Which car gives the best gas mileage and offers best safety for passengers in a collision?

Question

I was thinking of buying a used Geo Metro. Great gas mileage but I don't think a seatbelt would give much protection if a car hit me. It's a very small car.

Answer 1

I know it sounds cliche, but honda Civic is insanely good on gas. My friend has one thats like 10 years old, and it gets about 41 miles per gallon. I looked at a new one and with a manual transmission, it gets 53 miles per gallon.

Answer 2

According to the most recent studies the Hyundai's are going to be your best bet for both. Some of the earlier replies are unfounded and unresearched. Jettas and Mazda Miatas are unreliable and make us mechanics alot of money. The Hyundai's have an awesome warranty and are very reliable. And they have been ranking very high in the frontal impact and side impact collision tests. They also get gas mileage that is comparable to the hondas and toyotas in the same class.

I have actally owned a metro and its predecessor the Chevy sprint. They are not too bad. They get phenomenal gas mileage and they last a long time if you mantain them. You can also do a couple of small upgrades to the motor to give them a little more pep. Of course as with any very small vehicle you are likely to be injured in just about any type of an accident. I was sideswiped in my Sprint. My car was totaled but I did not get injured at all. I was a little sore the next day but was fine otherwise. My metro I let my ex G/F take just so she would leave. I really miss the gas mileage that thing got. I would probably be spending $30 instead of $65+ on a fill up and going all week instead of filling up every other day.

Answer 3

My daughter drove a GEO when she was in high school in the late 90s. She was broadsided at a busy intersection. Her car was pushed into three others. The car was absolutely totaled. Somewhere I have pictures of the car. To see it you would have thought that anyone in it must have been severly injured. The car did what it was designed to do. It crumbled all around the passenger compartment. She and her boyfriend both escaped with very minor injuries. She has a cut on her leg where the window handle contacted her leg. She and her boyfriend both had marks on their shoulders from their seatbelts. Neither suffered any long term affects. They both balked away from the accident. My husband and I bought her another GEO. We bought a second GEO for her younger sister. We were IMPRESSED to say the least. If I could find a GEO in good condition, I would definitely buy another.

Answer 4

Collision ratings are tested in a vehicle going at 30mph against a undeformable wall. So don't rely on that. The best car that I know of is the Mazda Miata, I mean if you are planning to buy a Metro...

Answer 5

Best gas mileage and best safety protection?
You'll never find that in the same car.
You'd better look for a good balance between both.

Answer 6

Volkswagen Beetles & Jettas have good gas mileage and have some of the highest crash test ratings. This link has the crash test ratings for the Metro:

http://www.internetautoguide.com/crash-tests/09-int/1997/geo/metro/index.html

Answer 7

Go for TOYOTA Prius if you can, the best car giving return per litre of fuel, around 24 Kms a litre. You will remain safe because you will drive this lovely car very carefully...

Answer 8

i have a 2001 vw jetta and i get 35 mpg and i hear that they are close to the top for crash rating it fills up with $38 and in colorado gas prices area like 2.90 per gallon

Answer 9

I THINK a NISSAN sunny would give a better mileage

Answer 10

civic or corolla.. acn't beat both of them.. stay away from vw and any other european cars.. the money that you save on gas you will spend on maintenance