As the price of gas continues to reach record highs, more car shoppers are making fuel efficiency a top priority. While gas mileage typically takes center stage, combining the sticker price of a car with its predicted lifetime fuel cost can offer consumers a guide to their overall savings during the lifetime of a car.

"Hybrid cars get a lot of attention when gas prices start to rise. They certainly can save money at the pump and are typically better for the environment," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com managing editor. "However, not everyone can afford to own a hybrid, and some consumers have needs that are not met by hybrids. If your primary goal is to save money, there may be better options."

Cars.com looks at the top 10 cars in various vehicle segments that deliver the best bang for the buck based on vehicle price and average lifetime fuel costs. The Toyota Yaris tops the list with a base price slightly more than $11,000 for a two-door hatchback and average fuel economy of 34 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

The list was compiled by combining the base sticker price with a fuel cost estimate based on the car's estimated gas mileage. Fuel cost estimates assume the car will be driven 15,000 miles per year, with 45 percent of those miles on the highway and 55 percent on city streets. The cost of regular unleaded gasoline in the estimate is $3.13 per gallon, and it assumes the car is owned for eight years. Premium fuel costs are estimated at $3.44 per gallon.


  Top Compact Cars       City/Hwy      Base       Lifetime     Sticker &
                           mpg       Sticker     Fuel Cost Lifetime Fuel
 1. Toyota Yaris          34/40      $11,150      $10,301      $21,451
 2. Hyundai Accent        32/35      $10,415      $11,285      $21,700
 3. Kia Rio               32/35      $10,770      $11,285      $22,055
 4. Chevrolet Aveo5       27/37       $9,995      $12,219      $22,214
 5. Chevrolet Aveo        27/37      $12,010      $12,219      $24,229
 6. Nissan Versa          30/34      $12,550      $11,857      $24,407
 7. Honda Fit             33/38      $13,850      $10,708      $24,558
 8. Toyota Corolla        32/41      $14,305      $10,578      $24,883
 9. Saturn Ion            26/35      $12,300      $12,775      $25,075
 10. Kia Spectra          27/33      $12,895      $12,773      $25,668

 Top Midsize Cars       City/Hwy      Base       Lifetime     Sticker &
                           mpg       Sticker     Fuel Cost Lifetime Fuel
 1. Hyundai Elantra       28/36      $13,395      $12,073      $25,468
 2. Dodge Caliber         28/32      $13,725      $12,660      $26,385
 3. Toyota Matrix         30/36      $15,410      $11,581      $26,991
 4. Suzuki Aerio          25/31      $14,299      $13,715      $28,014
 5. Pontiac Vibe          30/36      $16,760      $11,581      $28,341
 6. Toyota Prius          60/51      $22,175       $6,757      $28,932
 7. Kia Optima            24/34      $16,355      $13,579      $29,934
 8. Nissan Altima         26/35      $17,950      $12,775      $30,725
 9. Chevrolet Malibu      24/34      $17,215      $13,579      $30,794
 10. Hyundai Sonata       24/34      $17,345      $13,579      $30,924

 Top Full-Size Cars     City/Hwy      Base       Lifetime     Sticker &
                           mpg       Sticker     Fuel Cost Lifetime Fuel
 1. Chevrolet Impala      21/31      $21,015      $15,289      $36,304
 2. Dodge Charger         21/28      $22,100      $15,874      $37,974
 3. Ford Five Hundred     21/29      $23,035      $15,665      $38,700
 4. Dodge Magnum          21/28      $23,245      $15,874      $39,119
 5. Mercury Montego       21/29      $23,835      $15,665      $39,500
 6. Toyota Avalon         22/31      $24,320      $15,874      $40,194
 7. Buick Lucerne         19/28      $26,875      $14,842      $41,717
 8. Kia Amanti           19//26      $25,745      $16,909      $42,654
 9. Chrysler 300          21/28      $25,495      $17,373      $42,868
 10. Ford Crown Victoria  17/25      $24,620      $18,913      $43,533

