If you live in a small town and don’t do a ton of long-distance driving, you’d probably benefit from getting a car with decent gas mileage — so you don’t need to fill up very often at the pump — or even an electric vehicle if you’ve got some good charging stations around (or even at home). A hybrid is a good alternative to both. You may also want a vehicle with some off-road capabilities; or even just one that can reliably drive those dirt or gravel roads.
The 2020 Toyota Yaris is a hatchback that can comfortably seat up to five adults. It has front-wheel drive and a starting MSRP of $17,750. It also gets 35 combined miles per gallon (mpg), so you won’t have to worry about going to the gas station often to fill it up — especially if you primarily do local driving.
On Cars.com, this vehicle has 5 out of 5 stars from car owners. The pros include ample cargo room, decent acceleration, good value for the money and solid fuel economy. The cons include limited leg room in the backseat, a loud interior and very basic electronic safety features.
Subaru Forester
Sports utility vehicles, or SUVs, are good to have when you live in a more rural area and need something that can drive uneven roads. Vehicles like the Subaru Forester have large cabins, all-terrain tires and are generally considered dependable.
Cars.com gave the 2024 Subaru Forester 4.9 out of 5 stars. This SUV seats five, has all-wheel drive and lane-center steering and boasts off-road-oriented wilderness trim for those country drives. It also gets a combined mpg of 26-29. The starting MSRP ranges from $27,095 to $37,395.
If you’re looking for a smooth ride that’ll get you from point A to B, the Honda CR-V is worth checking out. It’s got good ground clearance, all-wheel drive and can navigate small-town roads with ease.
The 2023 Honda CR-V has a starting MSRP of $28,410. It can tow up to 1,500 pounds and gets around 40 combined mpg. Its entertainment system is standard, so don’t expect to get all the bells and whistles with this one.
Nissan Rogue
The 2023 Nissan Rogue is also worth considering if you live in a small town. It’s a larger vehicle that doesn’t feel quite as bulky as other SUVs. But it’s still got plenty of cargo space for all those groceries, sports equipment and whatever else you need on your trips in and out of town.
On Cars.com, this vehicle has a starting MSRP of $27,360. It can tow up to 1,500 pounds and gets a combined mpg of 31. If you want to take the occasional road trip, the Nissan Rogue is also good for that — it gets 37 mpg on the highway and is a comfortable ride for you and the family.
Subaru Impreza
When you live in a small town, a vehicle with all-wheel drive like the Subaru Impreza is generally a good option. This vehicle might not be quite as powerful as an SUV, but it still gets decent ground clearance to drive smoothly over bumpy roads. It also has decent fuel economy — 30 mpg combined.
The 2024 Subaru Impreza is fairly cheap. It starts at just $22,995, but you can save even more by going for a previous year’s model.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Toyota vehicles are known for their reliability, a major plus wherever you live. But if you want something that’s particularly fuel efficient, offers a smooth ride and is comfortable — if a bit compact — consider the 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. This vehicle starts at $23,050 and gets an impressive combined mpg of 47. Since it’s a hybrid, you won’t need a dedicated EV charging port.
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