Economy cars have fuel-efficient engines for economical gas mileage. They usually have US Environment Protection Agency EPA mpg estimates and mileage ratings after undergoing EPA fuel economy tests. Smaller and less spacious than luxury cars, they have a market that includes car rental companies and fuel-budget-conscious individual consumers. Though economy cars are inexpensive and low-maintenance, they usually don’t proffer many trim options.
Economy cars with two seats include sedans such as convertibles and coupes. Economy cars also include minicompact, subcompact, compact or midsize cars with a passenger and cargo volume under 85, 85-99, 100-109, and 110-119 cubic feet respectively.
The three-cylinder-engine, automatic-transmission Smart Fortwo coupes and convertibles have the best average gas mileage, 36 mpg, in this class.
The Mini Cooper is the best economy minicompact car. The select shift automatic 6-gear version with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine has a high gas mileage of 29 to 37MPG. The manual 6-gear version, also with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine has a high gas mileage of 28 to 36MPG.
Amidst sub compact 2-seaters of 2011, the fuel efficiency leader is the automatic 6-gear, 1.6-Liter 4 cylinder propelled engine Ford Fiesta SFE. This 2 seater ford has an EPA rated city-highway mileage of 29 to 40MPG. The manual 5-gear Toyota Yaris, another subcompact 2-seater, comes in second with an impressive fuel economy of 29 to 36MPG.
Both the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Insight feature the same highest EPA attested compact car fuel economy of 40 to 43 MPG city-highway mileage for their 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine equipped models. The second best economy compact cars are the Golf and Jetta both possessing a city-highway mileage of 30 to 42 MPG.
Lightweight small economy cars such as the Chevrolet Metro, the Hyundai Accent and the Daewoo Lanos have space-rationed interiors and fuel-efficient engines that provide city-highway gas mileage of 29 to 41 mpg. They come with a four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission, a passenger capacity for two adults plus two children and the cargo compartment capacity to store two bags, one small and one large.
Midsize cars fit two adults, three children, two large and two small bags. The Toyota Prius, a hybrid midsize automatic powered by a four-cylinder 1.8-liter engine. This car has has the highest city-highway fuel efficiency amid midsize cars, and among all cars. Its gas mileage is 51 to 48 mpg. The regular-grade gasoline-operated Hyundai Elantra Blue edition, with a manual transmission, and featuring 2-liter, four-cylinder engines with a city-highway mileage of 26 to 35 mpg, is the second-best mid-size economy car.
Large economy cars can fit two adults, three children, three small bags and two large bags. The four-cylinder, 2.4-liter-engine, automatic Hyundai Sonata has the highest city-highway gas mileage EPA rating, at 22 to 32 mpg, in this class. The Hyundai Accord, with a four-cylinder, 2.4-liter engine and manual transmission, has an EPA testified city-highway mileage of 22 to 31 mpg.
Economy small and midsize station wagons feature passenger and cargo volumes under 130 and 130 to 159 cubic feet, respectively.
The Audi A3 is one of the most fuel-efficient small station wagons. It is a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine-powered, automatic-transmission-enabled diesel vehicle. It gives 30 to 42 miles to the gallon.
The Volkswagen Jetta Sports Wagon also features a city-highway mileage of 30 to 42 mpg.
The vehicle possessing the highest city-highway gas mileage in its class is the Kia Rondo. This midsize station wagon gives 20 to 27 mpg. It is an automatic four-gear with a four-cylinder powered engine.
