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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.

Volvo ReCharge Concept

By Ben Barry Motor Shows 13 September 2007 12:38 A Volvo hybrid? Let me guess, it appeases the greens but fails to deliver in the real-world The typical hybrid this is not. Instead of having an electric motor that only works at very low speeds before a regular engine cuts in, this C30 – dubbed ReCharge Concept – can be driven on electric-only power for 62 miles which is adequate for most commutes.

Top Gear: Rowan Atkinson, Jaguar XKR-S & Caravan Trains

Rowan Atkinson is on Top Gear - without his McLaren F1 (above) This weekend’s edition of Top Gear is the usual mix of daftness and octane, but the big news – after making overtures since the start of new Top Gear to make it happen – is the appearance of Rowan Atkinson as a Star in a Reasonably Priced Car. Rowan is not just a major petrolhead, but majorly publicity shy. Which you would think is an oxymoron for a professional entertainer, but it seems Rowan is much more comfortable occupying the skin of a character he’s created than his own, particularly in public.