Want to buy $20-25K car with 40+ MPG - Prius, Civic, others? (1 Viewer)

[PlayaHata]

My son is driving age now so he's getting my 2008 Toyota Highlander, and I'm looking for a new/used car.  I have a fairly long commute and average about 20,000 miles driven per year, so I'm looking for a hybrid or something with very good gas mileage.  I want to spend no more than $25,000 and would prefer to spend around $20,000.  I plan to check out and test drive a late model Prius (50+ mpg) and a new or almost new Civic (42 mpg).  Any suggestions for other cars to look at in that price range?  Prius and Civic owners please chime in as well.

 

[belljr]

I bought a used 2016 Civic EX (3 months ago 8000 miles on it)  - minus a couple things I miss from my Accord.   I love it.

I too have about a 90-100 commute every day (round trip).  I'm currently averaging around 34 mpg.

The only downside for me so far is that the gas tank is small so I make the same amount of stops I did in my V6 Accord.

For example, I was getting about 22-23 mpg in my accord.   I would get gas ~ 6 times a month.

In my new Ciivic I still get gas ~ 6 times a month but the Civic has a 12.5 gallon tank and the Accord had 17.

So it's obviously cheaper to fill but i still stop the same.

 

[ChiefD]

My step-mom bought a VW diesel wagon. She drives a ton all over the country and that motor is solid. Gets like 50mpg on the highway. My father in law has been a mechanic for VW for years, and he recommended that motor. 

I think she spent something like 20 - 25K on it.

 

[pecorino]

I have driven a 2007 Prius for the past two years, putting 20K miles on it due to the commute. (I'm the second owner) Still only has 89K on it and drives fine but we are moving on to Subaru. I'll sell the Prius for five or six grand. Anyway, it is reliable and MPG is good, about 45, but it is like driving a golf cart. You feel every bump and there is no fahrvegnugen. But it does the job. At $25000, you might consider the new Hyundai hybrid (I forget the names) but they get 55MPG and look pretty snazzy.

 

[PlayaHata]

I ended up buying a 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback EX trim.  I test drove the  Hyundai Ioniq and really liked it, but it would have been at least $4,000 more than the Civic comparably equipped.  I did the math and it would have taken me about 8 years to make up the price difference in gas savings.  The Civic is fun to drive and I love the looks of the hatchback compared to the sedan.  As an added bonus, my MPG is currently showing as 42.3, well above the 31 city/40 highway listed on the sticker.

 

[belljr]

I ended up buying a 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback EX trim.  I test drive the  Hyundai Ioniq and really liked it, but it would have been at least $4,000 more than the Civic comparably equipped.  I did the math and it would have taken me about 8 years to make up the price difference in gas savings.  The Civic is fun to drive and I love the looks of the hatchback compared to the sedan.  As an added bonus, my MPG is currently showing as 42.3, well above the 31 city/40 highway listed on the sticker.

That will come down a little but you'll enjoy the ride as a commuter car

 

[Fred Lane]

Another possibility would be a Toyota Avalon Hybrid.  I own a 2014 and have had no problems with it through 40k miles.  I get true mpg between 37 - 40...

 

[Spike]

I ended up buying a 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback EX trim.  I test drive the  Hyundai Ioniq and really liked it, but it would have been at least $4,000 more than the Civic comparably equipped.  I did the math and it would have taken me about 8 years to make up the price difference in gas savings.  The Civic is fun to drive and I love the looks of the hatchback compared to the sedan.  As an added bonus, my MPG is currently showing as 42.3, well above the 31 city/40 highway listed on the sticker.

Looks slick.  Enjoy!