| As gasoline prices continue to soar high, the | | | | In full-size cars segment, Chevrolet Impala |
| public also continue to find ways to adapt. | | | | topped the list. This was followed by Dodge |
| More and more car buyers are now prioritizing | | | | Charger, Ford Five Hundred, Dodge Magnum, |
| fuel efficiency when looking for a car. | | | | Mercury Montego, Toyota Avalon, Buick |
| | | | Lucerne, Kia Amanti, Chrysler 300, and Ford |
| The gas mileage is usually in the top list. | | | | Crown Victoria. |
| Buyers add the sticker price of a car plus | | | | |
| its estimated lifetime fuel cost. Through | | | | Volvo S40 topped among the luxury with |
| this way, consumers are having a lead as to | | | | $40,966 as the cost of sticker and life time |
| their total expenses and savings while the | | | | fuel. Hyundai Azera followed shortly. These |
| car is under their possession. | | | | two cars were followed by Chrysler Pacifica, |
| | | | Volvo V50, Lexus IS 250, Lincoln MKZ, Volvo |
| Patrick Olsen, the managing editor of | | | | V70, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, and |
| Cars.com, said that when gasoline prices | | | | Mercedes-Benz C230. |
| begin to get high, hybrid cars takes the | | | | |
| center stage. According to him, these cars | | | | The mentioned Volvo, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz |
| cost less and are very typical for an | | | | luxury cars are recommended to use premium |
| environment that is aiming for clean air. | | | | fuel. In the calculations, premium fuel cost |
| However, he added that these cars are not | | | | is pegged at $3.44 per gallon. |
| affordable to some. He added that there are | | | | |
| better choices if one really wants to save | | | | At $33,385, Mazda5 topped the Minivans |
| money. | | | | segment. This was followed by Dodge Caravan, |
| | | | Chevrolet Uplander, Kia Sedona, Chrysler Town |
| identified the top 10 vehicles in different | | | | and Country, Saturn Relay, Toyota Sienna, |
| car segments that yield the best value on | | | | Hyundai Entourage, Ford Free Star, and Honda |
| vehicle price and average lifetime fuel | | | | Odyssey. |
| costs. | | | | |
| | | | In increasing order of sticker and lifetime |
| By combining the base sticker price with a | | | | fuel cost, the top SUVs were as follows: Jeep |
| fuel cost estimate that is based on the car's | | | | Patriot, Jeep Compass, Kia Storage, Hyundai |
| estimated gas mileage, the list of these | | | | Tucson, Saturn Vue, Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, |
| vehicles was compiled. | | | | Honda CR-V, Honda Element, and Saturn Vue |
| | | | Hybrid. |
| As to the fuel cost estimates, it was assumed | | | | |
| that the car will be driven 15,000 miles per | | | | Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, |
| year. Forty five (45) percent of those miles | | | | Mazda B2300, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, |
| are on the highway and the 55 percent are on | | | | Nissan Frontier, Isuzu i-290, Chevrolet |
| city streets. Per gallon, the cost of regular | | | | Silverado Classic, and the Mazda B300 were |
| unleaded gasoline in the estimate is $3.13. | | | | the top pick up trucks. |
| Another assumption is that car is owned for | | | | |
| eight years, and per gallon, the cost of | | | | has complete information on these vehicles. |
| premium fuel is estimated at $3.44. | | | | |
| | | | About Established in June 1998, is the most |
| Dodge, maker of quality Dodge Dart parts, was | | | | expansive avenue for those car enthusiasts. |
| included in 3 different segments. | | | | It has partnered with over 200 leading metro |
| | | | newspapers, television stations and their |
| In the compact cars segment, Toyota Yaris | | | | websites. From 13,000 dealers, advertisers |
| ranked 1st with Sticker and Lifetime Fuel | | | | and private parties, this web site has over 2 |
| cost of $21,451. This car is followed by | | | | million auto mobiles. It was recently chosen |
| Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Chevrolet Aveo5, | | | | by as a "Best of the Web site" for car |
| Chevrolet Aveo, Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, | | | | shopping. |
| Toyota Corolla, Saturn Ion, and Kia Spectra. | | | | |
| | | | is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC. |
| In the midsize segment, the ranking was as | | | | The venture is owned by leading media |
| follows: Hyundai Elantra, 1st; Dodge Caliber, | | | | companies that includes Belo (NYSE: BLC), |
| 2nd; Toyota Matrix, 3rd; Suzuki Aerio, 4th; | | | | Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), the McClatchy |
| Pontiac Vibe, 5th; Toyota Prius, 6th; Kia | | | | Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company (NYSE: |
| Optima, 7th; Nissan Altima, 8th; Chevrolet | | | | TRB) and the Washington Post Company (NYSE: |
| Malibu, 9th; and Hyundai Sonata, 10th. | | | | WPO). |
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