With Gas Prices Skyrocketing, Cars.com Identifies Cars that Deliver Best Bang for Your Buck - May 22, 2007
CHICAGO — May 22, 2007 — As the price of gas continues to reach record highs, more car shoppers are making fuel efficiency a top priority. While gas mileage typically takes center stage, combining the sticker price of a car with its predicted lifetime fuel cost can offer consumers a guide to their overall savings during the lifetime of a car. “Hybrid cars get a lot of attention when gas prices start to rise. They certainly can save money at the pump and are typically better for the environment,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com managing editor. “However, not everyone can afford to own a hybrid, and some consumers have needs that are not met by hybrids. If your primary goal is to save money, there may be better options.”
Cars.com (http://www.cars.com) looks at the top 10 cars in various vehicle segments that deliver the best bang for the buck based on vehicle price and average lifetime fuel costs. The Toyota Yaris tops the list with a base price slightly more than $11,000 for a two-door hatchback and average fuel economy of 34 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. The list was compiled by combining the base sticker price with a fuel cost estimate based on the car’s estimated gas mileage. Fuel cost estimates assume the car will be driven 15,000 miles per year, with 45 percent of those miles on the highway and 55 percent on city streets. The cost of regular unleaded gasoline in the estimate is $3.13 per gallon, and it assumes the car is owned for eight years. Premium fuel costs are estimated at $3.44 per gallon.
Top Compact Cars (City/Hwy mpg; Base Sticker; Lifetime Fuel Cost; Sticker & Lifetime Fuel)
1. Toyota Yaris (34/40; $11,150; $10,301; $21,451)
2. Hyundai Accent (32/35; $10,415; $11,285; $21,700)
3. Kia Rio (32/35; $10,770; $11,285; $22,055)
4. Chevrolet Aveo5 (27/37; $9,995; $12,219; $22,214)
5. Chevrolet Aveo (27/37; $12,010; $12,219; $24,229)
6. Nissan Versa (30/34; $12,550; $11,857; $24,407)
7. Honda Fit (33/38; $13,850; $10,708; $24,558)
8. Toyota Corolla (32/41; $14,305; $10,578; $24,883)
9. Saturn Ion (26/35; $12,300; $12,775; $25,075)
10. Kia Spectra (27/33; $12,895; $12,773; $25,668)
Top Midsize Cars (City/Hwy mpg; Base Sticker; Lifetime Fuel Cost; Sticker & Lifetime Fuel)
1. Hyundai Elantra (28/36; $13,395; $12,073; $25,468)
2. Dodge Caliber (28/32; $13,725; $12,660; $26,385)
3. Toyota Matrix (30/36; $15,410; $11,581; $26,991)
4. Suzuki Aerio (25/31; $14,299; $13,715; $28,014)
5. Pontiac Vibe (30/36; $16,760; $11,581; $28,341)
6. Toyota Prius (60/51; $22,175; $6,757; $28,932)
7. Kia Optima (24/34; $16,355; $13,579; $29,934)
8. Nissan Altima (26/35; $17,950; $12,775; $30,725)
9. Chevrolet Malibu (24/34; $17,215; $13,579; $30,794)
10. Hyundai Sonata (24/34; $17,345; $13,579; $30,924) Top Full-Size Cars (City/Hwy mpg; Base Sticker; Lifetime Fuel Cost; Sticker & Lifetime Fuel)
1. Chevrolet Impala (21/31; $21,015; $15,289; $36,304)
2. Dodge Charger (21/28; $22,100; $15,874; $37,974)
3. Ford Five Hundred (21/29; $23,035; $15,665; $38,700)
4. Dodge Magnum (21/28; $23,245; $15,874; $39,119)
5. Mercury Montego (21/29; $23,835; $15,665; $39,500)
6. Toyota Avalon (22/31; $24,320; $15,874; $40,194)
7. Buick Lucerne (19/28; $26,875; $14,842; $41,717)
