The prices are a long way from cheap.I would guess that the "cheapest" car that can get an honest 22-25 mpg city(not EPA,but not CR either) would be a Ford Focus,or the Chevy Aveo.I think the cheapest Focus-$13000 Aveo -$11000or so now.All cars with good EPA numbers are in demand.
This is just like 1979-There are only a very few Big Three vehicles that get decent mpg(for their class).The only real"bargain" I see is the 4 cyl Malibu.It matches the 4 cyl Accord in CR numbers.The Aveo doesn't get very good numbers-less than Civic Corolla despite being a Echo sized car.Ford has the Focus-and it gets decent mpg thanks to the Mazda(I think Mazda ) 4 cyl.
I can't think of and Dodge that gets decent numbers-maybe the neon replacement will be better.You would think that MB could produce some decent spark and diesel motors.Dodge can certainly produce an efficient motor-USA engineers are very good-the "bosses" and acct. just have to give the go ahead to spend some $$ to produce a good-mpg-motor.No CS cost cutting(like Fords new 5.4 3 valve F-150 motor).The F-150 is very good in all respects but one-the motor is a dog thanks to Ford cheaping out on the motor-trans.The Titan has a much better motor trans-probably cost about $150 more to build,but worth every penny!
I am really pulling for the Big 3,despite only having 1 big 3 vehicle-Chevy Prizm(which is a rebadged Corolla).The Pilot and Titan are made in Canada-Mississippi,but they aren't Big 3.Shame GM has been mis managed-quarterly stock price managed- into the dirt.
Oh well.If I could buy a Malibu-with airbag pk-for a couple of grand less than an Accord 4-I would do it.Thanks.Charlie PS Unfortunately the Big 3 don't try to sell safety-they sell price and BS options-