Not sure of where to start when looking for a great imported vehicle? These top picks all offer top notch safety records, reliability, comfort, good gas mileage and green features. Here are the top 5 imported vehicles that should make your short list.
Top 5 Imported Vehicles: Toyota Prius
Best Green Car
List Price: Starts at $22,800
First sold globally in 2001, the Toyota Prius was the world’s first mass produced hybrid car. Now sold in over 70 countries, the Prius takes top honors as the greenest imported vehicle. The Toyota Prius is the most fuel efficient imported car sold in the U.S. today. Rated by the Environmental Protection Agency as one of the cleanest vehicles ever to hit the open roads, the Prius releases less smog forming emissions than any other vehicle. Despite the hefty price tag, you get a lot of nice features with a Prius including an incredible estimated 44mpg gas mileage. But the Prius won’t just save money and the environment; it is also a safe, comfortable, roomy, solid and reliable vehicle. The Prius comes loaded with extras like heated side mirrors, integrated fog lamps, UV reduction glass windshield, driver and front passenger water-repellent side windows and a roof-mounted XM Satellite Radio antenna. The dedicated EV mode now allows the Prius to run at low speeds longer than ever before on electric power, making the vehicle a great green choice for congested high traffic driving.
Top 5 Imported Vehicles: Subaru Forester
Best Small SUV
List Price: $20,972 to $28,860
Looking for an SUV that drives like a car? Then the Subaru Forester is for you. This is perhaps the most agile SUV you will ever drive. Of course, the interior is roomy as you would expect from any SUV, but the Forester also offers great visibility from every seat, including the rear seat. Offering 22mpg gas mileage, the Forester is a fuel conscious SUV, however it does take premium fuel. Other features include smooth and silent acceleration, heated front seats, SIRIUS or XM Satellite Radio capability, overhead console, climate control system, traction control system, 4 wheel anti-lock brakes, raised roof rails, a 2,400lb towing capacity and a multifunction center console.
Top 5 Imported Vehicles: Hyundai Elantra SE
Best Small Sedan
List Price: $18,695
Made by South Korean automaker Hyundai, the Elantra SE has bee one of the top 5 imported vehicles several years running. This sedan is just a great all around car- safe, stylish and roomy. For the cost conscious customer who wants the best value for their money, nothing beats this car. What I especially like about the Elantra SE is its simple straightforward design. It offers all the bells and whistles you want from a car, without looking like it’s trying too hard. Standard features include power windows and door locks, heated power side mirrors, remote keyless entry and 6-way driver seat adjustment. The 26mpg and up to 35mpg gas mileage on the highway is nothing to sneeze at either.
Top 5 Imported Vehicles: Volkswagen GTI
Best Sporty Car
List Price: $27,504
The Volkswagen GTI is not your father’s Volkswagen. This sporty fun vehicle is the latest incarnation of the Volkswagen Golf. In this vehicle you will find the great handling and zippy acceleration of a sports car with the cargo capacity and comfort of a family car. The 27 mpg gas mileage makes this solid vehicle no slouch in the fuel efficiency department. The one drawback- you need to use premium fuel.
Top 5 Imported Vehicles: Mazda5 Microvan
Best Family Transportation
List Price: $23,805
The Mazda5 Microvan makes the list as one of the top 5 imported vehicles because it has incredible hauling capacity in a compact and affordable package. Think of the Mazda 5 Microvan as a cross between a minivan and a wagon. The seating options offered in this vehicle will be able to accommodate all but the largest of families. Three rows of seats and a roomy interior mean everyone can travel in comfort. This vehicle is no slouch in the gas mileage department either, getting 24mpg. That’s pretty incredible for a van. The 2010 model has enhanced emergency handling abilities, making it safer than ever. This is a great vehicle for those families that need more room than a car, but are not quite ready to make the leap into a minivan.
Source
Consumer Reports
Personal Experience
