According to the EPA, a 1994 Geo Metro should get 53/58 city/highway miles per gallon.
Instead of shelling out for a new hybrid, some people are rediscovering cars usually relegated to the far corners of used-car lots; cars like Geo Metros, Toyota Tercels, and Ford Aspires, to name a few.
These old cars may be past their prime (heck, they might not have even had a prime), but they shine now as budget-friendly, fuel-frugal vehicles in this climate of skyrocketing gas costs. Some of these 3-cylinder gems even surpass the EPA's fuel economy numbers for the Toyota Prius (45.8 mpg).
If you can overlook a little rust and some questionable styling in the name of saving money at the pump, check out Consumer Guide's 10 favorite cheap, fuel-efficient used cars from the last 20 years.
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 EPA MPG: 47/56 (w/5-speed manual) The restyling of Honda's front-drive subcompact for 1992 brought the demise of the prior generation's station wagon. Two-door hatchbacks and 4-door sedans returned with a standard driver-side airbag. Two engines are available: a 70-to-102-horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder and a 125-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder. Five-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmissions are available. |
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 EPA MPG: 39/43 MPG (w/5-speed manual) Introduced for 1989, the Swift comes in 2-door hatchback and 4-door notchback form. Power comes from a 70-to-79-horsepower 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine. Available transmissions include a 5-speed manual, a 4-speed automatic, and a 3-speed automatic. |
 EPA MPG: 34/42 MPG (w/5-speed manual) This Korean-built, Mazda-designed minicompact replaced the Festiva as Ford's entry-level car. Two- and 4-door hatchbacks were produced. One engine is available: a 63-horsepower 1.3-liter 4-cylinder paired with either a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission. Who knows, maybe pink metallic paint will make a comeback! |
 EPA MPG: 33/37 MPG (w/ 5-speed manual) Introduced in early 1987, the Justy initially came only as a 2-door hatchback. A 4-door hatchback joined the lineup for 1990. Both came with either front-wheel drive or on-demand 4-wheel drive. Power comes from a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine that makes 66 or 73 horsepower. Through its lifespan, Subaru's minicompact was perhaps best known for its available electronically controlled variable-transmission. Other available transmissions include a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed automatic. |
 EPA MPG: 34/39 MPG (w/5-speed manual) Tercel was refreshed for 1995. It was produced in 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan form. Power comes from a 93-horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a choice of three transmissions: 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, and 3-speed automatic. |
 EPA MPG: 32/39 MPG (w/5-speed manual) Summits are nearly identical to the Dodge/Plymouth Colt and the Mitsubishi Mirage, and all three were redesigned for 1993. Two-door coupe and 4-door sedan variants were produced. Power comes from either a 92-horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder or a 113-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder. Transmissions choices include a 5-speed manual, a 4-speed automatic, and a 3-speed automatic. |
 EPA MPG: 32/38 MPG (w/4-speed manual) Colts are available as 2-door hatchbacks or 4-door wagons. Several engines are available: a 75-to-92-horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, a 113-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, and an 87-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder.Colts are mechanically similar to the Eagle Summit and the Mitsubishi Mirage. |
 EPA MPG: 31/37 (w/5-speed manual) Isuzu's subcompact Stylus sedan arrived in late spring of 1990 and replaced the I-Mark. Power comes from either a 95-to-130-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder or a 140-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual, a 4-speed automatic, and a 3-speed automatic. |
| The city/highway mileage we list is for the car in the model lineup that gets the best possible fuel economy. We averaged the EPA's fuel economy figures across the model's generation. 05.22.2008 |
