Kelly Blue Book’s Top Picks for Best Fuel-efficient Vehicles

Along with the heat of summer come high gas prices. Consumers will undoubtedly want to find ways to save a few dollars at the pump.

Drivers are often encouraged to improve their vehicle’s fuel economy by reducing air conditioning use, and checking important parts (like Mazda auto parts) — changing filters regularly, checking tire pressure, having fuel injectors cleaned and using a fuel additive to increase engine performance.

But are consumers actually using these fuel economy tips to help save money?

A recent Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study on fuel economy has revealed that nearly six out of 10 consumers say they would be likely to change their filters at scheduled intervals and/or check their tire pressure regularly to achieve greater fuel economy or save money. Nearly seven out of 10 consumers (68 percent) also believe that by performing some or all of the recommended gas-saving maintenance to their car, they would save up to $200 annually.

“Gas prices have reached levels that are causing consumers to take steps they may not have when pump prices were more moderate to improve fuel economy and save a few dollars,” said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “If these consumers actually perform all of these gas saving tips, it’s likely they could save up to 15 or 20 percent of their entire fuel costs annually.”

But the survey also revealed that only 23 percent say they would be willing to reduce air conditioning use. Even less popular options include having fuel injectors cleaned (17 percent), and using a fuel additive in each fill-up to increase engine performance (five percent).

Meanwhile, 26 percent of those surveyed said they would employ all of these recommended fuel-saving tips to achieve greater fuel economy or save money, and a contrasting five percent said they would do none.

When thinking about their next new-vehicle purchase, 69 percent of consumers are likely to change the vehicle they drive in order to improve their fuel economy or money situation: 22 percent would buy a hybrid version of a vehicle they already have; 21 percent would take a step down in vehicle size; 14 percent say they would buy a vehicle with a smaller engine or an engine with less power; and 12 percent say they would buy a diesel vehicle. Thirty-one percent of consumers say they would not change their next vehicle to improve fuel economy.

To help those consumers considering their next car purchase, the editorial staff at Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com put together a list of fuel-efficient favorites. Here’s the list:

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Editors’ Top Picks for Best Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

Small Sedan

Honda Civic Hybrid – The Honda Civic Hybrid is the Prius alternative with more mainstream styling, if not all the fuel economy.

MPG – 40 (city), 45 (highway)

Mid-size Sedan

Nissan Altima Hybrid – Beneath its sporty-sedan sheet metal, Nissan’s Altima Hybrid uses licensed Toyota hybrid technology.

MPG – 35 (city), 33 (highway)

Luxury Sedan

Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec – Powered by a state-of-the-art clean diesel engine, the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec is as powerful and smooth as you’d expect anything wearing a three-pointed star to be.

MPG – 23 (city), 32 (highway)

Compact Pickup

Toyota Tacoma – The Toyota Tacoma’s bulletproof reputation for reliability is bakced by some of the category’s best fuel economy.

MPG – 20 (city), 26 (highway)

Full-Size Pickup

Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra – GM’s excellent new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are just about the most fuel-efficient full-size pickups out there.

MPG – 15 (city), 20 (highway)

Coupe

Audi TT – The 2008 Audi TT deftly maximizes turbo power and efficiency in one fun and fuel-frugal coupe.

MPG – 23 (city), 31 (highway)

Small SUV

Ford Escape Hybrid – revamped for 2008, the Ford Escape Hybrid combines excellent mileage with SUV versatility.

MPG – 31 (city), 30 (highway)

Mid-Size SUV

Toyota Highlander Hybrid – The Highlander Hybrid is Toyota’s only hybrid SUV, and the only one to boast a lineage that includes the revolutionary Prius.

MPG – 28 (city), 25 (highway)

Large SUV

GMC Acadia – With more cargo volume than the brand’s own Yukon, the three-row GMC Acadia delivers everything most families require from a traditional full-size SUV but with significantly better mileage.

MPG – 16 (city), 24 (highway)

Convertible

Mazda MX-5 – Some of the same characteristics that make the small and lightweight Mazda MX-5 one of the purest dirver’s cars of all time help make it a joy at the gas pump too.

MPG – 22 (city), 27 (highway)

Minivan

Honda Odyssey – What some consider the best minivan available, the Honda Odyssey, also delivers the best mileage. Under light loads, the Odyssey can cruise on just three of its six cylinders.

MPG – 17 (city), 24 (highway)

Hatchback

MINI Cooper – A secret weapon in the fight against fuel prices, the extremely fun MINI Cooper delivers highway mileage of up to 36 mpg.

MPG – 27 (city), 37 (highway)

Wagon

Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe – The Toyota matrix and Pontiac Vibe cousins are small but tall wagons that have been delivering outstanding fuel economy since the 2003 model year.

MPG – 26 (city), 33 (highway)

* (Note: All fuel economy figures reflect the new-for-2008 model year guidelines, per fueleconomy.gov).

About Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)

Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource(R), has provided vehicle buyers and sellers with the new and used vehicle information they need to accomplish their goals with confidence. The company’s top-rated Web site, kbb.com, provides the most up-to-date pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book(R) Value, which reveals what people actually are paying for new cars. The company also reports vehicle pricing and values via products and services, including software products and the famous Blue Book(R) Official Guide. Kbb.com is rated the No. 1 automotive information site by Nielsen//NetRatings and the most visited auto site by J.D. Power and Associates eight years in a row. No other medium reaches more in-market vehicle shoppers than kbb.com; nearly one in every three American car buyers performs their research on kbb.com.

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Top 3 Picks For Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are fast becoming more and more popular due to the rising fuel costs and the prices of hybrid cars are becoming more and more affordable. The performance of hybrid cars are also comparable to diesel/petrol cars so there’s no reason not to get it.

There are plenty of new hybrid car models introduced every year but here are my top 3 picks that offers the best performance and features for the price.

#3 Honda Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic hybrid is not a new model and has been on the market for some time. The price retails around $20,000 and the fuel performance is 47 city mpg and 48 highway mpg.

Though it isn’t terribly fast, what I like about the honda civic hybrid is that it can carry up to 5 people. It is more functional and is suitable as a family car. It also pass the crash test rating with a good score of 5.

If you have a family and do not need to get anywhere fast, then going with a honda civic hybrid is a good buy.

#2 Honda Insight

The honda insight is a two seater hybrid car which have fuel performance of 57 city mpg and 56 highway mpg. The price is about the same as the honda civic hybrid. It is a very reliable car which I have owned for a couple of years. So far, it has not given me such problems.

There are a couple of disadvantages, firstly it is 2 seater which means it’s not a family type of car. Secondly, the horsepower isn’t that great with only 71 hp.

It is my second top pick because I like its reliability and when you compare price to performance, it is pretty good.

#1 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius hybrid car is my top pick because it offers the best performance for the price you get. It cost around $19,000 which is the cheapest out of the three. It has more horsepower at 110 hp and can do 60 city mpg and 51 highway mpg. It is a family sized car which can hold 5 people quite comfortably with some space left in the trunk.

It also get a 4.5 score for it’s crash test rating. For price and performance, you can’t beat the toyota prius.