The Five Best Cars with Good Gas Mileage, Cheap Prices

Car buyers on a tighter budget might focus on cars with the lowest base prices. In fact, these cost-conscious consumers might not include any additional features or upgrades on their model. The base might be the maximum expense.

Fuel efficiency also could be important to buyers who need to maximize every cent. While fuel efficient and low budget models are not fancy, their function may only be to get the driver from point A to point B safely. The five best cars with good gas mileage, cheap prices include:

• Chevrolet Spark

• Mitsubishi Mirage

• Kia Rio

• Hyundai Accent

• Nissan Versa

Chevrolet Spark: The Most Affordable on the Market

The most affordable vehicle on the market is the Chevrolet Spark. The Spark has a base price of $13,600. In fact, the new 2022 Spark could be more cost efficient than a used vehicle.

A base model Spark is designed as a two-door hatchback. While this isn’t necessarily the choice car for a growing family, it would be a great model for a commuter.

The Spark is the least expensive model on the market, and it’s incredibly fuel efficient, too. The 2022 Spark can get up to 30 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway.

Mitsubishi Mirage: The Most Fuel-Efficient Non-Hybrid on the Market

While the Chevrolet Spark is the least expensive model on the market, the Mitsubishi Mirage is the most fuel-efficient model. Priced at $14,645, the compact Mirage can get 39 MPG (combined).

For those who want a very budget-friendly model and need to maximize every drop of fuel in the gas tank, the Mirage might be the best choice.

Nissan Versa: Priced Just above $15K

For some buyers, the $15,000 threshold could be the top of the budget. The Nissan Versa is priced slightly above this range—at $15,380. The Versa is more expensive than both the Spark and the Mirage, but it does offer decent gas mileage.

The Versa can get up to 32 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway, making it more efficient than the low-cost Spark.

Kia Rio: Affordable and Fuel Efficient

The 2022 Kia Rio is a bit more expensive than the Spark, Mirage and Versa. Priced at $16,250, it’s still budget-friendly for those who need to stay below the $20,000 threshold.

The Rio also is ideal for commuters who need the most fuel efficiency for their budget. The Rio can get 33 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway, making it more efficient than both the Spark and the Versa.

Hyundai Accent: Offers Up to 41 MPG on the Highway

The Hyundai Accent is more expensive than the Kia Rio, but it offers similar MPG stats. The Accent is priced at $16,645 and can get up to 41 MPG on the highway.

Buyers who are researching the most fuel efficient non-hybrids might see the ‘41’ stat boldly advertised and believe that this is a combined MPG. Unfortunately, the 41 MPG only applies to the Accent’s efficiency on the highway, not for city mileage. Auto sites note that the Accent can get up to 33 MPG in the city—the same as the Rio.

Should Buyers Shop Used for Better Prices?

When car buyers are on the hunt for the least expensive vehicles, shopping used could be a viable option. Unfortunately, when demand for used cars is high, the prices can climb.

Currently, the used market is reeling from the chip shortage. When buyers cannot find the vehicle they want as a newer model, they could seek out older models. In addition, the high demand and lower inventory might mean that some vehicles are worth more as used models than they were when they were new.

Buyers who are on a tight budget will face trade-offs in the used market. There are multiple factors that influence a model’s used price:

• Make/model

• Age

• Condition

• Mileage

Budget buyers might need to choose vehicles with higher mileage or models that are older. However, lenders also could have stipulations related to loans for used cars. There are often criteria related to age and mileage. If the vehicle doesn’t meet the lender’s criteria, the buyer could be out of luck for financing.

In addition, the fuel efficiency of older cars might be lower compared to new models. Buyers who are limited in how much they can spend or those who want the best fuel efficiency might choose cars from the list of newer models.

Hybrid Options: Good Gas Mileage, Cheap Prices

While there are several inexpensive standard compact vehicles that offer the best fuel efficiency, hybrids will boast even better MPG specs than any standard option. What are the least expensive hybrids?

Many hybrid models hover around the $30,000 price point. However, MotorTrend released a list of the most affordable models. The five least expensive hybrids include:

• 2022 Ford Maverick XL FWD $21,490

• 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Blue $24,625

• 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid $24,775

• 2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue $24,775

• 2022 Toyota Prius L Eco $25,650

How do each of these hybrids rank for fuel efficiency? Here are the cheapest hybrids in order of most fuel efficient to least fuel efficient:

• Hyundai Ioniq Blue

58 MPG city / 60 MPG highway

• Toyota Prius L Eco

58 MPG city / 53 MPG highway

• Toyota Corolla Hybrid

52 MPG combined

• Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue

49 MPG city / 52 MPG highway

• Ford Maverick XL FWD

41 MPG city / 33 MPG highway

Buyers who want the most fuel efficient and least expensive hybrid should opt for the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Blue, which offers 58 MPG in the city and 60 MPG on the highway.

Use Carzing to Find Cars with Good Gas Mileage, Cheap Prices

Carzing can help buyers find the best car in their budget. Use Carzing to search for cars by make/model, price or body type.

Once buyers engage the initial search, they can refine their search by using the toolbar to the left of their results. Set specific price parameters to ensure that results meet more specific budget needs. Buyers also can select fuel type if they want to search for hybrids or include both hybrids and standard options.

In addition, Carzing also lets buyers sort their results to view the most relevant options at the top of the page. Sort the results by price, mileage, age or location.

Buyers that need a loan for their vehicle can use Carzing to get pre-qualified for financing. Buyers will need to enter information related to their work history and their house payments (mortgage or rent). Carzing will then show all the possible financing options for which the buyer might qualify.

Buyers can select the loan that offers the best terms and/or the lowest monthly payment. Carzing also helps buyers understand down payment obligations for each loan option. Once buyers find their ideal financing, they can print out a voucher with the details and present it to a participating dealership.

With Carzing, buyers can take control of the search for a new or used car. Browse through the available options when it’s convenient, review all the loan options and take as much time as necessary to make the final decision. Carzing helps buyers take control of the buying journey and understand their financing choices, too.