Most Economical Cars At The 2015 Chicago Auto Show

Falling gas prices have given many car buyers the confidence to buy bigger, thirstier cars again. But consumers who believe in efficiency have more choices to choose from than ever. If saving on fuel is important to you, you'll find no shortage of interesting displays at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.

Here's a variety of efficient cars you should pay attention to at the show.

2016 Chevrolet Volt

You probably won't be able to sit in the redesigned 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid at this show. And that's a pity, because the interior is where you'll find some of the most important improvements over the first-generation model. The principle of the Volt is the same: It runs on electric power, but has a gas engine that can turn on and recharge the battery while you drive – giving you the range of a gas car when you need it and the low-cost, low-emissions driving of an electric car when you don't.

Improvements to the hybrid tech push the Volt to 50 miles of electric range and gas mileage in the 40s while the engine is running, and you no longer need to use premium fuel. But GM also saw fit to make the cabin plusher and more luxurious, and to fit seating for five passengers instead of just four in the outgoing Volt. If you liked the tech the first time around but found the overall package to be lacking, the 2016 redesign could win you over. Other mainstream plug-in hybrids on the market include versions of the Ford C-Max and Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Prius, though they're well short of the Volt's range.

2015 BMW i3

In the 1950s, before the brand became known for luxury sports sedans, BMW's best-selling car was a bubble-like transportation pod called the Isetta. The 2015 i3 isn't basic like the Isetta, but it's far removed from the rest of the automaker's line in terms of style and performance. It offers an all-electric range of 81 miles, but an optional range-extending engine makes it the plug-in hybrid with the longest electric range. However, that engine is smaller than the Chevrolet Volt's, and its 1.9-gallon gas tank makes it clear that unlike the Volt, the i3's gas engine is more for emergencies than for road trips.

Compare the radically styled i3 against comparatively pedestrian – but well-designed – electric cars like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf EV models and the best-selling Nissan Leaf. Also, check out the Chevrolet Bolt all-electric concept car, which promises – at a yet-undetermined sale date – 200 miles of electric range for $30,000. And while you're still at the BMW display, don't miss the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which uses its eco-friendly battery tech to boost its performance. Missing from the show, unfortunately, will be the Tesla Model S luxury electric car.

2015 Toyota Prius

Though it hasn't changed in the last five years, the Toyota Prius remains by far the dominant gas-electric hybrid in the country, with its electric motor helping reduce fuel needed by the gasoline engine, yielding EPA fuel economy estimates of around 50 miles per gallon. Looking at the Prius will also show off one of its often-unsung virtues: everyday usability, with a spacious cabin and plenty of cargo space for such an economical car. Note too that the Prius family includes the smaller, cheaper Prius C and the larger, less fuel-efficient Prius V. A redesigned Prius will likely go on sale later this year with further improvements to gas mileage and refinement.

For additional size and power, a hybrid version of an ordinary midsize car might be a good compromise. The plug-in hybrids mentioned earlier are also sold in simpler and less expensive – though less efficient – versions that don't need to be plugged into the wall.

2015 Mitsubishi Mirage

Hybrids get more attention, but the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage proves that the old-fashioned formula of a small engine in a light, little car can also yield outstanding mileage. The little, five-door, three-cylinder Mitsubishi is rated for 40 miles per gallon in mixed driving; better than many hybrids. For a more polished driving experience that still doesn't break the fuel budget, competing hatchbacks like the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa Note could be the better choice overall.

If you drive more on the highway than in the city, a growing number of midsize cars approach the gas mileage of even the smallest cars on the road. Even without costly hybrid, diesel, turbocharging or stop-start technology, the Honda Accord, Mazda6, Nissan Altima, and Subaru Legacy midsize family sedans all have outstanding fuel economy ratings of 30 or 31 mpg in mixed driving, and mid- to upper 30s on the highway.

Brady Holt, a Washington D.C. newspaper reporter, has had a lifelong interest in cars in the automotive world, and he'll share his thoughts at every available opportunity. Brady has written for Examiner.com since 2008, publishing hundreds of car reviews, automotive news pieces and other features. His work can be found on Examiner.com.