Hyundai Elantra
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
Hyundai Elantra.
Cheap, quiet, comfortable.
Seems like (used) Honda's are for sale much more than Toyota's -- not as reliable?
Toyota is what I have. Best cars on the market and they get great gas mileage and last forever. That is my recommendation.
Let me just jump on this list to say “Buy American”.
Mine has 180,000 on it, and gets nice milage if I keep my foot out of it, coast to stop lights, etc...
used Camry the best
Most cars are pretty reliable nowadays. I’m kind of doing the same search, but I have a 122 mile round trip commute. The Kia apparently has a fairly frequent timing belt change cycle. Meanwhile, the Toyota 1500CC (In my older Scion xB) uses a chain. It should last as long as the cylinders, theoretically.
Audi A 4 6-speed 2.0T S series. Incredible gas milage and a blast to drive. I basically fill up up once a month and only if I drive a lot. I live in Atlanta which is mostly stop and go but it beats the heck out of the Avalon I was driving.
Also a Navy vet (65-69) Proud member of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club (BB62)
The previous Taurus model. My brother, sold his last one 260,000 miles and still running. Bought another used one, over 200k on that one now.
I drive a very hungry gas guzzler, whom I LOVE. He gets me to and from in any weather condition safely.
I know, no help to you, but I just LOVE my gas guzzler! =)
I recommend the late-model Honda Civic. 40+ mpg, most of the amenities we used to associated with luxury cars, and a price roughly in the 20k range for a new one.
MY son has a newer Ford Focus and he absolutely loves the car. Has had no problems, drives nice and smooth, peppy when it needs to be and 40+ MPG.
Beyond that the Hyundai Elantra is one of the best and most reliable.
Honda Civic is another very good vehicle, and if you are looking slightly bigger you can’t go wrong with a Honda Accord. We have had 5 Accord’s over the years and all have run excellently, have lasted well into the 200,000 mile range, and get good gas mileage.
Also have heard very good things from people I know that swear by the Toyota Camry. I have driven a couple as rental vehicles when traveling for work, and was nicely impressed with the vehicles.
The biggest ones to stay away from in my Opinion - GOVT Motors and Dodge.
We’ve got an ‘08 Ford Focus. About 35 MPG and haven’t had any real issues except changing the battery once and tires once.
It was pretty cheap new and still does great. Supposedly the new focuses are higher MPG but haven’t really checked them out. It’s also AMERICAN.
Stay away from Honda Fit. My mother wanted to sell hers to us two weeks after getting it - no thanks.
Uncomfortable, cramped, loud, tin box feel.
Ford Focus, good fuel economy, dependable. We have had six in our family and no issues. Mine is an ‘10 and is loaded with Sync and power everything. Very nice for driving. I really like the Focus. And they cost less than the imports.
We’ve got an ‘08 Ford Focus. About 35 MPG and haven’t had any real issues except changing the battery once and tires once.
It was pretty cheap new and still does great. Supposedly the new focuses are higher MPG but haven’t really checked them out. It’s also AMERICAN.
Toyota Camry, Honda Civic. I can’t recommend any Chrysler or GM product and don’t know about Fords.
Get a 1980 to 1985 used Mercedes Benz diesel sedan. Good mileage, runs great should be inexpensive (44,000 to $6,000) and if in good condition, looks great. And if you have the will, you can make your own bio-diesel for less than a dollar a gallon.
Honda Civic - safe, well-made, reliable, low operating costs and 40+ mpg. on the highway. You can lease one for 3 years/12,000 mi. per year for under $100 a month. At 40 miles round trip per day, that’s about 880 miles a month based on 22 working days, which will keep you under the limit. Or, you can buy one for short money down and about $18K total.