10 Best Back-To-School Cars Named By KBB.com; 2014 Nissan Versa Note Ranked No. 1

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With the 2013-2014 school season right around the corner, parents and students can see which new cars the experts recommend most in the list of 10 Best Back-to-School Cars of 2013 from Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new and used car information.

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As summer ends and another semester opens, KBB.com Editors hand-picked a selection of new cars they recommend for students who may be considering their MPG as well as their GPA.  Criteria for selection included earning high grades in not only fuel economy, but also safety, style, versatility, and of course, value.  Each of the KBB.com Editors' new-car recommendations start below $20,000, with a few even available for less than $15,000.  

"Parents and students alike will be surprised at the variety of amenity-laden, affordable new cars available on our 10 Best Back-to-School Cars list for 2013," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com. "We chose the all-new Nissan Versa Note as our No. 1 Back-to-School Car this year because it not only checks the requisite boxes of low price and high fuel economy, but the Note also stresses good looks as a key portion of its value story. It's an attractive five-door hatchback, featuring plenty of new-tech offerings inside."

KBB.com's 10 Best Back-to-School Cars for 2013

*Fuel Economy was not a deciding factor for the 10 Best Back-to-School Cars list.  Fuel economy is enclosed to provide context only among the most popular trims for the selected models.   

To see KBB.com's full coverage of the 10 Best Back-to-School Cars for 2013, including vehicle photography, pricing details and editorial reviews, please visit http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/best-back-to-school-cars-2013/2000009586/.

Car Shopping and Buying Tips for Students and Parents:

To help ensure driving and ownership satisfaction into the coming school year and beyond, follow these guidelines for getting the right car at the right price and check out KBB.com's 10 Tips for First-Time Car Buyers:

• Do Your Research:  All the information you need to make a smart car-buying decision is available at KBB.com, including both expert and consumer reviews and ratings, Fair Purchase Price, side-by-side comparisons, safety and reliability ratings and more. 
• Know What It Is Going to Cost You:  Once you've narrowed it down to a few models that you are interested in, be sure to check out not only what it will cost you up front to buy the car, but also what it will cost you over time to own the vehicle.  KBB.com's 5-Year Cost-to-Own information for new cars can help you determine both.
• Drive At Least Two or Three Different Models:  It's easy to enjoy a test drive in the vehicle at the top of your list, but without driving one or two others to compare, you might easily miss out on something you'd like even more.
• If Buying New:  Always use a vehicle's Fair Purchase Price, not Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, as your basis for comparing vehicles and negotiating with the dealer.  Kelley Blue Book's Fair Purchase Price is the price people are typically paying a dealer for a new car, based on new-car transactions and adjusted regularly as market conditions change.  Kelley Blue Book's Fair Purchase Price may be hundreds or even thousands of dollars less than MSRP.
• If Buying Used:  Whether buying from a private party or a dealer, it's always a good idea to have any used vehicle checked out by a reputable independent service shop.  When purchasing from an individual, check out the private-party value from KBB.com as well as Kelley Blue Book's Quick Condition Quiz.  These items will help you determine the "actual" condition and value of the vehicle. 
• Consider Certified Pre-Owned (CPO):  When you buy a CPO vehicle, you get the value of buying a used car with the peace of mind that comes from getting new-car-like features, such as a manufacturer-backed vehicle warranty, full vehicle inspection and more.  Learn more about buying CPO, compare all manufacturer CPO programs and even search for CPO vehicle inventory in your local area on kbb.com here: www.kbb.com/certified-pre-owned/
• Shop Online:  Use the Internet to find the exact vehicles local dealers in your area currently have on their lots.  You can check out inventory in the 'Cars for Sale' section on KBB.com to save time and hassle of driving around from dealership to dealership.  This way you can choose wisely which models you want to go test drive.
• Parents:  Don't buy a car for your teen without driving it yourself, as your experience can help you identify problems or shortcomings that your teen may not notice.  Also, trust your own judgment and don't let your teen talk you into buying a vehicle with which you're not fully comfortable.
• Teens:  Do all of your homework before you meet with mom or dad; show them you are responsible and ready for a car, and make it easy for them to say "yes" to your well-researched choice.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and get updates on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/+kbb.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry.  Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Suggested Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week.  The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies.  KBB.com provides consumer pricing and information on cars for sale, minivans, pickup trucks, sedan, hybrids, electric cars, and SUVs.  Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader Group.

SOURCE Kelley Blue Book