Talking About Green

One of the most important things to look for when buying a new car is fuel efficiency. A fuel efficient car is one that gets the most mileage out of a particular amount of gas. Fuel efficiency is an attractive feature because it can save money, and in some cases, can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Keep in mind though that fuel efficient does not automatically equal cost effective – some cars are fuel efficient but don’t necessarily save you the most money. Here is a guide to some of the most fuel efficient cars currently available on the market. This guide is based upon a list compiled by a Santa Monica research and forecasting company by the name of TrueCar that used factors such as fuel economy, cost of car, cost of gas and number of miles to determine their winners.

Hybrids Aren’t Necessarily the Most Fuel Efficient

Funny enough, the most cost effective and fuel efficient car is not a hybrid electric-gas vehicle – according to TrueCar analysts, it’s the non-hybrid Hyundai Elantra. You can purchase a Hyundai Elantra for around $15,000. For every 15,000 miles you drive in an Elantra, you use up approximately 453 gallons of gas. If gas prices are around $3.52, that means you’d be spending $1,595 a year on gas. If gas prices go up to $5.00, that amount would rise to $2,266.

What About the Prius?

Compare those numbers to the Toyota Prius, which is by the far the most fuel efficient hybrid vehicle around. You can buy a Toyota Prius for around $22,200. For every 15,000 miles, it requires 302 gallons of gas. At $3.52 per gallon, that comes out to $1,064 a year, and at $5.00 a gallon, it comes out to $1,512 a year. At first glance, it appears that the Prius is superior to the Elantra. But if you take a step back and look at the big picture in terms of cost effectiveness, that’s not necessarily true.

A Lasting Decision

In the short run, an Elantra is a better choice than a Prius. An Elantra costs $7,000 less on average than a Prius. At $3.52 a year, gas for the Elantra will cost around $500 more than gas for the Prius. However, if you take that $500 extra you spend each year and add it up, it will take a good fourteen years before you use up that $7,000 you saved by buying a Prius! If you don’t have the money up front to buy a Prius, the Elantra is a really good choice. On the other hand though, if you’re interested in being an environmentally friendly driver, a Prius is the better choice.

Ryan Embly is from the car rental comparison website CarRentalExpress.com. He likes writing about travel, cars, and saving money.