Compilation of Cheap & High MPG Cars

That's right! Being passionate about saving money and cars, I've compiled a definite list of the best Cheap & high MPG cars available on the market. I've compiled the list and info on each car with thorough research as well as personal knowledge & experience. Feel free to criticize & add on the conversation.

The list is based on this criteria;

1. MPG/Fuel Economy (the main criteria) - accounts for 80% of score

2. Maintenance Costs. This is also an important criteria. Most hybrid cars will not make it into this list because of the maintenance and replacement cost associated with the batteries (which really offsets the primary goal of saving money on gas)

3. Reliability - Again, why save money on gas when you're spending it all back on repairs?

1889-2000 Geo Metro/ Suzuki Swift/ Pontiac Firefly [1 Liter Engine, Manual] - 37 Mpg City/44 Highway (The same cars with same engines but rebadged)

You can find these cars usually costing between 500-1500 bucks! A cheap price to pay for big fuel savings!I've put these listed side by side because they are essentially the same car. The have the same engines, interior design, parts and almost everything except the logo badges on the steering wheel and hood.

These cars are getting some serious miles per gallon. The secret of this 'motorized wonder on wheels cart is the 1653 pound curb weight that is being coupled with the legendary 1 liter 55 horsepower engine, all in all doing massive fuel savings! If you browse the internet looking for 'ecomodding' projects, you will find a lot of people owning these metro's/swifts/firefly'es that are seriously modifying these for maximum fuel savings. Watch out though, when shopping make sure you don't buy the 1.3 liter version because these consume more gas. The automatic version loses around 3-6 mpg as well, so stick with a manual. Also, there are two models; a hatchback version (named coupe), and a sedan model (which has a trunk). Also the looks of the car has seen a small aesthetic design upgrade from 1995, the technical specs are slightly different as well but the fuel economy is virtually the same - (except for the geo metro xfi which gets an additionnal 3 mpg).

Volkswagen Golf / Jetta 1995-1999

500-2'500 $ - 33 MPG City / 44 MPG Highway

I've personally owned one of these cars, a Jetta. They bring in big fuel savings, true... but you will most likely loose them out on maintenance costs. During the 10 days that I have owned this car, I've had 3 problems with it! ; The pipes next to the catalytic converter broke in half, making an awesome modified car sound! Then a few days later the door would not close properly, making me have to hold the door with one hand while driving with the other. I'd take it to a mechanic on one day, and he would fix it in two minutes, only to have the door stuck again the next day. The last problem was a horrible alarm malfunction. It would start beeping like an ambulance alarm whenever I tried to open a door, hood, or insert the keys into the ignition! I took the dashboard out to find a disaster of wires comming all over. Then with the help of an internet guide and a friend, successfully took it out (saving me 100-200$ from having to pay a car electrician). I sold it to a volkswagen diesel die-hard fan 10-15 days later after buying it... (I used to be one myself before buying it - never again!)

So these Golfs and especially Jetta's have more space than the geo metro's and it's sister cars. The Golfs and Jetta's circulating in North America are made out of recycled metal, including rusted metal. This makes these volkswagen vulnerable to rusting. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend a car like this as there is a chance that you will pay high maintenance.

2001-2002 Toyota Corolla 28 MPG City / 36 MPG Highway

1500-3500$

This is the most efficient of the Corollas, about 1-2 mpg more efficient than the 98-99-00 models. They are even more efficient than the 2003 models and up! So far this car has the lowest fuel consumption of the cars stated above, but it wins it all back with low maintenance costs (including a timing chain) and god-like reliability. The 1.8 liter engine is pretty strong for the 2350 pounds it weights. Toyota builds sturdy cars that over deliver. It feels so nice when a car is well-built like that. I highly reccomend this car.

1986 Chevrolet Sprint ER

Unknown Cost - 44 MPG City / 53 MPG Highway

This car probably had one of the best fuel consumptions for any commercialised car from 1980 to present. It's needless to say that it's 1600 pounds with the 3 cylinders engine make miracles happen. See the ad for yourself! The downside of this car is that parts will become increasingly difficult to find.

1992-1995 Honda Civic Hatchback VX

39 MPG City / 50 MPG Highway

Simply, a marvel of our times that has been sadly discontinued. The lean burn engine was it's secret. If you can manage to find a VX model civic, count yourself lucky as they are pretty rare find nowadays.

1986-1987 Honda CRX HF

42 MPG City - 51 MPG Highway

Another Lean Burn engine here. The CRX HF, especially from the years of 1986 and 1987 had an outstandingly high mpg. Apart from the engine, it is its 2250 pound weight and good rear aerodynamics that are bringing the fuel consumption down. There's been more Honda CRX HF's made other than in 86 and 87, but they all wield from 3 to 6 lower mpg.

2000 Honda Insight

6'000$ 49 MPG City / 61 MPG Highway

Last, and probably least, the honda insight gets a higher MPG than the Toyota Prius. 10 higher MPG in highway. I'm putting the car in the last position because if the batteries need replacement they will will cost you much more than what you will be able to save in gas.

Other Cars worth Mentionning

Toyota Corolla 1994 - 1997 (27 MPG City, 34 . Despite their age, they are very reliable if well-maintained. These cars are really worth mentionning and I can highly recommend them.Toyota

Tercel a good runner up with the corolla 94-97, and has the same MPG

Honda Civic 1996 -1999 28 MPG city / 33 Highway. The drive can be fun, the shocks are hard like the 93-97 Corolla but it is not as reliable, and does not age as well, thus less affordable. If however you find one that is well-maintained, then go ahead an buy it. After all, honda still comes in second in reliability (after Toyota)

--- Conclusion ----

So that's about it for now. Buying a cheap car that is reliable and that runs high on mpg is the best way to save yourself money. If you use your car a lot, or even use it for working such as a pizza job, then the savings will add up even faster. Up next will be a guide about increasing your car's MPG, so make sure that you've bookmarked this page for the time being...Cheers everyone!