Economy Doesn't Have to Mean Misery

Economy. It's a buzzword that's been on the lips of nearly everyone for the past decade. Whether it's referring to our economic practices as a country or the fuel economy of a car, the American people have a good idea of just what economy means. And for automobiles, that usually means more negatives, from an enthusiast's standpoint, than positives.

Automobiles today are becoming more and more advanced, all the while becoming safer, easier to operate, and more efficient than ever. On the other hand, cars in the present day are also being pushed to broader audiences. Not to mention these advances in technology usually mean sacrificing quality for the sake of quantity and ultimately affordability.

Over the past couple decades, we've seen plenty of truly miserable economy cars here in the US. However, all is not lost, as several pristine apples refuse to be spoiled by the bunch.

One of these apples is the new joint project between Toyota and Subaru (although Toyota can only take credit for a couple of small improvements). This 2012 venture has resulted in the Scion FR-S (deemed the Toyota 86 overseas) and the Subaru BRZ, rear engine Japanese sports car that keep affordability in mind. These two hark back to the essence of Japanese sports cars from decades past. The lightweight coupe body is mounted to a Subaru-designed sport suspension, with power being sorted by a standard 6 speed manual transmission and delivered to the rear wheels by Subaru's familiar 2.0 liter boxer powerplant. This setup will return you 34mpg on the highway, on the way home from a blast through the mountain passes, no doubt. And what's the price for this back road bruiser? Why, it's only a couple bills over $25,000.

But what if you're looking for something with a little more heritage? Well, not to worry, because the Mazda Miata is here. In fact, it's been here since its launch in 1989. Drawing on inspiration from classic British sports cars like the Lotus Elan and Triumph Spifire, the Miata enjoyed massive success, employing the same modest dimensions and front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout of its predecessors. Much like the Porsche 911, the Mazda Miata has only grown better with age. Refreshed for 2014, the Miata comes with a 167 horsepower engine mated to either a 5 or 6 speed manual gearbox. This Sport trim level will net you a combined 25mpg, which isn't brilliant, but at a price that is: $23,720.

What if you're leaning toward a hot hatchback, though? I can hardly blame you, as there have been a myriad of truly epic five door wonders redefining the joys of driving for the past couple decades. For the purest driving pleasure with arguably the most practicality, we need to steer towards Ford. More specifically, the all-new Ford Fiesta ST. This is a five door, five passenger hatchback that's powered by an Ecoboost four cylinder that will have you giggling like a school girl at recess. At its peak, this turbocharged powerplant is producing 197 horsepower and 202 pound feet of torque, which is a lot, considering the car only weighs 2,700 pounds. Mated to a six speed manual, this car is built with the cash-conscious enthusiast in mind, returning over 30mpg on the combined cycle. With a base price of $21,400, this is also the least expensive of the group.

As we press forward into a world with increasing demands of efficiency, safety, and simplicity, we need to be reminded that cars like this still exist and are still being built and sold right now. Rather than being cars for all people, these cars are instead made for those of us who enjoy the feeling of connectivity to controls, to the road underneath us, and to the activity of driving. However, each of these three cars could easily be used everyday and while they may not be practical for everything, they can be depended on for one thing: to consistently put smiles on the faces of their drivers.