car offers ample power and excellent maneuverability as proven in the Mirage Gymkhana Challenges.

At P743,000 for the top-of the-line G4 and P673,000 for the Mirage hatchback (most affordable is the manual Mirage GLX at P523,000, and the manual G4 GX is at P553,000), both models are hard to ignore especially when considering cost of ownership.

Hyundai Eon

You can’t argue with what the Eon could offer. Its 55-HP, 800-cc engine delivers an excellent 20.8 kpl on traffic-free roads, while being small enough to weave through traffic and fit into tight parking spaces.

The price? Both variants only cost P438,000 (five-speed manual GL) and P508,000 (five-speed manual GLS).

Honda Brio/Brio Amaze

Against the backdrop of a restive Mayon Volcano, the two Brio variants are in the best place to amaze.

Both the Brio hatchback (price starts at P609,000) and the four-door Brio Amaze sedan (price starts at P629,000) have designs that are considered as fresh and aggressive.

Both models are powered by a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder iVTEC that delivers 97 HP and a fuel economy of about 11 kpl on traffic-congested city streets, and a much better 16-kpl performance on open roads.

College-bound student would also love the fact that both these models could be “dressed up,” something that could make them a lot more popular at school.

Ford Fiesta Ecoboost

FORD Fiesta Ecoboost has features normally reserved for bigger, more expensive cars, including traction control and rain-sensing wipers.

At P898,000, this hatch is the most expensive on this list. But parents would be assured that this 1-liter pocket rocket has all the features college-bound student will like: Aston Martin-like grille; futuristic, button-filled center console; compact dimension; top-level refinement and sound insulation; as well as a 290-liter cargo space that triples in volume (974 liters) when the rear seats are folded down.

Of course the deal breaker is the Fiesta Ecoboost’s 123-HP, direct injection and variable-geometry turbocharged engine. In heavy traffic or if you are running late for class, this hatch delivers around
11 kpl. On open roads, this car can deliver an admirable 19 kpl.

Chevy Spark

The Spark is a solid choice for college-bound students as well as first-time buyers and city dwellers. The Spark’s modern exterior design, funky motorcycle-inspired instrument gauges and a well-integrated center console are perhaps   the most attractive features of this diminutive hatch.

The Spark’s four-cylinder S-TEC II engine (available in 1-liter and 1.2-liter displacements) idles smoothly than its three-cylinder competitors. With 14-inch Hankook Optimo tires, precise hydraulic steering and firm damping, this hatch will make you smile should you decide to push it a bit more.

Kia Picanto

Kia’s bet would surely be the manual one-liter, three-cylinder Picanto LX that is priced at just P485,000 (the top-of-the-line automatic 1.2-liter Picanto EX is at P650,000).

With a sporty look bearing the design lines from Peter Schreyer—signature Tiger Nose grille, wide rear stance and large air dam—the Picanto is a sure head turner.