10 best used cars / SUVs with good fuel economy
Constantly rising gasoline prices and environmental concerns force us to readjust our priorities when it comes to a car or SUV choice.
Power, performance, size - those were the priorities when gasoline was cheap and we didn't think much about the environment.
Times changed: better fuel economy and lower emissions are important today.
Here we picked the 10 best late-model used cars and SUVs that are pretty reliable and post decent fuel economy numbers.
These are not the most fuel-efficient cars and SUVs - it would be all hybrids in that case.
These are rather some of the best choices among commonly available used cars and SUVs, that also post reasonably good fuel economy in each respective class.
Fuel economy data from Fueleconomy.gov, the MPG numbers are the US MPG, not imperial.
• Toyota Corolla
• Honda Civic
• Pontiac Vibe
• Toyota Matrix
• Toyota Camry
• Honda Accord
• Toyota RAV4
• Honda CR-V
• Subaru Forester
Toyota Echo/Yaris
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Yes, it's a very small city car, but if you look closely, it actually has decent passenger room inside and plenty of available features like the air conditioner, power windows and the ABS. The Yaris is very maneuverable and easy to park; not very expensive. Toyota Corolla (2003 and up)
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The Corolla is very reliable small car. Easy to maintain, easy to sell. Simple but comfortable interior, smooth ride, excellent for commuting.Honda Civic (2001 and newer)
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The same class as the Corolla, the Civic offers more sporty ride and look. Similarly, very reliable, easy to maintain and very easy to sell. Pontiac Vibe
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Pontiac Vibe is a product of co-efforts by Toyota and GM. The Vibe is a tall hatchback with sporty interior and good fuel-efficient low-maintenance engine. Decent cargo space, simple, reliable and easy to maintain.Toyota Matrix
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Toyota Matrix is based on the Toyota Corolla's platform. Unlike the Corolla, the Matrix has more sporty in and out design and sharper handling. High roofline provides more space. Similarly, very reliable and easy to maintain.Toyota Camry (4-cylinder, 2002 and newer)
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Very comfortable family sedan. Plenty of rear-seat and cargo space, very reliable. Low-maintenance, fairly powerful 2.4L engine, comfortable, smooth and quiet ride. Honda Accord (4-cylinder, 2003 and newer)
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Sporty, sharp looking family sedan. The Accord offers spacious interior, sharp handling and sporty ride. Excellent 2.4L low-maintenance engine, plenty of cargo space, contemporary interior design, good reliability records.Toyota RAV4 (4-cylinder model, 2001 and up)
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Small, practical, reliable car-based SUV. Sleek styling, fun to drive, easy to maintain. Available as 2WD or 4WD. The EPA estimates for the 2007 4-cylinder 4WD automatic model:Honda CR-V (2002 and up)
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Small, versatile, car-based SUV. Fairly reliable and easy to maintain. Very practical interior with many well-thought amenities, including even foldable picnic table. The EPA estimates for the 2007 4WD automatic model:Subaru Forester (non-turbo model, 2003 and up)
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Small car-based SUV (although it looks like a tall wagon) with excellent all-weather handling. Good visibility, maneuverable, capable AWD system. Very good crash-test scores. Decent towing capability.You can compare used cars fuel economy ratings and learn more about choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle at:
Fueleconomy.gov - for US
Office of Energy Efficiency - for Canada.
