Gas prices continue to climb as the national average price of a gallon of gasoline hit $4.25 on Wednesday.
That’s the highest on record and it’s undoubtedly causing new car shoppers to think about getting something fuel-efficient. With that in mind, we’re asking our readers what they think the best fuel efficient vehicles are.
On the car side of the equation, options have gotten significantly more limited since gas prices last skyrocketed in 2008. A number of models have fallen by the wayside, but there are still plenty of fuel-sipping options including the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. The Toyota returns 53 mpg city, 52 mpg highway and 52 mpg combined, while the Elantra offers a rating of up to 53 mpg city, 56 mpg highway and 54 mpg combined. Those numbers fall short of the Prius, but a new model is on the horizon so shoppers might want to hold off on that one.
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Drivers needing more space can check out hybrid versions of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata. They offer fuel economy ratings ranging from 44 mpg city, 41 mpg highway and 43 mpg combined to 51 mpg city, 53 mpg highway and 52 mpg combined.
Shoppers with bigger budgets can opt for the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid, which can travel up to 22 miles (35 km) on electricity alone. It starts at $42,950 and is eligible for a $5,836 federal tax credit.
On the crossover side, there’s the Ford Escape Hybrid which returns up to 44 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 41 mpg combined. That gives the model a slight edge over the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, but the latter comes standard with all-wheel drive.
Another good option is the Toyota Venza, which comes standard with all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain developing a combined output of 219 hp (163 kW / 222 PS). While it won’t pin you to your seat, it’s comfortable and returns 40 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 39 mpg combined.
Shoppers can also select between an assortment of plug-in hybrids including versions of the Escape and RAV4 as well as the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sorento – to name but a few.
While those are just a few examples, what would you get if you were in the market for a fuel-efficient new vehicle?
