2010 Models With the Best Gas Mileage
If you're considering buying a new car, you obviously want to save as much money as you can. Many people don't consider the true cost of owning a car.
Depreciation will be your biggest cost over a 5 year period. Purchasing gas will be the second highest overall cost you will incur. If you plan on owning your car for over 5 years, fuel will most likely become your biggest yearly cost.
If you buy a car for $25,000, your total overall cost after 5 years will typically be about $50,000. This factors in everything including depreciation, insurance, gas, repairs and maintenance.
Over the long term, it really pays to consider a high MPG vehicle, especially if you drive a lot.
Last week, the U.S. government released its list of the top 10 most fuel efficient cars for the 2010 model year. If your goal is to save money over the long-term, you should look into these models.
| Rank | Vehicle | MPG - city/highway |
| 1 | Toyota Prius (hybrid) | 51/48 |
| 2 | Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD Mercury Milan Hybrid FWD |
41/36 |
| 3 | Honda Civic Hybrid | 40/45 |
| 4 | Honda Insight (hybrid) | 40/43 |
| 5 | Lexus HS250h (hybrid) | 35/34 |
| 6 | Nissan Altima Hybrid | 35/33 |
| 7 | Ford Escape Hybrid FWD Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD |
34/31 |
| 8 | Smart fortwo Cabriolet (automatic) Smart fortwo Coupe (automatic) |
33/41 |
| 9 | Toyota Camry Hybrid | 33/34 |
| 10 | Lexus RX450h (hybrid, 2WD) | 32/28 |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, Edmunds Price Promise, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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