8. Kia Amanti (19//26; $25,745; $16,909; $42,654)
9. Chrysler 300 (21/28; $25,495; $17,373; $42,868)
10. Ford Crown Victoria (17/25; $24,620; $18,913; $43,533) Top Luxury Cars (City/Hwy mpg; Base Sticker; Lifetime Fuel Cost; Sticker & Lifetime Fuel)
1. Volvo S40* (22/29; $24,240; $16,726; $40,966)
2. Hyundai Azera (19/28; $24,235; $16,909; $41,144)
3. Chrysler Pacifica (18/25; $24,460; $18,237; $42,697)
4. Volvo V50* (22/29; $26,690; $16,726; $43,416)
5. Lexus IS 250* (24/32; $30,255; $15,265; $45,520)
7. Lincoln MKZ (19/27; $29,305; $17,133; $46,438)
6. Volvo V70* (22/29; $30,045; $16,726; $46,771)
8. Cadillac CTS (18/27; $29,925; $17,737; $47,662)
9. Volvo S60* (21/30; $30,885; $17,003; $47,888)
10. Mercedes-Benz C230* (19/25; $29,650; $19,380; $49,030)
* Premium fuel is recommended by the manufacturer for these cars. Premium fuel costs of $3.44 a gallon were used in these calculations. Top Minivans (City/Hwy mpg; Base Sticker; Lifetime Fuel Cost; Sticker & Lifetime Fuel)
1. Mazda5 (22/27; $17,735; $15,650; $33,385)
2. Dodge Caravan (20/26; $19,055; $16,830; $35,885)
3. Chevrolet Uplander (18/25; $20,205; $18,237; $38,442)
4. Kia Sedona (18/25; $20,695; $18,237; $38,932)
5. Chrysler Town & Country (19/26; $21,695; $17,373; $39,068)
6. Saturn Relay (18/25; $21,570; $18,237; $39,807)
7. Toyota Sienna (19/26; $24,155; $17,373; $41,528)
8. Hyundai Entourage (18/25; $23,895; $18,237; $42,132)
9. Ford Freestar (17/23; $23,705; $19,500; $43,205
10. Honda Odyssey (18/25; $25,645; $18,237; $43,882) Top SUVs (City/Hwy mpg; Base Sticker; Lifetime Fuel Cost; Sticker & Lifetime Fuel)
1. Jeep Patriot (26/30; $14,425; $13,579; $28,004)
2. Jeep Compass (26/30; $15,425; $13,579; $29,004)
3. Kia Sportage (23/28; $15,900; $15,018; $30,918)
4. Hyundai Tucson (23/28; $16,995; $15,018; $32,013)
5. Saturn Vue (23/29; $17,475; $14,810; $32,285)
6. Ford Escape (24/29; $19,320; $14,436; $33,756)
7. Toyota RAV4 (24/30; $20,950; $14,242; $35,192)
8. Honda CR-V (23/30; $20,600; $14,616; $35,216)
9. Honda Element (21/25 $18,900 $16,598; $35,498)
10. Saturn Vue Hybrid (27/32; $22,870; $12,933; $35,803) Top Pickup Trucks (City/Hwy mpg; Base Sticker; Lifetime Fuel Cost; Sticker & Lifetime Fuel)
1. Ford Ranger (24/29; $13,860; $14,436; $28,296)
2. Toyota Tacoma (23/28; $14,180; $15,018; $29,198)
3. Mazda B2300 (24/29; $15,535; $14,436; $29,971)
4. Chevrolet Colorado (20/26; $14,085; $16,830; $30,915)
5. GMC Canyon (20/26; $14,235; $16,830; $31,065)
6. Nissan Frontier (22/25; $16,050; $16,151; $32,201)
7. Isuzu i-290 (20/26; $16,989; $16,830; $33,819)
8. Chevrolet Silverado Classic (17/21; $15,840; $20,260; $36,100)
9. GMC Sierra Classic (17/21; $15,840; $20,260; $36,100)
10. Mazda B3000 (18/23; $19,040; $18,825; $37,865) For a more complete guide to fuel economy, including cars that get the best gas mileage, information on alternative fuel technology and fuel-savings tips, visit Cars.com.
About Cars.com
Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their websites, Cars.com (www.cars.com) is the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site lists more than 2 million vehicles from 13,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web site for car shopping, Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with sellers each month.
Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
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