Fuel efficiency is at the forefront of every new car-buyer’s mind. No one wants to spend $30,000 and find themselves throwing money away at the gas pump, so we’ve compiled a list of the cheapest vehicles that get 40 miles per gallon (combined) in order from most expensive to least expensive.

While great advancements have been made in internal combustion engine technology over the past few years it still comes as little surprise that every car on this list is a hybrid. For those looking for cars that get 40 mpg on the highway alone, keep an eye open for our top-10 next week! And before the comments start rolling in, the $32,000 Prius PHEV Plug-in seen above, did not make our list, due to its limited availability. For fans of the plug-in Prius, check out our latest review.

We are back with this week’s instalment of AutoGuide’s newest, interactive weekly feature ‘Commute, Toy or Destroy’.

Once again, we present to you, our faithful readers, a choice of three vehicles. We are asking you to decide which one you would make your daily driver, which one would become a weekend Autocross machine and which one should be blown up by a 500 shot of nitrous.

Remember, the commuter car you must live with every day. The toy would be only available to you for occasional use on weekends or car meets and the final car would be the one you’d leave the keys in the ignition in a shady neighborhood.

This week we select icons of affordable performance from the late 1980s that represent three different continents. First, from North America is the Ford Mustang 5.0. Yeah, the storied Foxbody ‘Stang. Next, from Asia is an incredibly fun-to-drive light weight hatchback, the Honda CRX. Finally, representing Europe is the highly engaging Volkswagen Corrado. So what are your choices going to be?

1987-1993 Ford Mustang

The ‘foxbody’ Mustang (which refers to its ‘fox’ platform) was in production for a long time. In 1987 it was refreshed and modernized, but that didn’t matter too much. The 5.0 L V8 (4.9 L to be technical) was all the Mustang faithful cared about as it made this budget sports car not only a good performer, but also a great vehicle to modify into an absolute terror.

1988-1991 Honda CR-X

In 1987, the CRX received modern sheet metal, a better suspension and a significant bump in power; especially in Si models. Although power still barely exceeded the 100 hp mark, the fact the CRX weighed in at only 2,000 lbs. meant it was still fairly quick. This light weight also meant the CRX was incredibly nimble in the corners and fuel efficient. Later in life, this car became the darling of the import tuner community.

1988-1995 Volkswagen Corrado

When the Corrado first came out, many claimed it to be one of the best handling front-wheel drive cars ever made. Twenty-five years later and many are still in love with this three-door veedub. If handling prowess wasn’t enough, two letter and number combinations still set Corrado fans hearts a flutter; G60, which refers to the 158 hp 1.8 L supercharged four-cylinder and VR6, which was the name of the 178-192 hp narrow angle V6 engine.

Honda will return to the world of Formula One racing for the 2015 season in partnership with McLaren, which will source its engines from the Japanese company. 

Long time Formula One fans will remember the McLaren and Honda team that existed from 1988 to 1992, with motorsport legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost both piloting the teams cars. Honda made a brief return to F1 in 2000 to provide engines for BAR. The company was last seen in F1 in 2008.

“Honda has been a company which grows by taking on challenges in racing. Honda has a long history of advancing our technologies and nurturing our people by participating in the world’s most prestigious automobile racing series,” says Honda president Takanobu Ito, “The new F1 regulations with their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies and this is central to our participation in F1.”

Formula One will be switching to 1.6-liter turbochaged V6 engines in the upcoming season, thanks to new engine regulations that are designed to emphasize fuel efficiency.

“I am very happy to hear about Honda’s important decision to return to Formula One with McLaren from 2015,” says FIA President John Todt. “The introduction of the new power train next year, in the form of a 1.6 litre, 6 cylinder engine with direct injection and energy recovery, is a very exciting challenge and demonstrates a vision for the future of the sport.”

Formula One CEO as well as Todt believe that Honda will certainly be a contender from the get-go.

The 2013 Honda Civic sedan has been awarded a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Civic sedan scored four stars on the frontal crash test, five stars on the side impact test, and four stars for rollover protection, giving it a five-star overall rating. The coupe on the other hand, while it had the same scores on each individual test, was awarded a four-star rating since crash dummies received more significant injuries in side-impact crash tests.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Honda Civic vs 2013 Nissan Sentra

The 2013 Honda Civic sedan was also named a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and was the first small, compact car to meet the new standard.

