From the Student to the New Family: The Perfect Car to Gift…

You are so excited. You have decided to give your loved one a car for Christmas and you can’t wait to see the expression on his/her face: the joy, the enthusiasm, the screaming. It’s going to be great…if you get the right car. What someone drives is a very personal decision, and you really don’t want to mess it up. Here’s a little cheat sheet to steer you in the right direction. (Disclaimer: We, at DefensiveDriving.com, take no responsibility if the gift isn’t a big hit. You know your loved ones better than we do.)

For the Student

You have a daughter (or son) that just started college and you want to provide her with a way to get around. Since she is still perfecting her driving skills, you don’t want to get anything too expensive, but you still want her to feel confident in what she is driving around. A compact car is the perfect choice for her because it is still sporty without costing you an arm and a leg. The Ford Focus or Toyota Yaris are where it’s at for your daughter.

For the Graduate

Your son just graduated college and is out on his own. He is now in the real world and he deserves a car that will help him on his way. Since he is likely in the dating stage and not quite ready to settle down, now is the time for him to drive a sports car. This will not only help him look professional as he shows up for job interviews, it may even assist him in landing a date. Consider a Chevrolet Camaro or Ford Mustang for your on-the-prowl son.

For the Family

Your daughter just got married and is expecting her first baby. What better gift to get her than a safe and reliable vehicle for her to transport her new family around in? Look for added safety features (like the LATCH system for car seats and side curtain airbags) to help keep her precious cargo alive in case of an accident. Small to midsize SUVs, like the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V are great options for this exciting stage.