CHICAGO --- With gas prices continuing to break records, the number of people searching for fuel-efficient vehicles has soared on Cars.com, vaulting the fuel-sipping Toyota Prius into position as the most searched new vehicle on the automotive Web site.

This is the first time the Prius has surpassed popular vehicles like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry to take the No. 1 position on the Cars.com Search Index. The Prius first cracked into the top 10 most searched vehicles last summer as fuel prices started to climb.

"It's not surprising that the Prius became the No. 1 most searched vehicle on Cars.com at the same time gas reached a $4 national average," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor in chief. "Surveys have shown $4 to be the tipping point in consumer purchase behavior, and we are seeing that ring true in shopping patterns on Cars.com."

Other fuel-efficient models making the list of the top 10 most searched new vehicles on Cars.com include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit.

The high number of visitors searching for fuel-efficient models affirms the results of a recent Cars.com survey in which 85 percent of consumers indicated that a prolonged period of $4 gasoline prices would prompt them to buy a more fuel-efficient car. Of that 85 percent, 28 percent said they would buy a more fuel-efficient car immediately and 57 percent said they would buy a more fuel-efficient car the next time they purchased a car.

Below is the list of the top 10 most searched new cars in May on Cars.com:

1. Toyota Prius

2. Honda Civic

3. Honda Accord

4. Toyota Corolla

5. Toyota Camry

6. Honda Civic Hybrid

7. Toyota Yaris

8. Nissan Altima

9. Ford Mustang

10. Honda Fit