Best Gas Mileage Cars 2009 – Herb Chambers

Though most of the cars on this list are imports, that doesn’t mean the domestics don’t build fuel-efficient cars — though it’s no coincidence that the fuel-efficient Focus was largely designed by Ford’s European division. The Focus’ fuel economy trails a bit compared to Japanese compacts, but it’s cheap to buy, brimming with personality and enjoyable to drive.

EPA city/highway mileage: 28/34 (manual), 27/34 (automatic Base), 27/33 (automatic Sport)The Fit is one of several minicars to hit American (and Canadian) streets in recent months, but few, if any, do such a good job of divvying up space between front seats, back seats and cargo bay. Thoughtful engineering gives the Fit gobs of interior space, including room for tall drivers, and it delivers excellent fuel economy in the real world, not just on paper.

The E320 BLUETEC is one of the only diesel-powered passenger cars sold in the US. Some people still think diesels are smelly, smokey and slow, but I bet if everyone in the US got the chance to test-drive a Mercedes E320 BLUETEC, demand for diesel cars would go through the roof. With its 3-liter V6 power plant, the E320 BLUETEC offers the passing power of a V8 with the fuel economy of a compact sedan — pretty impressive for a car this big and luxurious. With a price premium of only $1,000 over the gasoline-powered version and significantly better fuel economy, the E320 BLUETEC just makes sense.

The MINI Cooper has already earned a reputation for being fun to drive and remarkably spacious considering its pint-sized interior. In 2008, MINI introduced the extended-wheelbase Cooper Clubman that has more room — most of it concentrated in the back seat — and is just as fuel efficient. The base-model Cooper is the fuel-economy champ, though even the turbocharged hot-rod Cooper S and Cooper S Clubman are pretty fuel-efficient, a big surprise considering how quick they are.