2007 Volkswagen Rabbit $4,990

Thanks to its upscale interior and Germanic heritage, the 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit is one of the better economy hatchbacks currently available. The new Volkswagen Rabbit, which is the next-generation VW Golf, but with the nostalgic, U.S.-only name last used in the early 1980s, was introduced late in the 2006 model year. For the 2007 Rabbit, VW adds an auxiliary audio input jack for MP3 players, an optional Apple iPod-specific adapter and an optional tire-pressure monitor. Cruise control actuation has also been simplified.