Pricing for the Honda Civic sedan starts at $18,955 including a $790 destination charge.

Discuss this story at 9thGenCivic.com

Almost every vehicle Honda builds can claim either a “Top Safety Pick Plus” or “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Every vehicle rated within the maker’s product portfolio gained one of the two ratings. Only the FCX Clarity hydrogen vehicle was excluded from the IIHS ratings. The ratings mean that Honda either tied or led the automotive industry in each of the segments rated by the IIHS.

Most notably, the 2013 Accord and Civic both earned the “Top Safety Pick Plus” rating in both sedan and coupe forms. As both a coupe and a sedan, the Civic earned the highest “good” rating in all tested categories including the newest small overlap test. The Accord did almost as well, scoring the same in all but the small overlap category as a coupe, where it earned an “acceptable” rating.

Discuss this story at 7thgenhonda.com

Sometimes automakers have holes in their line-up bigger than Van Halen did in 1985. Due to a lack of time, resources or manufacturing facilities, the company looks for a quick fix. The solution? Grab a vehicle from another company that fills the void and rebrand it as their own. But like Wade Boggs in a New York Yankees uniform, these rebadged vehicles never look quite right. And, like any decision made by cobbling together bits and pieces from here and there, it doesn’t always work.

In the world of rebadging, Australian General Motors division Holden is king. The company will rebadge anything and everything for the Australian market. Since Holden could have a top ten list entirely their own, we’ll skip them. Instead, let’s focus on vehicles most in North America will recognise in either current or rebadged form. We are not talking platform engineered cars within a company or ones co-developed between two companies, but rather vehicle rebrand jobs that seem to come out of left field and are thinly disguised.

Honda plans to build a new $470 million transmission plant in Celaya, Mexico that will produce continuously variable transmissions. 

“We are establishing a production base with outstanding global competitiveness in CVT production in the same location as our new automobile plant in Celaya,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, COO of Honda North American Regional Operations. The plant is scheduled to open in the second half of 2015, with an initial capacity of 350,000 units that will rise to nearly 700,000 within several years.

SEE ALSO: Honda Fit Engine Tech Previewed

This new transmission factory is built on the same site as the brand’s new automobile plant which is set to produce the Fit, and Fit-based crossover starting in 2014. “The new transmission plant, Honda’s third in North America, will produce continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) for automobiles built in Mexico,” Honda said in a press release.

Honda did not reveal which vehicles specifically will be receiving the Mexican built CVTs, but it currently builds the CR-V, and will be building the Fit in Mexico, making those two vehicles the most likely candidates. Prototype versions of the Fit (seen above) have already been testing with CVT transmissions, further suggesting that the next-gen Fit will go with a CVT.

Discuss this story at fitownersclub.com

The sales numbers are in for April 2013, and we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best-selling cars for last month.

Kicking off the list is the Hyundai Elantra with a starting MSRP of $16,965. The compact model from the Korean automaker saw 45.2 percent more sales this year than last in the month of April, and has sold 78,991 units so far this year. It’s worth noting that 25 percent of Elantra sales come from the Coupe and Elantra GT hatchback models, which weren’t available last year.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Review

Last year, the Honda Civic underwhelmed the critics. With competition in the compact market segment firing on all cylinders, Honda delivered something that was far behind in terms of quality and value.

Coasting was not an option for the 2013 Civic, so Honda revamped the car in record time, improving it inside and out.

Each week, we recap the most popular videos from AutoGuide‘s YouTube channel just in case all seven days passed you by and you missed out. This week, the battle of of mid-size sedans from Toyota and Honda takes top honors.

2013 Toyota Camry vs 2013 Honda Accord

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SEE ALSO: 2013 Toyota Camry vs 2013 Honda Accord

2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Review

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SEE ALSO: 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Review

2013 Subaru BRZ vs. 2012 Honda Civic Si HFP

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SEE ALSO: 2013 Subaru BRZ vs 2012 Honda Civic Si HFP

Make sure to subscribe to AutoGuide‘s YouTube Channel for the latest in car news and reviews.

