I drive a Scion XB, $15000.00, 30 miles around town, over 40 on the highway.
I love it.

Cars are like sewing machines.everyone has a preference. Maybe you should go American made and try a Chevrolet Impala..they get good gas mileage and are a comfortable ride. I am partial to my Dodge Grand Caravan but then that is my preference.....lol!

Have you tried the Car-Talk website?

try the Hyundai Tiburon. You simply can't got wrong with Hyundais. We have owned a total of 5 of them for over 6 years. We have the tiburon, sonata, tucson and the santa fe. I bought the Tiburon and drive for 4 years then passed it along and bought the Tucson. I love the Hyundais, 90k+ miles and oil changes and brakes only. The Tiburon drives great, seats fully adjustable, etc. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

I'm a Mazda 6 girl. I get awesome milage out of it.

I have a toyota corolla. It is a 1999 and it has 510,246 miles on it and it goes 153 miles a night 364 days a year, orginal trans and engine. Toyota is the only thing I will own. Good luck find a car.

Have you tried the Hyundia Sonata? I have a 2004 and love it. No problems and gets great gas mileage.I believe in them and my next new car will be a Sonata,if this one ever wears out.

I'm a dyed in the wool Honda fan. I have owned once since 1991 and had no bad luck. The Fit is a little unique looking, but I've ridden in one and it handles nicely, very roomy and excellent gas mileage. Like you, can't buy used - too much risk of a car someone else didn't take care of.

I just sold my Mazda 3 to get an SUV as we needed the space. But, I LOVED that car. It was a 2006 model, so I can't speak for the new ones, but I got great gas mileage. Also, I'm short (5'2"), and visibility was very important when I was looking. It had the best visibility and handled the best as well. My husband has a 2007 Mazda 6 and loves it as well. It is larger though, and has more of a sedan feel. Great car though.

My mom just got a new Kia Optima and loves it, it gets really good mileage but I don't know too much about it.

The Chevy Aveo meets all of those requirements expect it may look cartoonish to you. There are two versions and one is much less cartoonish than the other. My daughter gets 32 MPG. The seats set VERY straight. (That's one of her things, too.) It comes in bright, fun colors.

http://www.chevrolet.com/aveo/sedan/pictures/