Honda Insight: In sharp contrast to other hybrids, which usually have only good mileage as an attribute, the Insight is a blast to drive. Nimble and quick, the Insight is a driver’s hybrid, excellent for those who prefer a little excitement with their gas savings.

Ford Fusion: An excellent sedan that coddles its passengers with comfort, provides above-average driving manners and, with the right engine and transmission choice, gets decent fuel economy. A hybrid version is also available.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Who needs hybrids when you can have a clean diesel? The Jetta is the closest thing to magic in the auto world: fantastic mileage, low emissions, good acceleration, good handling and a comfortable cabin. And remember, diesels can burn bio-diesel, which means fuel may be as close as the back of a local restaurant, as long as you have the kit to clean it.

Hyundai Elantra: The new Blue cars have extra features to achieve better fuel economy in a normal gasoline engine. Solid, tight, with good road manners, the Elantra comes in a spiffy wagon version that lets you run your errands on your commute and have lots of room for whatever you may pick up.

Subaru Legacy/Outback: These new Subarus have the build quality of some famous German cars. Secure handling in all weather conditions, thanks to all-wheel-drive, make these cars a favorite of those who face challenging road conditions. Good mileage will please commuters.

Honda Civic: A marvel of packaging, the Civic seats four comfortably, but is still small and agile enough to make commuting a breeze. Good looks and good mileage bring a sense of style to saving fuel.

Chevrolet Malibu: A solid sedan that goes about its business with competence. All the comfort and convenience one could want with a host of options, the Malibu keeps everyone safe, secure and well entertained while moving its occupants with a minimum of fuss.

Honda Accord: The Accord doesn’t provide a lot of excitement but is extremely reliable, comfortable transportation. It’s the car every adult child should want their parents to drive.

Mazda3: For the boy (or girl) racer that has to commute, the 3 is one of the finest handling cars on the road. Its solid ride may jar those seeking some decompression after work, but the fun-to-drive factor should restore excitement to anyone who has had a bad day.

Mini Cooper: The Mini is the closest thing to a track car that one can buy. Steering that feels lifted from a purpose-built race car, the Mini handles excellently, up until some really high speeds where its short wheelbase makes it a handful to keep under control. It’s really small (hey, its name is Mini) which limits passengers, but for the two people along for the ride will have a lot of fun and save gas too.

Chevrolet Corvette: Yes, we know it may be a stretch to include a high performance sports car on a best commuter car list, but driven sedately, the six-speed overdrive manual transmission works with the loafing engine to deliver decent highway fuel economy. Give way to the siren song of all that horsepower under your right foot, and you’ll burn gas prodigiously.

Buick Enclave: If you’re in charge of the office car-pool, you couldn’t have a better vehicle than the Enclave. With seats for eight, everyone along for the ride will enjoy comfort and convenience, while the driver will find security in the good handling.

Mercedes-Benz GL: SUVs aren’t usually our favorite vehicle type, but with a functionally plush interior, all-wheel-drive and Benz quality, the GL is hard to pass up. A diesel engine adds economical operation and life-saving acceleration.

Volkswagen GTI: Zip, zip, zip! The GTI is a fierce driver’s car that feels solid as a rock and safe and secure. Able to dodge large trucks with a quick flick of the wrist, the GTI has some of the finest active safety capabilities on the road. All this and it gets good mileage, too.

BMW 3-Series: Hands down the best handling sedan in the world. Other worldly cornering prowess combines with suspension that soaks up bumps large and small while maintaining a level of control that has to be experienced to be believed. Smaller engines and an available diesel will save fuel as you experience this ultimate driver’s machine.