Hyundai Elantra
- MSRP: $16,815
- Gas mileage:
- City - 28 mpg
- Highway - 38 mpg
In these tough economic times, nothing can be more appealing than a man or woman who knows how to spend money wisely. A frugal person doesn't want to spend a fortune on a car, but he or she still may want an appealing "date car." If you want to project an image of frugality but not of cheapness, then a Hyundai Elantra may be the car for you.
This compact "date car" has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder 16-valve engine that will show you're serious about getting the biggest bang for your buck. After all, the Elantra was named by research firm ALG Inc. as the car with the highest residual value in its class. The Elantra boasts 148 horsepower, 16-inch alloy wheels and room for five, all for less than $20,000. According to Hyundai, the Elantra has more total space than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic and is classified by the government as a midsize car instead of a compact car.