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Advertising has been remarkably effective at convincing consumers that SUVs and Crossovers are the vehicle of choice for families that need versatility. In commercials, we often see SUV owners loading up with all kinds of cargo, driving through the woods and buckling up their families in a roomy backseat.
Most SUVs do come with a lot of cargo space, passenger room and are well-suited to tackling different climates and driving styles.
But they’re not the only type of vehicle capable of doing so. Hatchbacks, minivans and even some sedans offer high levels of versatility as well, often with better fuel economy and lower starting prices.
Here are some of our favorite versatile non-SUVs. They’re fuel efficient, fun, roomy, affordable and can handle a wide variety of lifestyles.
MSRP: $19,995 – $29,995
Invoice: $19,745 – $28,545
Fuel Economy: 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway
Minivans are inherently versatile vehicles, but the Dodge Grand Caravan receives special mention because of its stellar Stow ‘n Go seats. Instead of having to fumble around while removing the second and third row seats, Grand Caravan owners can simply fold them into the floor, creating tons of room for basically any form of cargo you can imagine.
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MSRP: $19,940 – $24,470
Invoice: $19,073 – $23,401
Fuel Economy: 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway
Technically, this is a subcompact crossover, which is sort of breaking the no-SUV rule for this gallery. But, come on. If you asked around, 99 percent of people would say the Mazda5 is a minivan. The Mazda5 is a little smaller than other minivans, but it still has a lot of room and, thus versatility. It is also remarkably enjoyable to drive, making trips to Home Depot and the grocery store pretty darn fun.
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MSRP: $17,895 – $22,995Invoice: $17,104 – $21,792Fuel Economy: 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway
With a great all-wheel drive system and a nice, big rear hatch, the Impreza offers versatility for almost every climate and lifestyle. Subaru isn’t known for their interiors and the Impreza leaves something to be desired on the inside. But, all in all, car shoppers looking for something small that can handle almost everything you throw at it would be well served to give this hatchback a shot.Research the Subaru ImprezaSubaru Impreza Photos & InformationSubaru Impreza Best DealsSubaru Impreza Local Dealer Price Quote
MSRP: $15,425 – $17,160
Invoice: $15,023 – $16,704
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway
Honda engineers and designers seem to somehow eschew physics and create these big cavernous interiors and cargo areas in smaller vehicles like the CR-V and Fit. The Honda Fit is a favorite vehicle of car shoppers and critics alike. It’s reliable, fuel efficient and a family of four can easily be comfortable inside. The fact that it can be had for well under $20,000 is icing on the cake.
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Sticker Price: $26,750 – $30,395
Invoice Price: $24,902 – $28,295
Fuel Economy: 44 mpg city, 40 mpg highway
TheToyota Prius v is one of those cars that can save you both time and money. With its large cargo area and roomy interior, you don’t have to worry about taking multiple trips to get your shopping done. And with its stellar 44 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, you’re not going to be paying to fill up very often either.
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Sticker Price: $24,115
Invoice Price: $22,486
Fuel Economy: 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway
TheFord Focus ST is fast, fun and functional (not to mention alliterative). Its 2.0L turbocharged engine and sporty handling dynamics make this car an absolute blast to drive and its large cargo area gives it versatility. The unsung feature of the Focus ST, though, is its fuel economy. It’s one of the few sports cars you can buy that will exceed 30 mpg.
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Sticker Price: $16,945 – $26,495
Invoice Price: $16,464 – $25,335
Fuel Economy: 29 mpg city, 41 mpg highway
The redesignedMazda3 is arguably the most attractive hatchback on the market right now. Its sharp looks are combined with Mazda’s classic sporty driving dynamics, remarkable fuel economy and large storage space to create one of the best packages you can buy.
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Sticker Price: $40,700Invoice Price: $37,852Fuel Economy: 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway
All-wheel drive? Check. Luxurious interior? Check. Sporty driving dynamics, great looks and a big cargo area? Check, check, check. The Audi allroad is a fantastic alternative to a luxury SUV if you’re looking for something that will achieve better fuel economy and give you a bit of a thrill on the road.Research the Audi allroadAudi allroad Photos & InformationAudi allroad Best DealsAudi allroad Local Dealer Price Quote
Sticker Price: $21,900 – $32,500
Invoice Price: $20,422 – $29,981
Fuel Economy: 22 mpg city, 34 mpg highway
The handsomeFord Fusion is a versatile family sedan. It is somewhat lacking when it comes to storage capacity, especially when you compare it to some of the hatchbacks and wagons on this list, but it’s still quite roomy and comfortable on the inside. Its fuel efficiency and available all-wheel drive system make it great for road trips and inclement weather, as well.
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Mark it down, auto enthusiasts. Mazda built its last rotary engine on Friday, June 22.
By final, we mean the line that assembled Renesis engines for Mazda’s RX-8 sports car was idled, and there are currently no plans to restart its production. Mazda has a long-running history of building Wankel powerplants, and its production of the high-revving engine has seen a few stutters since Mazda put the first dual-rotor Wankel in a production car in 1967.
Of course, it’s always possible that Mazda finds a way to solve – or at least drastically improve – the failings of the Renesis: high fuel consumption and poor emissions. We’ve been hearing about the so-called 16X rotary for years, and we’d love to see it enter production at some point in the not-terribly-distant future.
For now, though, join us in remembering some of Mazda’s past rotary-powered machinery in the image galleries above and below. Even if the world never sees another production rotary, at least it’s been a good ride.