Top Picks for Green Drivers

Someone has to save the world, not to mention saving some money. Earth-friendly cars include gas/electric hybrids, diesel cars and even a few fuel-sipping gas-only cars. Our list included cars from our Best Bets and models we've driven since, and from there we considered gas mileage and drivability.

Best New Car for Green Drivers 2013 Toyota Prius Starting MSRP $24,995 In this age of plug-in cars and the proliferation (albeit slow) of clean diesels, the Toyota Prius might seem out of place in the contest for Eco-Friendly Car of the Year. But it's against this new backdrop that the Prius' universality truly stands out. Buy it at any Toyota dealership, park it anywhere, fuel it at any filling station and drive it hundreds of miles between stops. Can the same be said of other alternative-fuel vehicles? Still the most efficient car in the U.S. market, the Prius' efficiency and universality remain a potent combination more than a decade into the hybrid era it helped launch.

Best Deal for Green Drivers 2013 Honda Fit Starting MSRP $16,115 We always pay tribute to conventional gas-powered cars among our eco-friendly nominees, and this year one of them represents the best deal: the Honda Fit. With its simple 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a choice of manual or automatic transmission, this subcompact hatchback gets EPA-estimated mileage of 27/33 or 28/35 mpg, respectively. After it took first place in a Cars.com Shootout test of seven $16,000 subcompacts, we described the Fit as a triumph of cargo volume, versatility and execution. That's why it belongs in this list. If you're going for subcompact efficiency, the Fit does it without all the subcompact drawbacks.

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	Chevrolet Volt (2013) Starting MSRP $39,995 As owners of one of the first Volts in the U.S., we learned how versatile it is and how cheap it can be to operate. For buyers with access to household voltage, and a typical commute, there's nothing else like it. Research this car      Build this car

	Honda Insight (2013) Starting MSRP $19,290 While the Toyota Prius gets all the attention for its higher mileage, the Honda Insight gets a solid EPA-rated 41/44 mpg city/highway for a price nearly $6,000 below that of the base Prius. It boasts above-average reliability. Research this car      Build this car

	Lexus CT 200h (2013) Starting MSRP $32,745 Lexus has experimented with more hybrid models than any other luxury brand, and not all have stuck. They hit on something with the CT 200h: a fun, reasonably priced hatchback that gets an estimated 43/40 mpg city/highway. Research this car      Build this car

	Nissan Leaf (2012) Starting MSRP $36,050 Battery-electric cars aren't for everyone, but Cars.com learned as one of the first Leaf owners in 2011 how satisfying it is to drive and own, with astonishingly low operating and maintenance costs. It's the best value among EVs. Research this car      Build this car

	Toyota Camry Hybrid (2012) Starting MSRP $26,785 After falling far behind in its previous generation, the Camry Hybrid made a comeback with its 2012 redesign, offering an EPA-rated 43/39 mpg city/highway. It's a genteel alternative to the more efficiency but less-refined Prius. Research this car      Build this car

	Toyota Prius v (2013) Starting MSRP $27,445 By popular demand, Toyota made a larger Prius for people who want more room, specifically more cargo space. The Prius v shares its namesake's good reliability and high mileage, though it's not as efficient at an EPA-rated 44/40 mpg. Research this car      Build this car

	Volkswagen Golf TDI (2013) Starting MSRP $18,790 Clean-diesel engines continue to spread, now to the compact Golf. Common among diesels, it's more fun to drive than a hybrid, yet delivers an EPA-estimated 30/42 mpg with a manual or automatic transmission. Get the manual; it's a blast. Research this car      Build this car

	Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (2013) Starting MSRP $21,190 Want excellent mileage and utility? Forget silly wagon image problems and run to the SportWagen TDI, rated 30/42 mpg with a manual transmission and 29/39 mpg with the automatic. It wasn't redesigned, as the sedan recently was, but you'd never know it. Research this car      Build this car