Small Cars That Are Excellent on Gas and Look Good Too

With US gasoline prices skyrocketing, it is becoming more and more necessary to have an economical car that doesn't guzzle gas. A few models caught my eye in particular, since they are stylish, and have safety features better than many other makes. From a consumer's standpoint, these cars look great for the single driver, who doesn't need a large car.

The Smart Car

A new mini-car sensation, called the Smart Car, is about to hit the United States. With the ability to park sideways in a parking space, and get 40mpg, it will be a hit for sure. This stylish little car has possibilities. Their website is at www.smartusa.com and is quite fascinating. When the car is in my area, it's time to take a trip out to see it in person. The little two-seater, appropriately named, "For Two," comes in basic colors, and has models for all budgets. The base price is around $11,000 and goes up from there, depending on what options are wanted, such as a large sunroof, heated back windows, warm-up seats, powerful stereo and more.

The Mazda Miata

The Miata has been around awhile now, but the design is better than ever. It's more expensive than the Smart Car, starting at around $21,000; but it has a lot of class and a large amount of features to choose from. Its sporty little interior looks surprisingly roomy for such a compact car. The body somehow reminds me of a little Jaguar, with more style than previous Miata models of yesteryear. The website for this nice little car is at http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsSpecs&vehicleCode=MX5 and is laid out nicely, for those who want to shop online for the hot little sporty car.

The Mini Cooper S Traveler

This up and coming model is an elongated version of the traditional (and adorable) Mini Cooper. It has somewhat of a retro look and comes in a variety of colors. With added interior room, this car should be a hit for those who want to travel long distances. It has more legroom in the back, and reportedly a smoother ride than the original, shorter Mini Cooper. Made by BMW, this car is quality and class. The base price is estimated to be around $25,000. Here are some photos of the 2008 model: http://www.leftlanenews.com/mini-clubman.html and the Mini website itself is at: http://www.mini.co.uk/ .

Being a large car owner in the past, even I have become more gas conscious, and these little cars impress me. From a non-expert point of view, the latest 2008 models of these compacts will be a hit here in the US. Read more about them on various website for more details on specifications on all of these cars. Being in the market for a new vehicle, eventually, I'll be one of those people in line to test drive these models sometime in the near future. It's nice to see cars with shape other than egg-shaped blobs, with nice looking interiors, too. If you want a fun, sporty car, check these models out and you may become hooked, too.