The challenge of focusing on fuel-efficiency with a vehicle is that you usually have to give up something bigger to go greener. And that something else – if you really want to save more money and more earth – is almost always space.
The Top 10 Fuel-Efficient or Family Green Cars we've selected are chosen for their ability to pack in the gear, the people, and then some while still managing to leave a small carbon footprint. If you plan to exchange yesterday's gas-guzzling vehicle for something just as spacious – but now garnering even just a 10-mpg advantage – you are contributing to save thousands, if not millions of gallons of fuel a year without having to leave any family member, fellow passengers or fun equipment at home.
Rejecting Federal bailout money is an image-builder for Ford, as is a beefy truck look, highly stylized interior, and starting MSRP of $29,645 for the SUV. A less informal cousin to the Mercury Mariner, this 2-row, 5-passenger vehicle also gets 34-mpg city/31-mpg highway and scores an 8 out of 10 on the EPA's Air Pollution Score. Ford also made an industry first to offer 100 percent recycled seating material made from plant seeds.
The 2-row, 5-passenger Tribute Hybrid goes head-to-head with the Escape: It has a 2.5L DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine; 34-mpg city/31-mpg highway for the FWD (and 29/27-mpg for the AWD); an 8 out of 10 EPA score; and annual gas cost of $1,634. Base price of $32,445 for the nicer Grand Touring trim, you'll get identical stats of it's competitors with 27.8-cubic feet of cargo space, 41.6-inches of front legroom and 35.6-inches of rear legroom.