The best new cars for back to school in 2018

Sure, you've got to get your books all squared away before you head back to high school or off to university, but what you really want are wheels.

Here are our Roadshow's editors' picks for practical college cars that won't break the bank.

A hatchback is almost a necessity when going to college. Moving in and out of dorms and apartments every year means a lot of hauling, and you'll probably be making a few runs to a big box volume discount store. 

The 2019 Corolla hatchback will handle all that with aplomb.

The new Corolla features Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 as standard, even on the lowest trims. That means you get an amazingly comprehensive suite of driver assistance packages in an incredibly affordable car, starting at just $19,990.

I saved this one for last, but don't discredit how much fun driving the new Corolla is. That'll ensure it's engaging enough to keep you entertained, and with an available manual transmission, you can ensure the art of three-pedal driving lives on for another generation.

If you've got access to a Level 2 charger, fuel prices will be lower than other new cars, and when you're a college or high-school kid on a budget, that's important. Plus, like most EVs, the Nissan Leaf is fun to drive.

If you relish getting street cred with both green fiends and tech geeks at school, this is the way to do it. And there's plenty of room for your new friends in the Leaf, too.

Pricing starts just shy of $30,000 before delivery, but federal tax credits can bring that down to around $22,500.

Parking is a pain on school campuses, but very often, EVs like the Nissan Leaf get preferential treatment with designated spots, sometimes with free juice!

College kids are more than likely going to move around -- a lot. The Fit can haul everything from your bike to the floor lamp you bought at Ikea, all while being easy on your wallet at the pump. 

Plus, the Fit is available with a six-speed manual transmission and starts at just over $16,000.

Lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise are available on all trim levels of the Honda Fit but those wanting Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will need to jump up to the Sport trim. 

The Kia Soul's spectrum ranges from very affordable (starting below $17K for the base model) to surprisingly fun (for the $23K Turbo model), but it's always a good value.

This boxy compact has a very spacious cargo area that's perfect for getting moved in or out of a dorm room and for active-lifestyle types.

Kia's UVO3 infotainment suite is pretty sweet, but there's Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility if you prefer to BYOTech.

If you pick the Volkswagen Golf's 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant, you'll have a $20,910 car that drives like it's double that price.

With 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded, you'll likely be able to move into that new dorm room with just one trip.

The Golf comes with Volkswagen Car-Net App-Connect (Apple CarPlay) standard, and what student doesn't want CarPlay and Android Auto standard?

Entry-level Civic LX and Sport trims are available with a six-speed manual transmission, which combined with a responsive chassis create a fairly entertaining ride. 

The Honda's hatchback body provides 46.2 cubic-feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which surely will come in handy to move stuff and people. 

A $21,045 base price including $895 destination is solid value for a practical and stylish hatchback.

The Mazda3 looks great, especially in hatchback form, and it handles well. Think of it as a practical Miata. 

The Mazda3 is built well, with premium materials and comfortable seats. Plus, it has a good warranty and offers up excellent fuel economy.  

I find the Mazda Connect infotainment interface is easy to use, but it still lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto options. 

Grand Touring models come standard with items like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and are available with lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control. 

The Hyundai Kona is a great-driving small SUV with space for your friends, decent fuel efficiency, available all-wheel drive and a low entry price.

Bold styling is far cooler -- dare I say more Instagram-able? -- than many competing small crossovers.

The easy-to-use infotainment system packs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ideal for phone-toting drivers, plus many active-safety driving aids are offered.

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek starts at $21,795 for the base 2.0i model, but the sweet spot in the lineup is the mid-tier $22,595 Premium model. 

Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive system is on tap, now with "Active Torque Vectoring," a brake-based system that uses light pressure on the inside wheel when turning to help the vehicle rotate around a bend. 

The  StarLink infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity standard. 

There are also a whole bunch of native apps like Pandora, Aha, iHeartRadio, Yelp and SiriusXM. 

The Mazda CX-3 offers the benefits of a crossover in a small physical footprint.

It's a blast to drive, and it's small enough to not stand out in urban environments.

Autobrake is standard, even on the least expensive trim. A front-wheel-drive CX-3 Sport starts at $20,110 while a top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive Grand Touring model starts at $26,415.