Green is still a red hot buzzword in the auto industry, with all manufacturers competing to showcase their commitment to fuel savings. While not all of our picks are considered paragons of green technology, each represents the most efficient vehicle in its class, based on annual fuel cost.
This number assumes 15,000 miles of combined city and highway driving each year and fuel prices of $2.20 a gallon for regular, $2.40 for premium and $2.90 for diesel. As with the Best Resale picks, models must make our top 25 to be eligible.
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT: SEDANS UNDER $20,000
Toyota Yaris S
Sticker Price: $15,545
Dealer cost: $14,655
New Car Blue Book Value: $15,545
Five-year service cost: $2,960
One-year insurance cost: $1,257
Resale value after 3 years: 67% -- 5 years: 56%
City: 29 mpg -- Highway: 35 mpg
This nimble subcompact boasts high resale values and low ownership costs. With its four-cylinder, 106-horespower engine, the Yaris (view photos) gets the best fuel economy in a class filled with fuel misers. Safety gets a boost in the 2009 model, too: Antilock brakes, side airbags and side-curtain airbags are now standard.
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT: SEDANS $20,000-$25,000
Toyota Prius
Sticker Price: $24,095
Dealer cost: $22,244
New Car Blue Book Value: $24,024
Five-year service cost: NA
One-year insurance cost: NA
Resale value after 3 years: 68% -- 5 years: 52%
City: 48 mpg -- Highway: 45 mpg
The ubiquitous Prius (view photos) takes top honors for fuel economy with combined city/highway mileage of 46 miles per gallon. It also offers ample legroom and cargo space, as well as plenty of options, including a voice-activated navigation system and MP3 connectivity.
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT: SEDANS $25,000-$30,000
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Sticker Price: $27,345
Dealer cost: $25,671
New Car Blue Book Value: $27,072
Five-year service cost: NA
One-year insurance cost: NA
Resale value after 3 years: 58% -- 5 years: 43%
City: 35 mpg -- Highway: 33 mpg
With more horsepower than most other hybrid sedans and more legroom than any car in its price category, this greenmobile offers a lot of bang for the buck. The downside: It’s sold only in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT: SEDANS $30,000-$45,000
Volkswagen Eos Komfort
Sticker Price: (Manual tr.) $31,480
Dealer cost: $29,360
New Car Blue Book Value: $31,008
Five-year service cost: $2,930
One-year insurance cost: $2,288
Resale value after 3 years: 62% -- 5 years: 47%
City: 21 mpg -- Highway: 31 mpg
Its 200-horsepower four-cylinder engine helps the Eos (view photos) get good premium fuel economy without sacrificing zippy acceleration. The hard-top convertible also wins Best Resale honors and is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety top safety pick.
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT: SEDANS $45,000 & OVER
Lexus GS 450h
Sticker Price: $57,225
Dealer cost: $50,547
New Car Blue Book Value: NA
Five-year service cost: $4,275
One-year insurance cost: $2,680
Resale value after 3 years: 46% -- 5 years: 33%
City: 22 mpg -- Highway: 25 mpg
Eco-consciousness meets luxury in the Lexus GS 450h (view photos). Its hybrid powertrain ensures decent premium fuel economy in a category not known for environmental sensitivity, and it still accelerates from zero to 60 in just over five seconds.
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT: SPORTS CARS
Audi TTS 2.0T Quattro
Sticker Price: (Convertible) $48,325
Dealer cost: $45,001
New Car Blue Book Value: $40,125
Five-year service cost: NA
One-year insurance cost: NA
Resale value after 3 years: 50% -- 5 years: 36%
City: 21 mpg -- Highway: 29 mpg
New for 2009, the four-cylinder, turbocharged Audi TTS Quattro (view photos) puts out 265 horsepower but still manages to get 29 mpg on the highway with premium gasoline -- a rare feat for a sports car.
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT: SMALL CROSSOVERS
Ford Escape Hybrid
Sticker Price: $30,030
Dealer cost: $27,837
New Car Blue Book Value: $30,030
Five-year service cost: $2,720
One-year insurance cost: $1,376
Resale value after 3 years: 38% -- 5 years: 28%
City: 34 mpg -- Highway: 31 mpg
The Ford Escape Hybrid (view photos) strikes a nice balance between utility and eco-friendliness. This small ute also scores a top safety pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.