Best Bang for Your Buck
Hybrid cars get a lot of hype when gas prices rise, but if your overall goal is to simply save money there might be better options. Although the most fuel-efficient car on the market is the Toyota Prius hybrid, after eight years of ownership, including fuel costs, it will cost almost $6,000 more than owning a Smart ForTwo for the same time period.
The five most inexpensive-to-own hybrids were included for comparison purposes.
| Passenger Cars | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below are the top 10 passenger cars that give consumers the best bang for their buck based on vehicle price and the average lifetime fuel cost to operate the car. All cars listed have a manual transmission except the Smart ForTwo, which comes with an automated-manual transmission. | ||||
| Vehicle | MPG (city/hwy) | Base Sticker | Lifetime Fuel | Sticker & Lifetime Fuel |
| 1. Smart ForTwo | 33/41 | $11,590 | $13,932* | $25,522 |
| 2. Toyota Yaris | 29/36 | $11,350 | $15,103 | $26,453 |
| 3. Hyundai Accent | 27/32 | $10,775 | $16,528 | $27,303 |
| 4. Kia Rio | 27/32 | $10,890 | $16,528 | $27,418 |
| 5. Chevrolet Aveo5 | 24/34 | $10,235 | $17,353 | $27,588 |
| 6. Nissan Versa | 26/31 | $12,880 | $17,122 | $30,002 |
| 7. Chevrolet Aveo | 24/34 | $12,170 | $17,353 | $29,523 |
| 8. Honda Fit | 28/34 | $13,950 | $15,782 | $29,732 |
| 9. Toyota Corolla | 28/37 | $14,405 | $15,266 | $29,671 |
| 10. Scion xD | 27/33 | $14,550 | $16,323 | $30,873 |
*With premium fuel. | ||||
| Hybrids | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below are the top five hybrids that give consumers the best bang for their buck based on vehicle price and the average lifetime fuel cost to operate the car. | ||||
| Vehicle | MPG (city/hwy) | Base Sticker | Lifetime Fuel | Sticker & Lifetime Fuel |
| 1. Toyota Prius | 48/45 | $21,100 | $10,300 | $31,400 |
| 2. Honda Civic Hybrid | 40/45 | $22,600 | $11,400 | $34,000 |
| 3. Toyota Camry Hybrid | 33/34 | $25,200 | $14,353 | $39,553 |
| 4. Nissan Altima Hybrid | 35/33 | $25,480 | $14,088 | $39,568 |
| 5. Saturn Aura Green Line | 24/32 | $23,640 | $17,750 | $41,390 |
The list was compiled by combining the car's base sticker price (as of 5/9/08) with a fuel cost estimate based on its EPA-estimated gas mileage. Fuel costs assume that the car is driven 15,000 miles per year, 55 percent in the city and 45 percent on the highway; that the cost of regular unleaded gasoline is $4.00 a gallon; and that the car is owned for eight years. | ||||
Posted on 7/11/08
