Most Fuel Efficient Cars of 2012

At one time in the summer of 2008, gas prices average around $4.50/gallon in the U.S. After the summer of 2008, gas prices plummeted down to $2.00/gallon and people were beginning to enjoy going out more. However, as of April 2012, the price is around $4.25/gallon and it is predicted that it will reach over $5.00/gallon within the next year or so.

Gasoline Prices

The best ways to save money is not drive at all and just stay home, sit in front of your computer all day long! Most of us can't do that because we must drive to work and we live in a society where driving is a necessity. If you are trying to save money on your next car, you might also want to consider the price as well as the MPG. How many miles are you getting from a gallon of gas? This list only include cars that run on gasoline 100% of the time (no electric car).

Best Gas Mileage Cars in the U.S. - Top 10 List:

1. Toyota Prius: 51 City/48 Hwy (50 Avg.), Base Price: $24,000. 1.8-liter, with 4-Cylinder engine and 134 hp, 0-60 mph in 9.8 secs. The most fuel efficient car on the market is the Toyota Prius, also the most demanding car in the U.S. A small sedan, but roomy enough for 5 and it is perfect for those that drive over 100 miles a day to work. The 3rd Generation Toyota Prius model is on sale since 2009 and currently available for purchase at most Toyota dealers. Also available are the Prius C (53 City/46 Hwy, Starting at: $18,950) and the Prius V (44 City/40 hwy, Starting at $26,400).

2. Honda Civic Hybrid: 44 City/44 Hwy (44 Avg.), Base Price: $24,050. 1.3-liter, with 4-Cylinder engine and up to 111 hp, 0-60 mph in 11.3 secs. The runner up is Toyota biggest rival; the Honda Civic Hybrid is a sporty sedan with an average 44 combined mpg. This is worth every penny, especially for those who prefer Honda over Toyota.

3. Lexus CT 200h vs Honda Insight: Tie for third are the Lexus CT 200h and the Honda Insight , which both give an estimated combined 42 mpg. Luxury or necessity?

Lexus CT 200h: 43 City/40 Hwy (42 Avg.), Base Price: $29,120. 1.8-liter, with 4-Cylinder engine and up to 134 hp, 0-60 mph in 9.8 secs. Why not have both luxury and fuel efficiency in one car? The Lexus CT 200h does just that by offering great gas mileage with a luxurious feel. Wow your friends and colleagues with a whopping 42 mpg in a Lexus.

Honda Insight: 41 City/44 Hwy (42 Avg.), Base Price: $18,350. 1.3-liter, 4-Cylinder engine with 98 hp. The Honda Insight is much more affordable than the Lexus CT 200h.

4. Toyota Camry Hybrid: 43 City/39 Hwy (41 Avg.), Base Price: $25,900. 2.5-liter, 4-Cylinder engine with 200-horsepower, reaching 0-60 mph in 7.7 secs. If you love the original Camry, then you should try the Camry Hybrid because it has better fuel economy, which can be a big saver after a few years.

5. Ford Fusion Hybrid vs Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: In the fifth spot are two contenders from Ford Motors with each having a combined 39 mpg. These hybrids are packed with a powerful engine which give out 191 hp. The Fusion Hybrid is more affordable, while the MKZ Hybrid has more class and style.

Ford Fusion Hybrid: 41 City/36 Hwy (39 Avg.), Base Price: $28,775. 2.5-liter, 4-Cylinder engine with 191 hp. 0-60 mph in 8.4 secs.

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: 41 City/36 Hwy (39 Avg.), Base Price: $34,755. 2.5-liter, 4-Cylinder engine with 191 hp. 0-60 mph in 8.2 secs.

6. Honda CR-Z vs Hyundai Sonata Hybrid vs Kia Optima Hybrid: Ranking in sixth place is a 3-way tie; CR-Z, Sonata Hybrid, and the Optima Hybrid all have a estimated combined 37 mpg. Honda offers a sporty coupe at a comfortable price range while Hyundai offers a full sedan with great gas mileage.

