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10 Best Cars For College Graduates - Subaru Crosstrek Wins 5 Best New Models

What are the 10 Best Cars for Recent College Graduates? The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek gets the cap for the 2021 model year.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is Subaru of America's hottest model and gets the nod for Autotrader's list of 10 Best Cars for Recent College Graduates for 2021. Autotrader picked the Crosstrek for its affordable price, fuel efficiency, and standard all-wheel-drive. Crosstrek is one of the five best 2021 model year picks.

In addition to the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, the top five best new cars for graduates include the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2021 Kia Soul, 2021 Mazda3, and 2021 Nissan Sentra.

2021 Subaru Crosstrek pricing, specs, features

The best five older picks include the 2018 Ford Focus, 2017-2018 Honda Civic, 2018-2020 Hyundai Kona, 2016-2018 Toyota Prius, and 2016-2018 Volkswagen Jetta.

Autotrader says, "The Subaru Crosstrek is a small crossover that's big on quirks. Starting at $23,295, there's nothing else quite like it with its unconventional look and impressive off-road chops thanks to tall ground clearance and standard AWD. If you need an efficient, practical car, but also like the idea of occasional off-road adventures, the Crosstrek can do it all without breaking the bank."

2021 Subaru Crosstrek pricing, specs, features

What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

The 2021 Crosstrek subcompact SUV comes in five trim levels for customers and gets a small price increase. The base trim is priced from $23,295, Premium ($24,345), all-new Sport ($27,545), and Limited ($29,045). Prices include destination and delivery ($1,050).

Why is the Crosstrek a good choice for graduates?

All 2021 Crosstrek trim levels come standard with all-wheel-drive for all-weather capability. Even if you don't live in a cold climate, all-wheel-drive adds extra safety in all conditions. Crosstrek also comes with 8.7-inches of ground clearance which no competitor exceeds. Another thing the competition does not offer is anything like Crosstrek's X-Mode for more severe winter driving and off-road excursions.

What if you don't ever take your vehicle off-pavement? The Subaru X-Mode feature in the new 2021 Crosstrek is not just for extreme off-road adventures. See how to get the best use from it every day using this Subaru X-Mode guide from Torque News.

Which model offers the lowest cost of ownership?

According to Vincentric's 2021 Best Value in America Awards, Crosstrek scores best-in-class with the lowest insurance costs, lowest ownership, low fuel costs, and low depreciation costs. Having the highest resale value and lowest depreciation rate in its class contributed to the win.

In Kelly Blue Book's 2021 Best Resale Value Awards, Subaru Crosstrek scores the best Subcompact SUV. Crosstrek is projected to retain its value better than all other Subcompact SUVs through the initial five-year ownership period. This can make the most significant difference if you lease or plan to trade in your vehicle after 3-5 years. The new Crosstrek also gets picked for an individual segment award in ALG's Residual Value Awards.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is Subaru of America's hottest model and gets the nod for Autotrader's list of 10 Best Cars for Recent College Graduates for 2021. Crosstrek is one of the five best 2021 model year picks.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru USA