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[50 mpg by 2012]

Hopefully the 1 Liter 3 Cylinder Ecoboost Focus MT [58.9mpg(Imp) combined on the NEDC test cycle] will be available within 6~9 months ... but that is lots of miles between now and then.

Then there is the 67.3/76.3 mpg(Imp) combined/highway Focus 6MT diesel http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/ford/focus/specs/1.6-TDCi-115-Titanium-5dr-Estate

Who knows what a reasonable US driver might get with either of these ...

 

[Doppel]

Prius continues to have the best mileage of a gas hybrid in the United States, beyond a shadow of a doubt. The TDI lineup, which costs more, will come within its ballpark on the highway, but get very humbled with city mileage. I would absolutely trust the longevity of a Prius over a TDI, and a decade+ use of them demonstrates exceptional reliability. They also run on 87 gasoline. Batteries do indeed run a long time, not to mention the battery has a 100k (or more depending on state) warranty.

The TDI will have a nicer drive and I can only assume its seats are much better. The base Prius, at least a couple years back (but still current gen) had incredibly awful seats with no lower back support at all. I think that was mitigated in the power seat version and possibly the 2013 is better, I don't know.

If you're buying a car right now, though, go to Nissan now--don't wait. They are throwing 2012 Altimas away at ludicrous prices because the 2013 is here. If you can do a 2012 it would be wicked-cheap. If you do get a 2013, the 4 cylinder pulls 38 MPG, best in class for a midsize sedan. Its combined mileage will be low 30's but you'll make a lot of money up on purchase price savings.

 

[soccerballtux]

golf passat fusion
definitely not Toyota those are so boring to drive.
I would only get the toyota if you were buying used, but if buying used going to overpay.

 

[KentState]

If you're buying a car right now, though, go to Nissan now--don't wait. They are throwing 2012 Altimas away at ludicrous prices because the 2013 is here. If you can do a 2012 it would be wicked-cheap. If you do get a 2013, the 4 cylinder pulls 38 MPG, best in class for a midsize sedan. Its combined mileage will be low 30's but you'll make a lot of money up on purchase price savings.

The new 2013 Altima puts the 2012 and earlier to shame. It's a really good car and IMO beats everything in the class. The Passat's only advantage is the DSG transmission if that's important. Like I mentioned earlier, we looked at a lot of cars last weekend and it was tops of our list, but we want a wagon so the Outback won out.

 

[nicolaskl]

It it's all highway miles, driving a hybrid isn't going to help your MPG all that much. Just get something like a Ford Focus or Chevy Cruze, which get around 40 MPG highway if you get the fuel saver packages.

The commute will be pretty much all highway, but I'm sure I'll do plenty of city driving in whatever I get the rest of the time. I'll probably add the 6 speed manual 1.6 ecoboost Fusion to my list though. Also adding the Altima.

I don't think the Focus or Cruze will meet my space/comfort requirements.

I think a lot of its going to come down to the test drive and also how good a deal I can wrangle, and with two of the contenders being new 2013s, also availability.

 

[Howard]

Original Insight. Ask Eli.

 

[Doppel]

The new 2013 Altima puts the 2012 and earlier to shame. It's a really good car and IMO beats everything in the class. The Passat's only advantage is the DSG transmission if that's important. Like I mentioned earlier, we looked at a lot of cars last weekend and it was tops of our list, but we want a wagon so the Outback won out.

Yeah, the 2013 Altima is a nice piece of ass for what it is. 38 mpg is nuts in a midsize for highway, and its v6 is getting about 6 flat 0-60, despite same HP as previous gen.