Sedans and SUVs for Prioritizing Fuel Efficiency

September 20th, 2024 by

A blue 2021 Honda Civic is shown parked near city skyscrapers.

The Hillsborough area has a lot to offer, from the cozy-town vibes to the beautiful scenes of nature. However, to get just about anywhere of note around here, you need a reliable vehicle. That’s why we sell used cars in Hillsborough, as we want folks from around these parts to have an affordable, capable vehicle. We find that the best approach for used car buyers is to select one that’s particularly fuel efficient, meaning that you get further on a gallon of gas than other vehicles, resulting in you saving cash in your weekly budget. Over the past decade or two, fuel efficiency has become a primary goal of many manufacturers, which means that even if you’re buying a model from five or six years ago, you might still be getting mileage that’ll leave others jealous.

There’s no doubt that the rise of hybrid vehicles has helped many manufacturers brag about better mileage, but even if you want to stick with gas-powered vehicles, you’re sure to find many that will make your visits to the pump much less frequent. Instead of having to blow plenty of your paycheck on gas, you’ll be able to invest the extra cash or use it to plan a vacation with friends and family. Those saved dollars add up quite a bit over time.

We’ll look primarily at gas-powered options today, but we’ll note if a hybrid is available, too. For consistency, we’ll look at 2021 models so that each model has fair comparisons. However, if you buy a model a few years newer or a few years older than the 2021 one, the mileage isn’t likely to be too different, which means you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll want. Let’s take a look at five noteworthy used options.

Honda Civic

There’s a lot to love about the Honda Civic. From its cost-efficient starting price to its nimble, responsive drive, this is a sedan that’s earned many fans who are both economically minded and looking for a car with command and style. You won’t go wrong with a Civic, as Honda has been packing recent models of it with plenty of tech to keep your drives safe and exciting.

Without a doubt, the Civic stands as one of the most fuel-efficient options you can find (and that’s before you even consider that there’s a Civic Hybrid available in certain model years, too). For instance, the 2021 Civic earns a 32 MPG city rating and a 42 MPG highway rating, resulting in a combined 36 MPG ranking. Driving in the city often involves more stop-and-go traffic, which is why city drives slurp more fuel. However, Hillsborough drivers are in luck, as the winding roads and highways nearby mean you can get a lot more bang for your buck at the pump.

Kia Forte

The Kia Forte is a sporty-looking ride. That’s been a common theme in recent Kias, which have put good looks at the top of their goal list. If you want to pull up to work looking darn good, then this sedan is one you should seriously consider. Its economical starting price gives you an advantage right out of the gate, especially if you’re buying used, and you’ll be zipping around our area proud of your style and enjoying the steadiness the Forte provides. It truly excels with mileage, though, earning a combined 35 MPG rating for its 2021 model. On the highway, you’ll notice a huge difference as it comes in at an eye-popping 41 MPG. In short, even if you’re buying a Forte that’s five or six years old, you’ll be outdoing many current sedans when it comes to efficiency.

A red 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is shown driving on a city street.

Toyota Corolla

Historically, the Corolla has been a very family friendly sedan, and our customers have been especially impressed with the Corolla’s eye on safety. This makes it a great option for anyone who knows they’ll have family in the passenger seats and wants to travel with peace of mind. The reliability of this sedan has made it a staple. The Corolla is also great for the cost conscious among us. Its 2021 model can earn a combined 38 MPG rating, making it an enviable purchase. The Corolla also has a hybrid model if you are open to it. The 2021 hybrid gets you a combined 52 MPG. You’ll have a lot of wiggle room in the budget if you go hybrid, but even if you stick with the gas-powered Corolla, you’ll still guarantee some savings.

Ford Escape

The Ford Escape is a classic for those who like compact SUVs. If you’re shuttling the kids around from school to sports and back home again, this is an SUV that gives you the seating space you need and the cargo space you want. This reliable SUV is a great one for families in Hillsborough, and its outstanding fuel efficiency adds another reason as to why it’s such a smart purchase. Its above-average fuel efficiency works well for anyone, and it provides some economic stress relief as we know the cost of raising a family has risen recently. For instance, this SUV’s 2021 model earns a combined 32 MPG rating, which puts it ahead many other SUVs The Escape has also recently developed a hybrid version, too, if you want to get more mileage. The 2021 hybrid earns a combined 41 MPG rating.

A gray 2021 Honda CR-V is shown parked in a city after viewing used cars in Hillsborough.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V has become a favorite of SUV drivers, and it’s not hard to see why. This SUV has a real sense of class and style to it. Honda has ensured that the CR-V will be one of the best-looking vehicles no matter where it’s going, and it comes with an engine that is ready to roar. Each model comes packed with the latest and greatest in infotainment, too, which means a used model is still going to impress in that department. It also has a heck of a lot of cargo space, which is great for families or anyone who regularly has to move a lot of material. Of course, the mileage of the CR-V is excellent. The 2021 model gets itself a combined rating of 30 MPG. If one opts for its hybrid engine, you will have a combined 38 MPG. For an SUV with as much sporty zest as this one has, that’s impressive fuel efficiency.

Check Out Our Used Fuel-Efficient Selection

There’s a wide breadth of fuel-efficient pre-owned options. Visit us here at CBS Quality Cars so we can guide you to the one on our lot that’ll grant you great mileage. You deserve to travel in a vehicle you trust, that doesn’t cost an exorbitant amount, and that will give you long term savings thanks to fuel efficiency. Our experts will be more than happy to help guide you to the fuel efficient sedan or SUV, gas or hybrid, that will be ideal for your driving lifestyle.

We are more than happy to work with any and all Hillsborough area drivers who are looking for a used car. Our website has a host of customer testimonials so that you can hear from past buyers about why they loved the service they received. We hope you choose to visit us soon so you can be on the road, driving past the gas station without concern.