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Road-Tested Economy Cars

Five economy cars to handle the Long Island commute.

Commuting can be a paycheck killer. 

You can keep your budget in check either by buying cheap insurance, a fuel-efficient ride or budget wheels. Paying less up front is probably the surest way to tramp down expenses. Think cheap, cheap instead of beep, beep.

But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. Here are five economy cars with plenty of style and substance that Long Islanders can buy now:

Ford Fiesta

Everyone’s pick for affordable fun, its base price of $14,200 and 39 miles per gallon (highway) give it two powerful incentives. It comes in hatchback or sedan options. A 120 horsepower engine gets you there. This car is available at Otis Ford.

Toyota Prius

At 48 mpg, this hybrid can run on gas or battery power. So it’s not just efficient, it’s environmentally friendly. A pre-collision system, lane departure alert and radar cruise control are a few tech safety features. It’s base price starts at $24,200. This car is available at Sunrise Toyota.

Dodge Dart

Perhaps the most striking car on this list, the Dart has a spacious interior for a compact. It’s $15,995 starting price, 160 horsepower engine and 41 mpg efficiency are all winners. This car is available at Riverhead Dodge Inc.

Kia Soul

This crossover has a lot of looks and legroom for its $14,400 base price (30 mpg). It gets high marks for safety. Or look to the smaller Rio, which is $800 less. These cars are available at Stevens Kia Service.

Chevrolet Cruze

Stylish and fuel efficient (42 mpg), this compact model starts at $17,130. It features 10 airbags and a five-star safety rating. This car is available at 
Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac Inc.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
P.Killian May 22, 2013 at 03:18 pm
thanks, Erica - phew! thought maybe a fugitive was on the loose!
Erica Jackson (Editor) May 22, 2013 at 12:31 pm
P. Killian, Thanks for asking. We just reached out to State police. They are doing seatbelt checks.