Honda is recalling nearly 46,000 Fit Sport models from the 2012-2013 model years to repair a problem with the sub-compact’s electronic stability control system.

According to the Japanese automaker, the stability control system in the affected vehicles may let the car tilt too far before it applies the brakes to prevent a crash. The issue was discovered during government testing of models with a particular set of tires. Honda has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue.

The Japanese automaker will notify affected owners in mid-May and they can take their vehicles to dealerships to have the system’s software updated free of charge.

Discuss this story at FitOwnersClub.com

It’s Friday and another work week is slowly…  drawing… to… a… close. Like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s epic musical CATS, this string of five days feels like it’s never going to end. At least people aren’t prancing around the AutoGuide offices in leotards and leg warmers. Meow!

The sweet aroma of freedom is wafting through the air as Saturday beckons from the other side of midnight. Normal business hours may be dwindling but like a Nevada brothel the Oracles never sleep. They on call ‘round the clock to provide car shoppers in distress with desperately needed assistance. A pitcher of espresso and a fistful or NoDoz are their only companions. Yeah, it’s lonely work but nobody said being an expert was easy.

This week Pat is in search of an affordable vehicle for her teenage daughter. Basic transportation is the order of the day but of course her offspring wants something with a little pizzazz; the girl’s been eyeing a Jeep Wrangler but momma says no. A high-riding four-by-four is verboten, just like access to the liquor cabinet or that high-school quarterback from the adjacent cul-de-sac.

Pat is considering a six-to-eight-year-old used vehicle, something reliable, safe and cheap to insure. An example she gave is the Honda Civic. That’s a fine choice but like a second-hand EpiPen pre-owned cars can be risky. Even with a CARFAX history report and a thorough inspection from a trusted mechanic they can still harbor hidden problems.

The Oracles have insisted on a new vehicle for Pat’s daughter who they’ve been referring to as “Abby.” They cannot be swayed on this issue. Attempted bribery with cream-cheese Danishes didn’t even work.

SEE ALSO: Need Advice Buying Your Next Car? Just “Ask AutoGuide!”

Factory-fresh vehicles feature numerous benefits over their used counterparts. They’re backed by impressive warranties, they’re equipped with all of the latest safety and convenience features plus they’ve never been slept in by a pack of weather-beaten drifters. Of course affordability is important and AutoGuide’s experts believe they can deliver a list of new vehicles that won’t break the bank. Here are some of the most inexpensive cars available today.

Suggestion #1: Nissan Versa 1.8 S Hatchback – $15,460

When price is the No. 1 priority it’s hard to beat the Nissan Versa. This B-Segment offering from the Japanese archipelago is a grand-slam value. The sedan version starts at just $12,000; most people probably have more loose change in their couch cushions than that.

The entry-level model is equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a strapping 109 horsepower. It’s matched to a five-speed manual transmission. Of course value is important in this week’s episode of Ask AutoGuide but driving like a pauper is not. The entry-level Versa is about as stark as the menu at a Soviet gulag.

Stepping up from there the Oracles are actually suggesting the Versa hatchback, specifically the 1.8 S. The lowest price for this car is about $15,500, which is still a steal by today’s standards.

Even with such an affordable base price the car is equipped with some surprising standard features including power windows and door locks, air conditioning with an in-cabin microfilter as well as a thumpin’ four-speaker sound system. Really, it’s everything you need in a car… and little else.

Under its nondescript hood the Versa hatch is powered by a 1.8-liter four-banger that delivers 122 horsepower. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, but an abjectly antiquated four-speed automatic is an extra-charge option. The audacity! Higher-end Versas (that’s an oxymoron if we’ve ever heard one) are offered with Nissan’s fuel-saving but annoying Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

SEE ALSO: 2012 Nissan Versa Review

In the economy department Versas equipped with a manual gearbox deliver a recession-busting 26 miles per gallon in city driving and up to 31 on the highway. That’s ok fuel economy, but not great.

The Versa also comes with a “Good” safety rating, literally. The danger watchdogs at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the vehicle an overall “Good” rating in their rigorous offset crash test, which isn’t too shabby for a small car.

