If you're looking for an affordable, safe, reliable and attractive car, consider the Hyundai Elantra. As a single parent with high standards but limited income, I have found all of these qualities in this vehicle. It's perfect for both the 30-minute highway drive to work and for zooming around town to drive to all the kids' activities. In the past 3 years, I have put 60,000 miles on this vehicle and have not had any mechanical problems whatsoever with 20,000 miles left on the bumper-to-bumper warranty. I have been notified of a few minor recalls, and the service department at my local Hyundai dealer has handled them efficiently, a must for a busy mom. As part of my career, I tote around multiple bags of testing kits along with milk crates full of files, and the trunk is big enough for all of this, and I can still load it up with groceries on the weekend. And the backseat is still open for backpacks and anything else we toss back there.

My car has been extremely reliable. I've put nearly 70,000 miles on it in the last four years (I travel a lot), and I have had zero maintenance issues. All of the electrical components have remained sharp and have had no problems, and mechanically the car is still running perfectly. The warranty is another awesome thing about it that comes standard with all Hyundais.