What's neat about VTEC-E is the great balance of price, performance, and economy given to the cars that use it. Honda's first car with a VTEC-E engine was the Honda Civic VX in 1992. It cost only a tad more than the base model, had 22.8 pounds/horsepower, and got an EPA rating of 48/55 MPG. Unlike other high-MPG cars, the Civic VX was a mainstream small car with five seats and a steel body that just happened to get fantastic mileage. They're now available used for around $2,000 to $4,000, making them a bargain for someone looking for hybrid-like gas mileage without having to shell out $20,000+.