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Best and Worst Fuel-Efficient New Cars
March 29, 2012
As gas prices continue rising, fuel costs are becoming a major part of vehicle ownership.
Consumer Reports took a look at the best and worst fuel-efficient cars to compare the difference in cost. In some cases, switching vehicles can save you almost $3,000 per year in fuel costs.
Of course, some people need large pickup trucks or SUVs for work, or to tow trailers, so switching to a smaller fuel-efficient vehicle is not a realistic option.
The calculations below are based on national fuel prices and assumes 12,000 miles driven annually. If you live in California, or drive more than 12,000 miles per year, the fuel costs are considerably higher.
| Best | Overall mpg | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf (electric) | 106* | $420 |
| Chevrolet Volt (plug-in hybrid) | 61** | $783 |
| Toyota Prius (hybrid) | 44 | $1,055 |
| Toyota Prius V (hybrid) | 41 | $1,133 |
| Honda Civic Hybrid | 40 | $1,161 |
| Lexus CT 200h (hybrid) | 40 | $1,161 |
| Smart ForTwo (premium) | 39 | $1,124 |
| Honda Insight EX (hybrid) | 38 | $1,222 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE | 38 | $1,222 |
| Volkswagen Golf TDI (diesel) | 38 | $1,307 |
| Worst | Overall mpg | Annual cost |
| Cadillac Escalade | 13 | $3,572 |
| Dodge Ram 2500 (diesel) | 13 | $3,822 |
| Ford Expedition EL | 13 | $3,572 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 13 | $3,572 |
| Chevrolet Avalanche | 14 | $3,317 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT (5.3L) | 14 | $3,317 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500 LTZ (diesel) | 14 | $3,549 |
| Chevrolet Suburban LT3 | 14 | $3,317 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ | 14 | $3,317 |
| Dodge Dakota (V8) | 14 | $3,317 |
| Dodge Durango V8 Crew | 14 | $3,317 |
| Dodge Ram 1500 SLT | 14 | $3,317 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited | 14 | $3,317 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE | 14 | $3,317 |
| Nissan Titan SV | 14 | $3,317 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | 14 | $3,317 |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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About The Author
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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