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The 5 Best Low-Cost, High-Mileage Cars: By Ron Amadon


Posted on Oct 21, 2009

This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit

Readers ask 'what would you buy' and I tell them

In the blogs, in reader email and on the street I hear it all the time. And the question goes something like this. "What car would you buy that is well made, gets good gas mileage, and doesn't cost much?"

There are many well–made small compact cars on the market right now, and there are more to come. Some will get the best mileage possible because they are all electric and do not use any gas. Yet there is still that big question of range.

So bloggers, warm up your keyboards! Here are my top five picks based on cars tested in the current calendar year.

1. Volkswagen Jetta Diesel
The Volks and the Prius were separated by less then the depth of snow the last time the white stuff fell on Phoenix. In the end, it was the Jetta's fun–to–drive factor that moved it to the top spot. The handling is good, the performance is spot on (as the Brits would say), and virtually no one riding with you will ever know it is a diesel –– the new generation is that good. The test car, with just one option, bottom–lined at $23,169. The diesel Jetta is EPA rated at 30 to 41 miles per gallon. I got 32.2 in city, country and interstate travel while not babying the throttle. Many Jetta owners have told me they routinely get over 40 mpg on a trip. Europeans love their diesels and the Jetta is one very good reason why.

2. Toyota Prius
Updated substantially for 2010, especially on the inside, this granddad of the hybrids is a winner. Quiet out on the interstates and nimble around town, the Prius has rung up an enviable durability record over the years. The new one carries an EPA rating of 48 mpg on the highway, and 51 around town. I loved the interior styling with the beautiful, swooping integration of the center console with the dash. A Prius plug–in hybrid made its debut at the Frankfurt auto show. With five levels of trim available, the Prius starts at $21,000.

3. Ford Escape Hybrid
I just love the size of this vehicle, especially when there is a long list of things to do around town. Another advantage is that the Escape's interior is always a cheery place to settle into. The EPA rates the Hybrid with front–wheel drive at 31 miles per gallon on the highway, and 34 around town. The base price is $20,515 but load up on options and it is easy to crack $30,000.

4. Kia Soul
From downtown Washington to the Maryland suburbs, the fun little Soul turned heads with its styling. It is EPA rated at 24/30 mpg with a starting price of just under $14,000. The Soul was named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a 10–year, 100,000–mile warranty should not be overlooked. Plus, you can put a surprising amount of stuff out back with the seats down.

5. Honda Insight
With a sporty flair lacking in many gas sippers, the Insight is EPA rated at 40 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway. The test car was a top–of–the–line EX with a navigation system and sold for $23,770. A base model starts at $19,800. This new hybrid carries Honda's promise of long life and economical operation. If that price is too high, the Honda Fit, at a starting price of $14,900, is a good way to go.

Hub Caps

  • The fun continues in October when a 2010 Mustang GT heads this way. I will have a full road test on the site as soon as possible.
  • For 2010, Chrysler will put the owner's manual and all the other stuff that fills up the glove box on a DVD.
  • It was sad to hear of the financial troubles of Chrysler's Jim Press. He is one of the truly nice guys in the auto industry.
  • J.D. Power thinks September auto sales will be very low, now that "cash for clunkers" is gone. It sees September sales at a yearly rate of just 7.5 million, the lowest selling rate of the year.
  • Yet, Ford's CEO Alan Mulally thinks auto sales will increase here in the U.S. over the next two years. And GM will step up production of three hot sellers, including the new Camaro.
  • I love the new Ferrari 458 Italia. Sleek styling, 562 horsepower, zero to 60 in under 3.4 seconds, and did I say it was gorgeous? The price? Well if you have to ask...

 

Vehicles tested in this column are on loan from the auto companies through local distributors.

Ron Amadon is an auto writer and morning news anchor on the MarketWatch Radio Network, based in Washington.

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