Television will give you the impression that every college student leaves home and lives on campus. In actuality, approximately 27.5% of undergraduate students live off campus at their parents’ homes. That percentage is likely to be even higher in the Houston area, which is home to so many college and university options, the largest of which is the University of Houston, where approximately 85% of its 39,000 undergrads are commuter students. Part-time jobs are another crucial aspect of college life. Both of these factors mean students are spending plenty of time in what needs to be a reliable car. Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood has a couple of suggestions for what can take them to work and school.

The commuter college student needs a safe vehicle above all. We think of high school students as new to driving, but even a couple of years later they are not exactly seasoned, experienced drivers. Driver assistance technologies can come in handy for a driver whose head is swimming with literature, world history, calculus, or how to get that good-looking classmate’s attention.

Their car should also be reliable. Obviously, we don’t want our kids standing on the I-69 shoulder, but even avoiding that, a car in the shop can be devastating, causing missed classes or, even worse, missed shifts at their part-time job.

Also, the ideal vehicle should be economical. Houston is quite spread out. A run to UH for instance, from anywhere near Kingwood is not only clear on the other side of town, but full of traffic. There are probably days in which it may seem shorter to commute to SFASU in Nacogdoches.

Fourth, the air conditioning needs to be rock-solid. It’s Houston, no need to elaborate.

All this brings us to the Jetta. Its turbocharged engine makes getting up to speed on Houston’s relatively short freeway onramps a no-drama task, and its small footprint makes it easy to negotiate freeway lane changes and park in tight campus and shopping center parking lots. Its EPA estimated ratings of 40 MPG on the highway and 29 MPG in the city helps keep travel costs down. The standard IQ.DRIVE can provide just the help young drivers need to get through the daily grind intact, while Adaptive Cruise Control can reduce freeway fatigue, and the standard dual-zone Climatronic® system keeps things comfortable. Starting at $23,995, it could be a good use of the money you are saving from on-campus housing and meal plans.

In addition, Jetta provides plenty of modern connectivity, allowing drivers to hold their (inevitable) hands-free phone conversations, stream music or podcasts, and, of course, access to their phone’s navigation system (because again, they haven’t been driving that long, and Houston is a big place...).

If your student has cargo-carrying needs that go beyond sedan capability, consider the Taos as another solid option. It too has a small footprint, standard IQ.DRIVE, similar tech, and the front-drive model (all you need for this type of Houston driving) is still EPA rated at 28/ 36 MPG city/ highway, respectively. Better yet, its starting MSRP of $26,500 doesn’t stray far from the Jetta.

And that is if you purchase new. The Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood pre-owned inventory will almost always have a selection of previously owned Jetta and Taos models, with the attributes mentioned above, with prices that make these vehicles even more incredible values. Whether new or used, these vehicles can take them through college and well into that all-important first post-graduation job or two and look good doing it.

Bring your college scholar to Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood, home of the Free Lifetime Engine warranty, and check out these ideal college commuting cars.