I love my Honda Civic (and this is probably the smallest I would ever go). I commute 112 miles round trip to work each day and I get about 35 mpg. It is an 05 and has 175,000 miles on it-I will drive it until it doesn't want to go anymore. Honda's have a very good crash protection rating (and I was someone who was involved in a head on car collision so swore I would never drive a small car)
Good luck with your decision
Hugs
April