Top 10 Family Friendly Fuel Sippers

Getting “mileage” out of a purchase can mean more than saving gas. There’s cargo capacity, seat space and price to take into account on top of hunting for high miles per gallon.

You might be surprised by how many new cars there are in dealer showrooms today that offer all of those attributes without compromising much in any category. With that in mind, here are 10 family-friendly options that can achieve at least 40 mpg.

This is the only vehicle on the list with a traditional gasoline drivetrain. Think about that for a minute…

Mazda is the only company with a vehicle this size that isn’t using a hybrid system and is boasting up to 40 mpg. That’s impressive for such a small company. In AutoGuide’s recent mid-size sedan comparison, the car returned impressive fuel economy, too. It wasn’t the claimed 40 mpg, but our car wasn’t equipped with the mildly mpg-boosting i-Eloop system and it still managed to return the second-best fuel economy.

Hyundai’s mid-size hybrid offer a stylish package and impressive fuel economy for a reasonable price. The Korean brand sets its starting MSRP at $25,650 and is rated at 40 mpg on the highway, 36 in the city and 38 overall. It’s not the most efficient car on the list, but Hyundai typically makes a point to equip its vehicles well, which means you can count on the car coming with cabin features others might not.

If Hyundai’s fluidic design isn’t for you, there’s another option with the same hybrid powertrain from Kia. As Hyundai’s corporate sibling, the two cars use the same fuel saving system, but with a different skin.

The company’s “Tiger Nose” grille and harder lines might be more appealing to some. The price is almost the same, too. At $26,700 to start, the Optima Hybrid boasts the same fuel economy as the Sonata Hybrid.

Maybe you want a little more space than what either the Hyundai or Kia product offers. If you can handle the idea of having a hatchback, Ford’s C-Max Hybrid might be a good choice. The company recently revised the car’s fuel economy rating, but even after the downgrade, it’s rated at 45 mpg in the city, 40 on the highway or 43 overall. It starts just under $26,000, which means its cheaper than the either of the previous cars, even with the extra cargo space.

If you’re warmed up to the idea of a five-door, then take a moment to consider the Toyota Prius v. Sure, the 42 mpg average rating suggests its a little less efficient than the C-Max, but members of Toyota’s Prius line tend to return better real-world fuel efficiency for most drivers. At $27,855, the starting price is higher, but Toyota’s hybrid drivetrain is well-proven and you even stand a good chance at beating the advertised mpgs.

Still not sold on the hatchback thing? There’s another option if you need storage space, but it doesn’t come cheap. Toyota’s Avalong Hybrid costs $36,635 without any extras, which makes it the most expensive car on this list. Still, the full-size sedan has its merits.Fuel consumption is rated at 40 mpg in the city, 39 on the highway and 40 overall. A large trunk and plenty of second-row legroom might make a good fit for someone who needs to haul a couple of taller teens, sports equipment or Dungeons and Dragons dress-up gear…

Then again, for around $10,000 less, you could buy a Toyota Camry Hybrid. It doesn’t have the space, but there are plenty of advantages. It will be easier to park, easier on gas and easier on your bank account to begin with.

Official estimates put fuel consumption at 43 mpg in the city, 39 on the highway and 41 overall. As a mid-szie sedan, the Camry isn’t small, its just not a low-cost limousine.

Here’s the good part about driving a diesel-powered car: you can drive it like a normal vehicle and the fuel economy doesn’t suffer. With a 40 mpg highway rating, the Passat TDI is actually rated with worse fuel economy than the other cars listed here, but you stand a better chance of achieving the slightly poorer rating.

Besides, the diesel engine’s torque matched with quick shifts from the dual-clutch gearbox will deliver a powerful feeling of acceleration. The Passat cabin is also probably the nicest of this bunch, too. Equipped with the dual-clutch transmission, it starts around $29,000.

OK so this one isn’t technically on sale yet and official fuel economy figures aren’t available either. But its gasoline sibling gets incredible mileage, and it’s reasonable to assume the diesel will meet or beat those numbers. Not only that, but Mazda’s diesel engine uses a lower compression ratio than most oil burners to allow a higher redline and more gasoline-like experience. Besides, torque.