Cars Under $30,000 Montrose CO
5 Great American Vehicles for Under $30,000
America Can Get Its Act Together: 5 Great American Vehicles For Under $30,000 By Zach Bowman, Contributing Editor
2010 Ford Fiesta 
2011 Chevrolet Cruze
America has great vehicles in just about every price range, but here are our top 5 for under $30,000.
1. 2010 Ford Fiesta
For those of you who remember the original Ford Fiesta as a hideously boxy windup, try and put that image behind you. The newest Fiesta due out next year sports some genuinely attractive styling outside, but what really makes this car shine is the two available motors. While neither are exactly powerhouses, both should return fantastic gas mileage. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder variant should put out close to 120 horsepower—more than enough for such a small car—and still get 40 mpg. For the more thrifty minded out there, a lower displacement model will be available with only 90 horsepower. That mill should hit the pumps at a feather-light 64 mpg.
What’s really remarkable about this car is that its fuel economy is gleaned from smart engineering and a focus on improving efficiency throughout the vehicle. The 2010 Fiesta isn’t hindered by heavy hybrid battery packs or complicated energy recovery systems—keeping costs low for everyone involved. This car is exactly what America has been clamoring for: a stylish, affordable vehicle with great gas mileage.
The Fiesta should be able to take on the likes of the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Nissan Versa without breaking a sweat.
2. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
We’ll have to wait a little while before we can sink our teeth into GM’s answer to the cry for a fuel-efficient, economical vehicle, but from what we’ve seen so far, it’s clear this car is a step in the right direction. General Motors has ditched the bland styling of the Aveo and Malibus of old for a few new sharp lines that make up the Cruze’s stylish front end. Just like its Blue Oval rival, the Cruze should serve up some stellar fuel economy thanks to a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, and a first in its class optional six-speed manual transmission.
Turbocharging an engine is a simple way to extract more power out of the same displacement. By forcing a larger air charge into the cylinder than would typically be accepted, the engine generates more power with marginally more fuel. Our cousins in Europe have been driving turbo diesel and gasoline ...