New Economy Cars: $24,999 or Lower

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT2
The Chevrolet Malibu nameplate has been around for a long, long time, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Once a big car, the Malibu has in recent years been Chevrolet’s bread-and-butter sedan, fitting in the lineup just below the larger Impala, which is itself a downsized version of the old full-size Impala.

2008 Dodge Charger SE
The Dodge Charger is a full-size, four-door sedan that makes a bold design statement and backs it up with serious horsepower. A wide range of models is available, but all are comfortable cruisers, offering drivers a friendly haven from traffic and bumpy freeways.

2008 Hyundai Sonata GLS
Hyundai has introduced more four-cylinder versions of its midsize Sonata sedan in response to concern about high gas prices. For 2008, all Hyundai Sonata models, not just the base version, are available with an economical four-cylinder engine that rates an EPA-estimated 30 mpg Highway.