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Cars for College: AutoWeek's list of the best rides for campus cruising

High school seniors across the country have long since moved their graduation tassels from right to left. And before they start buying mini-fridges and extra-long bedsheets for their dorm rooms, prospective undergraduates need an affordable, safe and mpg-friendly ride that will leave Mom and Dad stress-free during trips to and from school. Here is a look at AutoWeek's top cars in which to send a kid off to college.

Porsche Macan gets four-cylinder powerplant

The new entry level Porsche Macan, shown alongside the new Boxster and Cayman GTS at the Beijing motor show, has become the first Porsche model since the 968 to use four-cylinder power. Parent company Volkswagen's EA888 engine -- as used by a wide range of models from Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat -- will motivate the new Porsche SUV. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder direct-injection unit, boasting the same state of tune found on the Golf GTi Performance Package, develops 234 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm.

New Nissan Navara NP300 pick-up arrives

The glitzier new Nissan Navara pick-up (pictured) arrives Double cab pick-ups are an odd creation, but they make a practical – and tax-efficient – option for users who need both a car and a pick-up, so the arrival of the new 2015 Nissan Navara pick-up matters to many. Styling on the new Navara isn’t dramatically different to the current model, but the 2015 Navara does look a bit more glitzy with its new chrome grill, chrome mirrors,  detail crease down the side, black B-pillars and some very non-utilitarian colour choices like Savannah Yellow. Inside, Nissan has moved the Navara up a notch or two in quality and ergonomics with a high-res colour display, aluminium trim (well, trim that looks aluminium), decent seats and a new steering wheel.