Cars.com Identifies 20 Most Fuel-Efficient Models
CHICAGO --- Cars.com has compiled a list of the 20 cars that give consumers the best bang for the buck based on vehicle price and the average lifetime fuel cost to operate the car.
CHICAGO --- As the price of gas approaches $3 a gallon, more and more car shoppers are putting fuel-efficiency near the top of their wish list. While fuel-efficiency typically takes center stage, the sticker price of the car combined with the lifetime fuel cost can offer consumers a more accurate picture of the overall savings during the lifetime of the car. "Hybrid cars get a lot of hype when gasoline prices start to rise. They certainly are a great way to save money at the pump on a yearly basis and are typically better for the environment," said cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder. "However, if your overall goal is to simply save money, there might be better options." Cars.com has compiled a list of the 20 cars that give consumers the best bang for the buck based on vehicle price and the average lifetime fuel cost to operate the car. The new Toyota Yaris tops the list with a base price of less 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 most fuel-efficient vehicle on the road is the Honda Insight hybrid, which has a base price of more than $19,000. If gas prices average $3 a gallon for the foreseeable future, it would take an owner of a Honda Insight more than 17 years to offset the $8,000 price difference of a Toyota Yaris in fuel savings, according to Cars.com. The list was compiled by combining the base sticker price with a fuel cost estimate based on the car's average gas mileage. Fuel costs assume that the car is driven 15,000 miles per year, the percentage of highway driving versus city driving is 45 and 55 percent respectively, the cost of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.92 a gallon and the car is owned for eight years. Diesel costs are estimated at $2.96 a gallon. You can see the full list on Cars.com.
More Fuel

June Fuel Update: Prices Continue to Fall
While prices have continued to decline for four straight weeks, the next weeks don't look as promising.
Read More →
Study: How 2026's Gas Price Hikes Affect Different Vehicle Types
New data from iSeeCars reveals how rising fuel costs have affected different vehicle segments as gasoline prices climbed nearly 46% over the past four months.
Read More →Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?
Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.
Read More →
May Fuel Update: All Regions Experience Declines
Gas prices are finally easing in much of the country, but experts warn global tensions could quickly reverse the trend as the national average remains well above last month’s levels.
Read More →
April Fuel Update: Prices Climb Above $4 as Spring Surge Accelerates
National average jumps to $4.04 per gallon, up sharply from last year, with West Coast prices topping $5 and further increases expected amid rising oil tensions.
Read More →
Tips from Fleet Managers on Saving Fuel Costs
Fleet leaders share practical strategies to reduce fuel spend through smarter policy, routing, and driver guidance.
Read More →
March Fuel Update: Prices Settle With a $4 Average
Fuel prices significantly slowed this week, but a $4 national average is still expected.
Read More →Bob Adamsky on Fuel Volatility: “Don’t Panic — Have a Plan”
With oil prices rising again, AWP Safety’s fleet manager shares how to respond to rising fuel costs and how the right strategy can turn fuel spikes into cost-saving opportunities.
Read More →
Oil Market Turbulence Is Complicating Fleet Cost Planning
Rapid swings in crude oil prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East could create longer-term cost pressures for fleets, affecting fuel prices, supply chains, and vehicle strategy, says NTEA’s Andrew Wrobel.
Read More →
February Fuel Update: Prices Inch Higher for Third Week in a Row
The final February fuel update reveals prices continuing to inch higher for the third week in a row.
Read More →