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Gasoline prices tend to affect how we live our lives. We are now seeing some of the highest gas prices our country has ever seen. Thankfully there are EVs and hybrid vehicles to ease the pain at the pump. However, you don’t have to turn to new, expensive technology to survive the pumps. Here are seven fun cars that still get great gas mileage. 

high gas prices
High gas prices are everywhere | Getty

BMW 330i

The BMW 330i pulls down an impressive 30 mpg combined thanks to its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Despite its size and impressive fuel economy, the 330i can still rip a 0-60 mph sprint in a little over 5 seconds. 

This little rear-wheel-drive sports sedan is a classic that will put a smile on your face in the corners and at the pump. 

Honda Civic Si

2022 Honda Civic Si vs. 2023 Acura Integra is a close competition
2022 Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic is a proven fan favorite due to its versatility, price, and reliability. The Honda Civic Si turns up the performance enough to separate itself from the average Civic. 

The 2022 Honda Civic Si is not only peppy, great in the corners, and affordable, but it even still has a six-speed manual if you so choose. If all that wasn’t enough, the Honda Civic Si also pulls down 31 mpg combined. 

Hyundai Elantra N 

The Hyundai Elantra N is not your standard Hyundai fare. That “N” means there’s some real beef hiding underneath the hood. Well, “hiding” probably isn’t the best term because the Hyundai Elantra N comes in some pretty hard-to-miss colors.

Even though the Elantra N has a 276-hp turbocharged four-banger and a six-speed manual transmission in a four-door sedan, it still gets 22 mpg in town and 30 mpg on the highway, according to Car and Driver. This economical Hyundai is also fast, fun, and starts at $32,945. 

Kia Soul Turbo

A red 2022 Kia Soul driving down the road.
2022 Kia Soul | Kia

The Kia Soul is a strange little car/SUV/toaster oven that has captivated many customers. Between the strange design, Kia’s reliability, and a manual transmission, the Kia Soul Turbo improves on the segment by offering an SUV that has nearly nothing to do with any other SUV.

Car and Driver said that the Soul had enough of its namesake to keep the testers plenty entertained in their testing. The turbo isn’t the biggest air shooter in the world, but it gives the Soul enough pep to matter. If its starting price of $20,505 wasn’t enough of a pull, it also gets an astonishing 29 mpg combined. 

Mazda MX-5 Miata

A front view of a grey 2022 Mazda Miata RF and a red Miata convertible on a city street with buildings in the background.
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF and Convertible | Mazda

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is so good that it could probably weasel onto any automotive list you could imagine; “Best pickup trucks?” Sure. “Best minivan?” Why not? It might feel a bit silly, but it’s possible. However, a list of the “most fun cars that also get great mileage” list? Shoot. The Miata was made to dominate this exact list. 

The MX-5 Miata doesn’t have more power or the best gas mileage on this list. However, it is the correct answer for which model is the best mix of the two. 

Miatas are small, light, zippy, and pretty good-looking. There is no world where driving a Miata to save on the high fuel cost wouldn’t make you at least 10 percent happier overall. The little convertible comes with 181 hp for the 2022 model. For anyone who’s driven an older Miata, this is an enormous amount of power for such a small package. Even with all the smiles and a monster power to weight ratio, the Miata still gets 30 mpg combined. Unreal. 

Mini Cooper S

The Mini Cooper S is one of the most fun cars to drive, period. Forget gas mileage, forgot responsibility. It is a very fun car to drive. But, seeing as how gas is nearly $5 a gallon on average, the Mini is very kind at the pumps. 

The Mini Cooper, regardless of engine options (yes, even the JCW Mini), gets at least 30 mpg combined. For a sporty, sharp, exciting, and legendary car, getting this good of fuel economy is just too significant not to consider. 

Volkswagen Golf GTI 

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI a contender for the best GTI year for the hot hatch model
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI | Volkswagen of America, Inc. Newspress Limited

The original hot hatch has found its way to its purpose. Over the years, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has reminded one of the hottest hatchbacks by increasing its power output but never really sacrifices fuel economy. 

This ​​241-hp hatchback comes in manual if you choose, AWD, and can still yield 28 mpg combined. The Golf GTI is quick, agile, and great-looking. This all comes at a starting price of only $30,540. 

You deserve a fun car that still gets good gas mileage

Unless a handful of key people are reading this, we can’t do much about the cost of our fuel. It is a complicated and massive global industry. Since we can’t change it, the best we can do is learn to adapt and learn to live with it for the time being. 

That being said, we still love our cars and what to drive them. This is why finding fun cars that still get great gas mileage is worth figuring out. 

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