Suggestion #2: Toyota Yaris 3-Door L – $15,165

Toyota’s Yaris hatchback is the only vehicle on the road today that makes you talk like a pirate, yarrrr matey! Park one in your garage and everyday can be September 19^th.

Starting price for the three-door version of this salty cur is 15,165 buckaroos out the door, including destination and delivery fees. It undercuts the municipal-grade Versa by a couple hundred dollars. Clearly Toyota’s chumming the waters to attract ravenously value-conscious shoppers.

Still, even at that price the Yaris comes with some nice features. Air conditioning is standard as are fabric-trimmed seats (hopefully they’re not covered in burlap); power door locks, nine air bags and a fold-down back bench for extra luggage space are also included

Curiously, power windows are not offered on the base model, so limber up your wrists for a whole lot of crankin’. It’s like starting a Model T every time you head to the drive through.

Powering the Yaris is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and it only puts out a measly 106 horsepower. If Abby has ADHD this is the perfect vehicle for her as there’s nothing to get overly excited about. It’s the automotive equivalent of the Dewey Decimal system, functional and nothing more.

The Yaris L features a five-speed manual transmission for shift-yourself engagement. If three pedals are as off limits as a Jeep Wrangler then a four-speed autotragic gearbox is also available for an additional fee. Dig up your buried treasure chest because it’s $725.

SEE ALSO: 2012 Toyota Yaris Review

Like the Versa this little Toyota also earned a “Good” rating from the IIHS folks, but pushing the envelope one step further the car also drove away with “Top Safety Pick” honors, meaning it’s an even better choice if you have too much grog and drive off the gang plank.

Additionally fuel economy is a Yaris strong point. The car delivers 30 miles per gallon in the city and up to 37 on the highway.

Out and about the Yaris handles like a car, meaning it accelerates, stops and steers. Don’t expect driving excitement in any of these half-pint hatchbacks because you won’t find it. It’s a fruitless quest akin to searching for Amelia Earhart or trying to purchase booze from a Vatican City vending machine. At the end of the day just remember one thing about this Toyota: The Yarrrris is a carrrrr!

Suggestion #3: Hyundai Accent GS 5-Door – $15,590

If Nissan’s Versa is the DMV and the Toyota Yaris is a Social Security Administration branch office what low-level governmental building would the Hyundai Accent be? Answer: The post office, because stuff is always in motion. This spunky little five-door brings a healthy dose of passion and emotion to the segment without going totally off the deep end by bringing a scattergun to work.

Where the Versa and Yaris are strictly business the Accent is stylish and fun; it’s an attractive vehicle that a young person shouldn’t be embarrassed to drive. It beats the crap out of a hand-me-down ’94 Chevy Lumina.

Trouncing its Japanese competitors every Accent ships with 138 horsepower courtesy of a 1.6-liter inline-four. It’s postage-paid and insured; the car even clears customs without a hitch. The GS trim is delivered with a standard six-speed manual gearbox but an automated six-shooter is $1,200 extra.

As for creature features the Accent comes with much the same stuff its competitors do. Air-con is standard, as are luxurious body-colored exterior door handles. Protecting what matters most – its occupants – the car also earned a “Good” rating from the safety zealots at the IIHS. It’s not a “Top Safety Pick+” but an A- on the final exam is nothing to sneeze at.

SEE ALSO: 2012 Hyundai Accent GLS Sedan Review

Like a first-class letter arriving at its destination for a measly 40-something cents the Accent is equally thrifty at moving its cargo. Passengers and their parcels may not be hand-delivered by a uniformed representative of the U.S. federal government but you could do a lot worse than this South Korean subcompact. With a manual transmission the Accent should be able to stretch a gallon of unleaded 28 miles in the city and 37 on the highway.

Suggestion #BONUS ROUND: 2013 Mazda2 – $15,515

Betcha didn’t think of Mazda, didya? The company’s offering in the B-Segment is the Mazda2, a smiling little pumpkin-seed of a car. It’s competitively priced compared to its rivals and offers similar fuel economy and safety ratings.

