During his rise from a university professor to one of the leading politicians in the United States, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has driven a wide variety of automobiles.
Whether you agree with his political stances, there’s no denying that Bernie Sanders’ political career has been one from the ages. Fifty years ago, he was a poor and obscure University of Vermont professor puttering about in a Volkswagen Dasher. Even now, as one of the most famous political figures in the United States, the Senator from Vermont
has never lost his working-class sensibility, driving a 2011 Chevrolet Aveo. Want to learn more? We'll teach you everything you need to know about the many cars of Bernie Sanders.
Volkswagen Dasher
Bernie Sanders’ rise to political prominence was far from pre-ordained. Fifty years ago he was just a penniless professor at the University of Vermont, struggling to make ends meet. In fact, he barely had the money to buy gas for his car, a Volkswagen Beetle
. Sanders eventually ditched the Beetle in favor of a Volkswagen Dasher, which would be the car he drove through his successful 1980 campaign for election as mayor of Burlington, Vermont
. Produced from 1973 to 1981, the Volkswagen Dasher was a fastback sedan originally offered in two- and four-door varieties. In 1975, Volkswagen expanded the line to include three- and five-door hatchback editions.
The Dasher was an economical family car that didn’t have much under the hood. It sported a modest 1.3-liter OHC engine rated to a modest 54 horsepower. However, what the Dasher lacked in power it made up for in fuel efficiency, with an impressive 37 mpg highway and 24 mpg city. Sanders surely appreciated that gas mileage during the fuel crunch of the 1970s.
Fun Fact Bernie Sanders reportedly once received a ticket for parking in the Burlington mayor’s parking spot. He got his vengeance later, winning Burlington’s 1980 mayoral election by ten votes.
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning nowHonda Civic
In 1980, after winning the election as mayor of Burlington, Sanders decided to upgrade his ride. Keeping with his early penchant for economical imported cars, Sanders ditched his Volkswagen Dasher in favor of a silver Honda Civic
. Introduced in 1972, the Honda Civic was on its second generation by 1980. It was larger than its predecessors and sported a more angular shape. The second generation Honda Civic was also significantly more powerful.
The engines on the second generation Honda Civic employed the CCVC design which added a third valve per cylinder, which limited throttling losses as well as hydrocarbon emissions from the engine. With 55 horsepower, the second generation’s engine was a major upgrade over earlier models. Drivers could also choose between a five-speed manual or a two-speed semiautomatic transmission.
The second-generation Honda Civic also boasted a number of other features that were advanced for their time, including intermittent wipers and a rear window defroster. Additionally, the car came with partial cloth seats, carpeted floors, and a cigarette lighter.
Though the Honda Civic was an excellent car for his time, Sanders allegedly did not take very good care of his. The politician reportedly got into a number of accidents in the 1980s, and eventually got rid of his Civic.
2011 Chevrolet Aveo
Although he’d long had a reputation as one of the poorest politicians in Washington, D.C., by 2020 Bernie Sanders was a wealthy man. His bid for president boosted his national profile and drove his books to bestseller status. However, when it came to cars, he remained a man of the people, driving a 2011 Chevrolet Aveo
. Keeping with Sanders’ environmentally friendly image, the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo averages an impressive 35 mpg highway and 27 mpg city. The Aveo carries a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 108 horsepower and 104 pounds of torque. While the Aveo came standard with a four-speed manual transmission, Chevy did offer the option of an automatic transmission.
While not a particularly exciting car to drive, the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo is remarkably safe, earning excellent marks in government crash tests. Best yet, the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo comes at an affordable price that allows anyone to drive like a presidential candidate, with used models listed at around $5,000.
Overall, the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo makes a sensible, economical, and environmentally-friendly choice for the politician on the go.
How to save money on car insurance
If you’re taking a break from plotting your path to the White House, check out the Jerry
app and earn huge savings on your car insurance
! Just download our trustworthy insurance comparison app
, answer some quick questions, and in less than 45 seconds, Jerry will scan quotes from some of the nation’s top providers and deliver the best deals straight to you. On average, Jerry saves its users $800+ a year on their car insurance. “When we added a new car to our family, we were shocked at how high our current insurer was going to hike our rates. We used Jerry
for some comparison shopping and are now saving around $1000 a year. Thank you, Jerry!” —Darius P.
RECOMMENDEDThis app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
4.7
