Best Sub $25K long distance commuter

Base model Elantra MSRP $16,695. Base model Prius MSRP $19,875.

$3,180 difference would buy something like 900 gallons of gas. That's over 36,000 miles in an Elantra.

Prius basic warranty 3 year/ 36,000 miles, with a 5/60,000 on the drivetrain. Elantra basic warranty is 5 year/ 60,000, with a 10/100,000 on the drivetrain.

I've driven both. Go test drive an Elantra.

What about a Lexus CT 200h? It looks like the 2012 ones are in the price range.

my gripe with most hybrids is that they don't do any better when used in an all highway type environment (Prius excluded).

Prius is the winner in terms of flat out efficiency, but that is not my sole deciding factor. I really can't see myself driving a Prius every day, and I much prefer to row my own gears.

Thus the other contenders are far more appealing to me. I had not looked into the #'s on the 200h... that wasn't even on my radar. That's why I ask here. Thanks!

I know next to nothing about them, but I do like the styling and packaging of the CT 200h. On the surface it makes sense as an efficient multi-purpose tool that won't embarrass the business execs. I'm honestly shocked that Lexus decided to make it a hatchback.

The CT is really the only hybrid that I could see owning, though only from a styling standpoint.

xflowgolf wrote: my gripe with most hybrids is that they don't do any better when used in an all highway type environment (Prius excluded). Prius is the winner in terms of flat out efficiency, but that is not my sole deciding factor. I really can't see myself driving a Prius every day, and I much prefer to row my own gears. Thus the other contenders are far more appealing to me. I had not looked into the #'s on the 200h... that wasn't even on my radar. That's why I ask here. Thanks!

I think you can include the Prius.

The consensus I'm hearing from Prius owners for highway driving mpg is mid 40's. However, I have virtually zero confidence in the average Prius driver's ability to actually calculate the consumed fuel/ mileage.

First off, they had a bladder fuel tank until 2010, so the actual volume of the tank varied. How the heck would anyone calculate the consumed fuel volume if the tank size varies?

But secondly, Prius drivers pretty much all use the vehicle's electronic fuel economy gauge, and they are quite optimistic. Usually by 2-4 mpgs.

So, it is likely that the Prius is getting LOW 40's on the highway.

If the Elantra gets (real world) 40 mpg, there may only be a 2 or 3 mpg discrepancy.

At $3.50 per gallon, that's a difference of about $0.006 per mile. Less than a penny.

It would take about 520,000 miles to pay the $3180 difference.

Plus, you can row your own gears in the Elantra.

OR, you could bore yourself to death in the Prius!

The 200h is a nicer car, with similar mpg performance.

But the buy-in price is nearly double.

In reply to SVreX:

And looking at a family friend's 2010 Prius, I'll bet a new Hyundai feel like a tank in comparison. I thought doors so flimsy they rang/buzzed when you slammed them was a thing of the 80s.

The 200h is rated quite a bit worse than the 3rd gen Prius. Also, despite the common mistrust of Prius owners over estimating mileage, Fuelly only accepts measured miles + gallons as inputs, and all the Priuses are knocking down mid 40s: http://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/prius

I'll throw out the Camry Hybrid. They are big, comfortable, total appliances, and get excellent mileage.

In a couple of years, a 2013+ Altima hybrid would definitely be a great solution. My mother just bought a 2013 Altima... Toyota did a total 180 with that car.

Wait for the skyactiv-d Mazda 6 wagon???

I commute about 20k per year. When I ran the numbers, the one that made the most financial sense was the Prius. (A first-gen Honda Insight would also be very cheap to operate and is available in a manual.) A lot of vehicles get good mileage, but many that do require premium gas or diesel, which negates much of the savings of better mileage. The Prius running on 87 octane is a huge advantage.

Your requirement is a little tougher than most, as the 80 MPH speeds hurt mileage. As others mentioned, the mid-size hybrids probably have the best combination of mileage and comfort. The Camry hybrid is the one that I'd consider, the Accord hybrid is going to be a $40k car. While you're at it, it would be worth driving the Fusion and Altima hybrids, as well.

I'd second the recommendation to check out fuelly.com for all the models that you're considering. Real-world results are definitely preferable to the EPA ratings. C&D had a great article in the second to last issue about the bogus EPA ratings, especially on hybrids.

Given your requirements, I think a newer TDI might not be the worst thing in the world.

Also there is Dodge Dart. With a 6-speed it is supposed to get 41 mpg highway.