RideLust

Lexus' CT 200h, number 2 on the list. Image: Toyota

These days, gas prices are on everyone’s mind. Upheaval in the Middle East is likely to keep prices high for some time to come; given that prices always go up at Easter and again at Memorial Day, the only question is whether or not prices will come down significantly in between. If they do, perhaps the memories of $4 per gallon gas will fade in time. If they don’t, we could be longing for the good old days of cheap, $4 per gallon gas as soon as this summer. If you’re shopping for a new car, I can almost guarantee that fuel economy is one of the factors driving your new car purchase. TrueCar, a new car pricing website, wants to help. They’ve compiled a list of cars based on fuel efficiency, and unlike others that I’ve seen, it even projects operating cost based on 15,000 miles per year and $5.00 per gallon gas. Want to know what your best choices are? Read on.

As you’d guess, the list is heavily weighted with hybrid vehicles, and only one fermented-dinosaur-only car made the top 10. A tip of the hat goes to Hyundai’s Elantra, which we’ve already told you is a very good choice for a fuel efficient commuter. Here are the top 10 cars, along with TrueCar’s estimate on what it’ll cost to feed them $5.00 per gallon gas for the 15,000 miles per year:

1. Toyota Prius, 49.6 combined MPG, $1,512
2. Lexus CT 200h, 41.6 combined MPG, $1,803
3. Honda Insight, 41.3 combined MPG, $1,816
4. Honda Civic Hybrid, 41.3 combined MPG, $1,816
5. Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, 38.6 combined MPG, $1,944
6. Chevrolet Volt, 37.1 combined MPG, $2,022
7. Lexus HS 250h, 34.5 combined MPG, $2,171
8. Honda CR-Z, 33.4 combined MPG, $2,243
9. Hyundai Elantra, 33.2 combined MPG, $2,266
10. Toyota Camry Hybrid, 32.7 combined MPG, $2,295

Source: TrueCar Blog