8 great fuel-efficient cars

These days, if you're shopping for a new car, you're probably making fuel economy a priority. Here are a few excellent choices.

Overall champ: Toyota Prius
Price: $24,000 - $29,805
Fuel economy: 51 City / 48 Hwy

The original and still the best, the Toyota Prius has the best fuel economy of any non-plug-in car while still remaining a surprisingly roomy and practical family vehicle. (The EPA considers it a mid-size car based on interior space.)

It's not exactly a fun ride. The steering provides some pretty mushy feedback while acceleration is only somewhat better than a bus.

But the Prius makes up for it all with, obviously, amazing gas mileage and a nerdy-cool high-tech personality, inside and out. What the Ford Mustang is to fun, the Prius is to fuel efficiency. It remains the icon of its type.


By Peter Valdes-Dapena @PeterDrives - Last updated February 27 2012: 12:15 PM ET
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