The Top 23 Gas-Saving Cars
by www.SixWise.com

Now that any gas prices below $4 a gallon seem like a bargain, many car shoppers are looking beyond color, engine size and style to focus on a more practical matter: MPG.

In fact, for some unfortunate drivers saving gas means cutting back on driving altogether. The Department of Transportation reported its largest decrease in driving ever from March 2007 to March 2008, with 11 billion fewer miles driven. But there is another way to save on gas, and that is by purchasing a gas-saving car.

Choosing a hybrid vehicle, for instance, can save you more than $4,000 in ownership costs over five years compared to a similar gasoline-powered vehicle, according to Consumer Reports. Perhaps this is why 32 percent of active car shoppers are now considering a hybrid for their next vehicle.

Yet, hybrids are far from the only option. Consumer Reports also found that some conventional vehicles have fuel efficiency that can rival even the best hybrids.

No matter what your vehicle preference, there is a gas-saving variety out there for you. Here we've compiled the best of the best cars in terms of fuel efficiency, based on the ratings of Consumer Reports, Cars.com, and About.com Cars (in alphabetical order).

1. Chevrolet Aveo: 24/34 (MPG city/highway, based on an automatic)

2. Chevrolet Aveo 5: 24/34

3. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid: 26/34

4. Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid: 21/22

5. Ford Escape Hybrid: 34/31

6. Ford Focus: 24/33

7. Honda Fit: 28/34

8. Honda Civic: 25/36 (Hybrid 40/45)

9. Hyundai Accent: Hyundai's lowest priced vehicle 27/33

10. Kia Rio: 27/35

11. Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC (one of the only diesel-powered passenger car sold in the United States): 23/32

12. MINI Cooper: 26/34

13. Nissan Altima: 23/31 (Hybrid version 35/33)

14. Nissan Sentra: 25/33

15. Nissan Versa: 27/33

16. Saturn AURA Hybrid: 26/34

17. Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid: 25/32

18. Scion xD: Scion is Toyota's youth-marketed division 27/33

19. Smart ForTwo: 33/41

20. Toyota Camry Hybrid: 33/34

21. Toyota Corolla: 28/37

22. Toyota Prius (hybrid): 48/45

23. Toyota Yaris: The lowest price Toyota available 29/36

Which Vehicles Give You the Worst Gas Mileage?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency's Fuel Economy Guide, the least fuel-efficient vehicles (based on 2008 models) are:

1. Lamborghini Murciélago: 8/13

2. Bugatti Veyron: 8/14

3. Lamborghini Murciélago: 9/14

4. Bentley Azure, Bentley Arnage RL: 9/15

5. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (auto): 9/16

6. Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (manual), Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (manual), Bentley Arnage (auto): 10/15

7. Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder (auto), Aston Martin DB9 Coupe (manual), Aston Martin DB9 Volante (manual), Maybach 57, Maybach 57S, Maybach 62, Maybach 62S: 10/16

8. Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe (manual), Bentley Continental GT (auto), Bentley Continental GTC (auto), Bentley Continental Flying Spur (auto): 10/17

9. Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG: 11/13

10. Jeep Grand Cherokee (4WD), Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG: 11/14

The vehicles on the list above all take premium fuel as well, making their average annual fuel costs anywhere from $3,748 to $4,500! So if you're looking to save money on fuel, big surprise -- a Lamborghini or Bentley is probably not in the cards.

Now that you're armed with information about how to choose a vehicle that will save you on gasoline, find out which cars may one day save your life in The 37 Safest Cars of 2008.

Recommended Reading

Hypermiling: How to Save Big on Gas

What NOT to Do When Shopping for a Car: 11 Key Steps

Sources

Cars.com Worst Overall Fuel Economy

Cars.com Best Bang for Your Buck

About.com Cars 10 Best Fuel-Efficient Cars

Yahoo Autos