Back in the 80s, owning a car was a crucial part of life for young people, so getting a driver’s license was a rite of passage, showcasing that you were maturing from being a kid to becoming an adult. Sitting behind the steering wheel was a source of pride, even if it was a jalopy. Those whose parents were well-to-do had sleek cars on campuses, demonstrating their strength and independence. The cars gave them street acceptance among their peers. Those without cars pride themselves with bikes. It was also a source of freedom from the overshadowing heavy-handed control of parents.
These days, young people need not crave old jalopies because manufacturers have now put in the marketplace, cars that efficiently meet the needs of those who are still in school or those just starting life after school.
Interestingly, young people in Europe don’t seem to take an interest in owning and driving cars, unlike their counterparts in the developing world who crave it but find it hard to get state-of-the-art cars so, they make do with clean but fairly used cars that are less expensive, yet efficient.
Essentially, most young people would need to consider the following before getting a car-
affordabity, ease of use, rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, Smartphone integration and proper airbags.
This edition examines five cars that young people can sample.
2017 Hyundai Accent
The Accent is reasonably affordable car. It has sufficient room for passengers and a good amount of cargo space. Easy to drive and fuel sufficient. It seats 5 and has 137 Horsepower. It can go for $12,590 – $14,990 but in Nigeria, the car could be got for N5,000,000.
2015 Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is a subcompact hatchback designed for the up and coming youths, ready to take off in life. It is a small, fuel-efficient city car, that fits into your apartment parking space. It is roomy enough for minimal cargoes even with space for a child safety seat when you start raising your family. N4, 500,000 (Nigeria Naira)
Volkswagen Polo Hatchback
The Volkswagen polo is a car in a class of its own because of its modern technological features.
It fitted with a panoramic sunroof, self-parking system, adaptive cruise control, and safety is boosted with a standard autonomous emergency braking to make driving a pleasure. It comes in petrol engines in 1.5liter turbocharged while diesel caters for 73bhp or 94bhp engines.
The Polo is the first super-mini to come with a digital dashboard. $25,990
The 2017 Chevrolet Sonic
This Chevy is a car with an all-round appeal that also comes with modern features like a rearview camera, Android Auto and driver assistance features like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors, a 7-inch touch-screen, Apple CarPlay and MyLink infotainment system. It comes in sedan and hatchback body styles, including a turbocharged option for more power.
$12,999 – $17,990
2016 Kia Soul
Kia Soul is has a high seating position that gives it the feel of an SUV, but with car-like handling stability and fuel-efficient. Its appealing interior is a plus. The 2023 model goes for $23,000 while a neatly used 2012 model in Nigeria is N2,400,000.
All the cars we have written about are right for young adults, especially those just taking off in life, and prices are affordable. They are sure to provide a satisfying combination of performance, utility, comfort and style since they come with basic standard amenities that are must-haves.
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