Top picks
Toyota Corolla Hybrid (~$24k, 50 MPG), Honda Civic (~$25k, 36 MPG), Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (~$27k, 54 MPG), Toyota Camry (~$28k, 32 MPG), and Toyota RAV4 base (~$29k, 30 MPG).
What you sacrifice at this price
Less leather, simpler seats, smaller infotainment screens, fewer driver-assist features in the base trim. None of these affect the actual driving experience — only the dashboard ambiance.
Sample trip costs
A 2,000-mile road trip in any of these picks costs $120–$170 in fuel. Run your route in the Trip Cost Calculator.