Behind that toothless grin is perched a 1.5-liter engine that turns out just 100 horsepower, less than the asthmatic Yaris and far behind the athletic Accent. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual or a four-speed autobox that’s shorter on gears than Verne Troyer is on inches. Heel, Mini-Me! Heel! A feather-light curb-weight of right around 2,300 pounds makes up for a lot of that power deficit. Now if only Mazda would make a Mazdaspeed version of the Mazda2.

Standard features are more bountiful than the first Thanksgiving. Power mirrors, windows and locks, air conditioning, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat plus a USB port are all included in the base price, which is right around $15,500.

Joyless insurance mongers even like the car. At the risk of sounding like a sounding like a sounding like a sounding like a broken record the Mazda2 also earned a “Good” overall rating from the IIHS.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Mazda2 Touring Five-Point Inspection

If there’s any one particular downside to this vehicle it’s fuel economy. The 2 is not particularly thrifty, even with pitiful horsepower and a trim waistline. Uncle Sam says the car will do 29 miles to the gallon around town and just 35 on the highway when equipped with the manual transmission.

Suggestion #HONORABLE MENTION

So far the AutoGuide Oracles have started something of an Asian offensive by only recommending Japanese and South Korean cars. To be fair that’s a bit skewed but it’s still better than an offensive Asian.

For some home-grown flair the Oracles decided to briefly touch on a couple other vehicles before pushing their final recommendation. First up is the Chevy Sonic. Base MSRP for a five-door model is $15,595.  For mechanicals it offers a 1.8-liter engine and a five-speed stick. A 1.4-liter turbo with tons of torque is optional. Fuel economy is 26/35 for an average of 30. The Chevy Sonic feels sturdy like a big car and that’s a good thing.

The Oracles can’t mention the Bow-Tie brand without bringing up its archenemy, the Blue Oval. Ford vs. Chevrolet is a classic rivalry that dates back more than a century. Today the Sonic and the Fiesta face off in the B-Segment. Ford’s festive hatchback starts at $14,995 and comes with a 1.6-liter engine and a five-speed row-it-yourself trans. Other than that there’s not much to say. According to the EPA Fiestas of this configuration should deliver 29/39 MPG, which makes for an average of 33. As always your mileage will vary, probably significantly.

And then there’s the Honda Fit, the third of this trio of add-ons. They’re all of the sportier sort and generally a better buy if you want to spend a bit more.

IN CONCLUSION…

So, what’s the right new vehicle for Pat’s daughter “Abby”? Well, a Jeep Wrangler of course, but since that’s not in the cards, here are her options.

The Versa is affordable and that’s about it. Nissan’s subcompact offering feels decidedly like something generic and that’s never a good thing. It’s safe and solid but about as dreary as waiting in line for jury duty. Next!

Aye-aye, it’s Yar-us versus them, matey! Toyota’s B-Segment car is arguably a step up from the Versa; at least it has a small dash of personality. Additionally it’s significantly more efficient and comes in a quasi-sporty three-door configuration. But ultimately crank windows and pirate talk are enough to keep the Yaris from running aground.

Of this quartet the Mazda2 is easily the most fun to drive, after all it has “Zoom-Zoom” DNA. It’s light, scrappy and offers a rather nice interior for the class. Unfortunately it’s not as efficient as some of the others, meaning there’s one other vehicle that’s a better overall choice… the Jeep Wrangler…

This week the AutoGuide Oracles are recommending the Hyundai Accent. It’s pretty, powerful and efficient, plus it’s a great value. It’s an automotive jack of all trades, which makes it the perfect vehicle for a budget-minded young driver. And if there are any doubts about longevity, the car is backed by a 5-year, 60,000-mile new-vehicle warranty as well as 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain coverage. Cha-ching!

As always, good luck in your quest for a new car and thanks again for taking the time to Ask AutoGuide.

If you need a little assistance shopping for your next vehicle feel free to do the same. Send a short message to ask@AutoGuide.com. Let us know the basics of what you’re looking for. How many seats do you need? What size of vehicle do you want? How much are you willing to spend? With some of those fundamentals out of the way we’ll get busy to come up with two or three must-see vehicles that you’ll have to put on your test-drive list.