海角大神

It's finally that time of year--when schoolgoers of all ages get very sad, when parents breathe a sigh of relief.

It's time to go back to school, and the kids are almost set: tablets, new sneakers, a sweet backpack.聽

Wait, did you forget something? How about a new set of wheels? School time is a great time to consider a new car, because a new model year brings bigger discounts on the outgoing models. Never mind that; it's the perfect chance to show off in the pickup lane.

While you make one last back-to-school shopping list--cars to test-drive--we'll let you share our notes. We've picked our top choices for back-to-school vehicles, for every stage of education, from kindergarten to passing the bar. And in each case, we've picked some of the safest, most value-packed vehicles you can buy.

Elementary School:

You need something that makes the wheels go round and round with maximum safety, a minimum of fuss, and the most entertainment per mile. How about something that actually looks like a bus? The top-rated Ford Flex wagon is stuffed with its DVD entertainment systems, Bluetooth streaming, and excellent crash-test scores. The only thing missing? Maybe a coat of school-bus yellow paint.

• Other Choices: ,

2014 Dodge Grand Caravan

Middle School:

Life's sloppy years force parents to think more practically when it comes to cars. What you really need to endure the early teen years and their overscheduled pace is a Dodge Grand Caravan. Base-priced from just about $20,000, you can spec out one of these minivans in the mid-$25,000 range and get Stow 'N Go seating, Bluetooth streaming audio, a reasonable amount of power and safety features, and save some bank for UConnect's in-car 3G data service so every passenger can log into wifi and email their homework ahead of class. We're sure that actually happens, somewhere.

• Other Choices: ,

2013 Honda Civic Coupe 2-door Auto EX Side Exterior View

High School:

If your high schooler is lucky enough to have earned a car, you want it to be safe. They want it not to be the social equivalent of leprosy. A nice compromise is the Honda Civic Coupe, which isn't too fast, and not unattractive. It's an excellent choice for safety and gas mileage, too--and it's likely to still be running when the next kid needs to inherit it.

• Other Choices: ,

College:

Since college is really just high school with an expense budget, some of the choices overlap. For the undergrad with a reputation to enhance--and the parents with a righteous amount of anxiety--something like a Subaru BRZ sends the right signals. The BRZ's a great choice, good-looking and trackable right out of the dealer box, but with Subaru's typically excellent safety ratings.