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:
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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 Ramp Ford in Port Jefferson Station and Steven's Ford in Patchogue.
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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 Competition Toyota of Middle Island and Sunrise Toyota in Oakdale.
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 Port Jeff Dodge Chrysler Plymouth Jeep in Port Jefferson Station and Thomas Dodge Corp. of New York in Port Jefferson Station.
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 Smithtown Kia and Generation Kia of Medford.
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 Ramp Chevrolet Inc. in Port Jefferson Station and North Shore Chevrolet of Smithtown.
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