TheCarConnection.com Names Most Economic Models

November 12, 2008

Email this story Printer Friendly Version

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Even though consumer confidence has sunk and Americans have tightened their budgets, many still need to buy new vehicles.

In light of this crunch, TheCarConnection.com has highlighted models across six vehicle classes that dealers can promote as giving shoppers the most "bang for their buck."

"Any new car has to do it all," explained Marty Padgett, editor of TheCarConnection.com. "It needs to be relatively inexpensive and have plenty of room, plenty of power, leading fuel economy and good looks, too.

"Above all, it should have all the safety gear buyers expect — and the kind of features across the board that make even base models a satisfying purchase," he added.

The following are TheCarConnection.com's best deals:

Sedan: Chevrolet Malibu

Editors rated the Malibu as the best among sedans for its styling and room, fuel economy and safety. It offers five-star safety in federal tests, 32 miles per gallon on the highway (in some versions) and a base price of less than $22,000.

"The Malibu proves that GM can field a competitor for the best from Honda and Toyota, and do it with superior style and even better interior room," Padgett said.

Minivan: Dodge Grand Caravan

The OEM's trademark minivan features V-6 engine power and flexible seating arrangements, among other features, the site noted.

"The new Dodge Grand Caravan may have some iffy interior plastics, and just average reliability," Padgett noted. "But this minivan delivers unparalleled entertainment features for your family, including in-car satellite TV and a hard-drive music player."

Green Vehicle: Toyota Prius

The Prius has a fuel economy of 48 mpg and offers seating capacity for four adults, editors noted. Its price is $23,375.

"The Toyota Prius has done nothing less than convince the American public that hybrid cars are a good thing," Padgett added.

Pickup: Nissan Frontier

TheCarConnection.com pointed out that the Frontier is quite practical "for those who still rely on pickup trucks for their daily bread" and can handle many of the jobs "that often get punted into the full-size category."

As a smaller truck, the Frontier provides a fuel-conserving four-cylinder version, a choice of body styles, a long bed and an optional V-6 edition.

"It's do-it-yourself attitude to the extreme — right down to the spray-in bedliner and the hooks and cargo holds that make its mid-size bed more useful," Padgett commented.

SUV/Wagon: Subaru Forester

"The Forester is a plucky four-cylinder wagon with a tall roof and an option for turbo power that will make most shoppers forget the high gas bills from a Chevy Tahoe," Padgett stated.

Standard features include all-wheel drive and 26-mpg highway fuel economy. The base price on the Forester is below $20,000.

Two-Door Vehicle: Volkswagen GTI

The GTI features a 200-horsepower engine with an available dual-clutch transmission, Editors praised its "superb driving feel and response" and its 29 mpg highway gas mileage. Moreover, its squared-off tail can help with occasional cargo needs.

The GTI's price is less than $23,000.

"It's one of the best-handling cars in its class, and one with an enthusiast's dream of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine," Padgett concluded.

Trends & Stats