The Geo Metro is proving to be one of the most popular fuel-efficient vehicles of the '90s, thanks to its hybrid-surpassing fuel economy. The Metro was powered by a fuel-sipping 55 horsepower 1.0L three-cylinder engine, which returned 49 mpg. An even more fuel-efficient XFi model was also available, which dropped the Metro's power to 49 horsepower, but upped fuel economy to 58 mpg. In comparison, a $22,000 Toyota Prius can get about 45 mpg.
The Metro's wide variety of body styles -- including a three-door hatchback, a convertible and a four-door sedan -- is also lending to the car's recent success.
But what makes these vehicles so fuel-efficient should also be a cause for concern. Weight is the enemy of high EPA ratings, so cars such as the Geo Metro and Ford Fiesta did without several weight-adding safety features -- including ABS and airbags. "What is your life worth for that extra 10 miles per gallon?" asks Jon Linkov, managing editor for autos for Consumer Reports.
