Written by Christina Jones

Compact cars are becoming increasingly popular with drivers who want to save money on fuel, lessen their impact on the environment and get around easier. These vehicles are not only made greener, but also make parking easier and feature a number of innovative safety features.

1. Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback

This new compact car from Chevrolet comes with a standard 1.8 liter, five speed transmission designed to be ecologically friendly. Parents will like this vehicle for the OnStar system that comes with each one, ten air bags and a LATCH (lower anchors and top tethers) for keeping children safe. Drivers will have greater control with the electronic stability control. It also has keyless entry with a remote as a standard feature. This little hatchback has plenty of room, making it a strong contender for next year's car buyers.

These cars are also excellent when it comes to insurance rates. Car insurance deductibles are not as hard hit by these economical and safe vehicles.

2. Honda Civic

Honda's version of its compact Civic for 2012 will be more fuel-efficient and has a sleeker, sporty look to its exterior. It comes in either a coupé or sedan, with added room to the interior in the sedan version. The engine is a 1.8 liter, four-cylinder that gets a total of 28 miles to a gallon in town and 38 on the highway. If you buy the hybrid version, you can get 44 miles per gallon in town and on the highway. It is also priced at an affordable level for the buyer on a tighter budget.

3. Hyundai Veloster

This small compact has a special design feature that makes it different: three doors. There is one for the driver and two on the passenger side. The engine features four cylinders coupled with a six speed automatic or manual transmission, which means greater gas mileage for drivers. This translates into 40 miles per gallon on the road. The hatchback features plenty of room for storage and has a split window.

4. Ford Focus

The new Ford Focus for 2012 has gone electric, giving the driver a 100 mile range to cruise in on one charge. When it's time to recharge its lithium-ion batteries, it can take from six to eight hours to do so. The engine can get up to 123 horsepower with a maximum speed of 84 miles per hour. The electric engine also gives greater protection to the environment, with an almost zero emissions rating.

5. Buick Verano

Buick's 2012 Verano holds its own with its classic yet modern styling and its wide choice of extras that make it a comfortable ride. Some of these include:

• leather seats
• high-end stereo system
• choice of having a heated steering wheel.

These combine with a 2.4 liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers a punch when you hit the accelerator. It can get to 60 miles per hour in about eight seconds. The car gets a total of 31 miles per gallon when driving on the highway.

 

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