Honda CR-Z: 35 City/39 Hwy (37 Avg.), Base price: $19,545. 1.5-liter, 4-Cylinder engine with 122 hp. 0-60 mph in 8.2 secs.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: 35 City/40 Hwy (37 Avg.) Base Price: $25,850. 2.4-liter, 4-Cylinder engine with 206 hp. 0-60 mph in 9.2 secs.

7. Smart for Two: 34 City/38 Hwy (36 Avg.), Base Price: $12,490. 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder runs on high-priced premium fuel with only 70 hp. 0-60 mph in 12.8 secs. When is it too smart to save money? Small, affordable 2-seat coupe that has a small engine, capable of saving you a lot of money due to it low cost and 36 combined fuel efficiency. If you prefer style, go with the cabriolet model, a convertible version that start at $17,690.

8. Volkswagen Jetta TDI & Golf TDI: Each Volkswagen car has a estimated combined 34 mpg and they both run on diesel instead of regular gasoline. The price for the Jetta and Golf are very similar and depending on your style, you can either go with the Jetta or the Golf.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI: 30 City/42 Hwy (34 Avg.), Base Price: $22,775. 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine with 140 hp. 0-60 mph in 8.7 secs.

Volkswagen Golf TDI: 30 City/42 Hwy (34 Avg.), Base Price: $24,235. 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine with 140 hp. 0-60 mph in 8.6 secs.

9. Ford Fiesta vs Hyundai Elantra vs Chevrolet Cruze Eco: All three sedans have a combined 33 mpg, the Fiesta and Elantra are both affordable sedans starting at a little over $15k; on the other hand, the Cruze Eco is a bigger car with more style and comfort at less than $20k. When trying to save money, fuel efficiency is not the only factor, buying a car that cost much less with fewer mpg is actually better than buying one with high mpg but costing you over $5k more.

Ford Fiesta: 29 City/40 Hwy (33 Avg.), Base Price: $15,670. 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine with 119 hp. 0-60 mph in 8.7 secs.

Hyundai Elantra: 29 City/40 Hwy (33 Avg.), Base Price: $15,345. 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine with 148 hp. 0-60 mph in 10.5 secs.

Chevrolet Cruze Eco: 28 City/42 Hwy (33 Avg.), Base Price: $19,325. 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with 138 hp. 0-60 mph in 9.1 secs.

10. Nissan Altima Hybrid: 33 City/33 Hwy (33 Avg.), Base Price: $26,800. 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder gas engine with 198 hp, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 7.5 secs. A midsize sedan made for the Nissan lovers; a bit sportier than most hybrids.

More cars with great gas mileage you might want to consider:

Ford Escape Hybrid: 34 City/31 Hwy (32 Combined), Base Price: $30,110.

Honda Civic: 28 City/39 Hwy, Base Price: $15,805

Toyota Yaris: 29 City/35 Hwy, Base Price: $11,350.

Toyota Corolla: 28 City/37 Hwy, Base Price: $15,250.

Mini Cooper: 28 City/37 Hwy, Base Price: $18,700.

Honda Fit: 27 City/33 Hwy, Base Price: $15,175.

Ford Focus: 24 City/35 Hwy, Base Price: $14,395

Special Car - Honda Civic GX (run on Natural Gas): 27 City/38 Hwy, Base Price: $26, 155. 110-hp, 1.8-Liter, 16-Valve, In-Line 4-cylinder engine. This is probably the most fuel efficient car because natural gasoline costs less than $2.00 a gallon. However, this isn't on the top 10 list because it is currently only available in NY and CA and it is very limited. You probably won't find a natural gas pump at your regular gas station, that is why Honda sells an at home pump you can plug into your home's natural gas line. A full tank (8 gallons) can travels approximately 170 miles and fueling stations are very limited; make sure to plan your trip correctly if you own a Civic GX.

What do you think of this list? If there are better fuel efficient cars available on the market, please list those cars and link to them. We only list cars that are currently available for purchase in the U.S. market. Concept cars that have not been release cannot be on the list because it is not yet available for purchase. Your comment is very valuable and it will help us keep the list accurate. Please allow 1-3 weeks for revision.