Top 10 Luxury Cars for Young Drivers

The term "college car" may spring a certain vision to mind — maybe it's of a beat-up Camry, or the fondly remembered hand-me-down Ford Taurus that got you through school. But take a walk through some of today's college campuses and another picture of the college car will likely emerge — one with a little more sparkle and style.

"Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, there's no shortage of them on campus. Just go to the student parking lot and you'll think you're at a Saks or Nordstrom's," said Zach Friedlis, a recent University of Maryland graduate, referring to the plethora of high-end vehicles being driven by his college peers. Friedlis, who grew up in Potomac, Md., an upscale suburb of Washington, D.C., didn't just notice the trend during college. At his high school, the cars in the student parking lot were often more expensive than those parked in the teachers' lot.

The link between teens and premium cars remains strong. "Young people have continued to purchase luxury vehicles, despite rising tuition and gas costs," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for the Power Information Network, a division of J.D. Power and Associates. Television reflects the trend. Watch an episode of MTV's My Super Sweet 16 and you'll see teens drive off in their dream Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. For many of these young drivers, receiving the keys to a 'Benz is all about status.

However, for their parents, who often contribute the funds to buy these vehicles, safety, not status, might be a bigger concern, according to State Farm Insurance representative Dick Ludeke. "Parents are extremely concerned about the safety of the cars in which their kids ride and drive — and many know that safer vehicles often cost less to insure," Ludeke said.

Zach's mother, Pearl Friedlis, echoes this sentiment. "We bought our children high-end vehicles because we wanted them to be safe," she said.

But safety equipment, which luxury cars tend to have more of than less-expensive models, is only one component in the broader safety equation. Many luxury cars have powerful engines and superior handling abilities — attributes that can goad lead-footed teens into trouble. "Though it is true most high-end vehicles offer more standard safety features, some may also encourage risky driving, which can offset any additional safety equipment," said Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Whether for safety, luxury or attention, affluent young people (along with their affluent parents) are opening their wallets and purses to get behind the wheel of some very expensive vehicles. In our Top 10 list, we find out the most popular luxury and high-performance models among young drivers.

The Power Information Network reviewed all vehicles purchased in the U.S. from January through October 2006, compiling data that showed the percentage of buyers age 23 and younger by model, which we used to establish our rankings.

To get more information on each of the vehicles that made our Top 10 list, keep reading or jump to a vehicle that appeals to you using the upper right-hand page navigation.

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