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Identifying the First-Gen Ford MustangCars with Great Gas Mileage Under $30k
Check out this selection of used vehicles that get great gas mileage. Available under $30k, these cars pack in practicality, style, and efficiency.
Great Options for Used Cars
Buying a used car these days doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. You’ve got a simple list of priorities including a vehicle that offers lots of practicality, possibly with 3rd row seating, and great gas mileage. You also want something that’s affordable. We’ve put together a handy list of ten used SUVs and sedans that meet these simple criteria and stay under a price cap of $30,000. And if you need more guidance on buying a car in 2024, check out these expert tips for buying a car.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
We’ll start our list with a maybe predictable choice, but a solid one all around given their reputation as reliable cars, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. If you search carefully, you should be able to find a Camry Hybrid that is only one to three years old. This generation Camry offers quite impressive fuel economy, achieving 51 MPG city, 53 MPG highway, and 52 MPG combined for the 2023 Camry Hybrid LE model. The Camry Hybrid is great for a small family, seating five people in comfort and provides enough rear seat space to fit a child seat easily. If you want to maximize your fuel budget, the LE model is going to be the best option. Higher trim models are a little less efficient, still a solid 46 MPG combined, and are going to be difficult to find under the $30k mark.
Honda Accord Hybrid
Next is a direct competitor to the Camry Hybrid, and it’s the Honda Accord Hybrid. Similar in size to the Camry, the Accord seats five people comfortably while delivering great fuel economy. The hybrid powertrains in the Accord aren’t quite as frugal as the most efficient Camry, but with 51 MPG city, 44 MPG highway, and 48 MPG combined, the Accord hybrid is right in line with most of the Camry Hybrid trim levels. It’s possible to find a base 2023 Accord Hybrid under the $30k, which is the trim we recommend. Like the Camry hybrids, the upper trim levels are less frugal.
Ford Fusion Hybrid
If you want a sedan, the Ford Fusion Hybrid offers a solid alternative to the Camry and Accord. Ford stopped building the Fusion after the 2020 model year which means it might feel a step behind the latest models, but it is still modern enough to have all the tech features you expect. The Fusion Hybrid is rated at 43 MPG city, 41 MPG highway, and 42 MPG combined. One advantage of being a few years older is it’s possible to find a top-of-the-line Titanium model for under $30k. These means while you might not be getting quite as stellar MPGs as the other sedans, you’ll be riding around in a much more luxurious cabin with heated and ventilated seats.
Ford Fusion Energi
Another Fusion option is the Energi, which is a plug-in hybrid model. This means the Fusion Energi has a large enough battery pack to deliver a short, but practical electric only range of about 26 miles. With the convenience of plugging in to top off this battery, the Energi is rated to achieve a whopping 103 MPGe when using both the battery and gasoline engine. Even if the battery is depleted, the Energi gets a strong 42 MPG on gas alone. And, like the normal Fusion Hybrid, the Energi can be found comfortably under our threshold which means you can spend a bit less and still get the top-of-the-line model.
Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV
Of course, a fully electric vehicle is a great way to avoid gas stations all together, and the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV are great, affordable options. A 2023 model can be found under the $30k cap. The Bolt EV is a small hatchback and the Bolt EUV is a small SUV with slightly larger exterior dimensions. The Bolt EV has a max range of 259 miles and is rated at 120 MPGe combined. Being a little bigger drops the BOLT EUV’s range to 247-miles and it’s MPGe rating to 115 combined. Both models come with a 200-horsepower motor driving the front wheels, seating for five, and plenty of cargo space.
Telsa Model Y
The Telsa Model Y is another great choice at this price point as used 2021 models are fairly plentiful under the $30k mark. The Tesla Model Y is offered in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, but most used models are AWD, so we’ll focus there. The AWD Long Range model would be our recommendation as it offers a bladder testing max range of 330 miles and a 122 MPGe combined rating. We would recommend, however, taking one for a test drive if you’re unfamiliar with Telsa models. Compared to the Chevy Bolt EVs mentioned above, there is a steeper learning curve in the Telsa. The Bolt offers a much more conventional and familiar experience behind the wheel. On the other hand, the Telsa offers better performance with 425 horsepower in the Long Range model.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid is another car with great gas mileage. The RAV4 Hybrid model gets 41 MPG city, 38 MPG highway, and 40 MPG combined. It is stuffed with all the latest tech features like Bluetooth connectivity, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. With an attractive SUV design, spacious interior, and rugged looks, the RAV4 Hybrid is great for those seeking a bit of adventure. Our recommendation would be to find a Woodland Edition which doubles down on the ruggedness with unique suspension tuning, special gold-colored wheels, and all-terrain tires for more capability off-road. You can read our full RAV4 review here.
Kia Sorento Hybrid
The Kia Sorento Hybrid is a larger SUV choice that offers the convenience of 3rd row seating that allows the Sorento to carry six people. The front-wheel drive model gets 39 MPG city, 35 MPG highway, and 37 MPG combined. All-wheel drive models are a little less efficient with 34 MPG combined. The exterior of the Sorento is rugged and handsome while the interior design is modern with a large touchscreen infotainment system and automatic climate control.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Yes, another Toyota is on our list. If you need seating for up to eight people in a package that gets great gas mileage and costs less than $30k, you’ll be hard pressed to do better than the Highlander Hybrid. 2020 and 2021 model years can be found under our price limit and give you seating for eight with the second-row bench seat, or seven with the second-row captain’s chairs. The all-wheel drive version is rated at 35 MPG for city, highway, and combined.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
An often overlooked option, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is perfect for the practical person looking to maximize their fuel efficiency and value. The Outlander PHEV has seating for five, a generous cargo area, and a plug-in hybrid powertrain that delivers great efficiency all at an affordable price. With a electric only range of 24 miles, you can make short drives without using any gas. When using both electric and gas power, the Outlander PHEV gets 74 MPGe and when running on gasoline alone, 26 MPG combined.
