Forex Articles

The 1980s were the age of the muscle car and the station wagon. The 1990s ushered in the sport utility vehicle (SUV) craze, which persisted well into the first decade of the 21st century. In the late 2000s, a sharp spike in oil prices preceded the worst economic crisis in decades, the two factors combining to end the SUV's reign of dominance and bring smaller, more economic cars, in particular hybrids, into vogue.

As of 2015, the economy has rebounded, albeit weakly, and oil prices, along with prices at the pump, have abated somewhat. These improvements in economic conditions, however, have not seemed to stop America's movement toward smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. More consumers are using metrics such as miles per gallon and total cost of ownership to compare cars on their lists, as opposed to engine size, horsepower and seating capacity. The following are the five cars that will save you money in 2015 based on total cost of ownership.

This subcompact car is the cheapest vehicle you can own in 2015. Its five-year total ownership cost is $26,905. The Spark also carries the least expensive sticker price of any Chevrolet (NYSE: GM) on the market. Dealerships sell them brand new at a base price of only $13,000. Combining with the car's low retail price to make it cheap to own is its fuel efficiency. With combined highway and city driving, drivers can expect upwards of 40 miles per gallon from the Spark.

The Toyota (NYSE: TM) Corolla is ideal for drivers who want a small, economical car that is good on gas and cheap to own but need more room than can be found in the tiny Chevrolet Spark. The Corolla is considered a compact car, but with a recent redesign that bumped up its interior space, it is comparable to a mid-size car of decades past.

Dealerships carry base models for as low as $17,500. The Corolla gets over 38 miles per gallon on the highway and as much as 30 miles per gallon in the city. The total five-year ownership cost is the lowest of any compact car at $30,416.

Though the Corolla was redesigned and made larger and more comfortable, many drivers, particularly those who regularly haul around kids and pets, want something even roomier. For people who fall into this camp but still want to save money, the Mazda (TYO: 7261) MAZDA6 offers the cheapest driving experience of any mid-size car, with a five-year total ownership cost of $35,321.

Those who do not mind a manual transmission can purchase a MAZDA6 for as little as $22,000. The savings do not end at the dealership. Thanks to Mazda's proprietary i-ELOOP engine technology, certain MAZDA6 models get as much as 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

Some drivers are simply not comfortable in anything smaller than a full-size car. Fortunately, the Chevy Impala offers a roomy, comfortable driving experience with a reasonable cost of ownership. While it costs more to purchase and drive a full-size car than a mid-size or compact, no full-size car is cheaper to own than the Impala. Its five-year ownership cost is $45,399. New Impalas retail for as little as $27,000, and, thanks to a four-cylinder engine that produces the power of a V6, the car still gets well over 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

If work or hobbies call for a truck, the Chevrolet Colorado is the one to buy when looking to save money. The crew cab model fits five passengers comfortably while still managing room for a 61.2-inch bed to haul cargo. The sticker price for a manual transmission is under $21,000, and the truck gets 27 miles per gallon on the highway. Its five-year ownership cost is $35,891.