 Top Luxury Cars        City/Hwy      Base       Lifetime     Sticker &
                           mpg       Sticker     Fuel Cost Lifetime Fuel
 1. Volvo S40*            22/29      $24,240      $16,726      $40,966
 2. Hyundai Azera         19/28      $24,235      $16,909      $41,144
 3. Chrysler Pacifica     18/25      $24,460      $18,237      $42,697
 4. Volvo V50*            22/29      $26,690      $16,726      $43,416
 5. Lexus IS 250*         24/32      $30,255      $15,265      $45,520
 7. Lincoln MKZ           19/27      $29,305      $17,133      $46,438
 6. Volvo V70*            22/29      $30,045      $16,726      $46,771
 8. Cadillac CTS          18/27      $29,925      $17,737      $47,662
 9. Volvo S60*            21/30      $30,885      $17,003      $47,888
 10. Mercedes-Benz C230*  19/25      $29,650      $19,380      $49,030
 * Premium fuel is recommended by the manufacturer for these cars. Premium
 fuel costs of $3.44 a gallon were used in these calculations.

 Top Minivans           City/Hwy      Base       Lifetime     Sticker &
                           mpg       Sticker      Fuel Cost Lifetime Fuel
 1. Mazda5                22/27      $17,735      $15,650      $33,385
 2. Dodge Caravan         20/26      $19,055      $16,830      $35,885
 3. Chevrolet Uplander    18/25      $20,205      $18,237      $38,442
 4. Kia Sedona            18/25      $20,695      $18,237      $38,932
 5. Chrysler Town & Country19/26      $21,695      $17,373      $39,068
 6. Saturn Relay          18/25      $21,570      $18,237      $39,807
 7. Toyota Sienna         19/26      $24,155      $17,373      $41,528
 8. Hyundai Entourage     18/25      $23,895      $18,237      $42,132
 9. Ford Freestar         17/23      $23,705      $19,500      $43,205
 10. Honda Odyssey        18/25      $25,645      $18,237      $43,882

 Top SUVs               City/Hwy      Base       Lifetime     Sticker &
                           mpg       Sticker     Fuel Cost Lifetime Fuel
 1. Jeep Patriot          26/30      $14,425      $13,579      $28,004
 2. Jeep Compass          26/30      $15,425      $13,579      $29,004
 3. Kia Sportage          23/28      $15,900      $15,018      $30,918
 4. Hyundai Tucson        23/28      $16,995      $15,018      $32,013
 5. Saturn Vue            23/29      $17,475      $14,810      $32,285
 6. Ford Escape           24/29      $19,320      $14,436      $33,756
 7. Toyota RAV4           24/30      $20,950      $14,242      $35,192
 8. Honda CR-V            23/30      $20,600      $14,616      $35,216
 9. Honda Element         21/25      $18,900      $16,598      $35,498
 10. Saturn Vue Hybrid    27/32      $22,870      $12,933      $35,803

 Top Pickup Trucks      City/Hwy      Base       Lifetime     Sticker &
                           mpg       Sticker      Fuel Cost Lifetime Fuel
 1. Ford Ranger           24/29      $13,860      $14,436      $28,296
 2. Toyota Tacoma         23/28      $14,180      $15,018      $29,198
 3. Mazda B2300           24/29      $15,535      $14,436      $29,971
 4. Chevrolet Colorado    20/26      $14,085      $16,830      $30,915
 5. GMC Canyon            20/26      $14,235      $16,830      $31,065
 6. Nissan Frontier       22/25      $16,050      $16,151      $32,201
 7. Isuzu i-290           20/26      $16,989      $16,830      $33,819
 8. Chevrolet Silverado Classic17/21  $15,840      $20,260      $36,100
 9. GMC Sierra Classic    17/21      $15,840      $20,260      $36,100
 10. Mazda B3000          18/23      $19,040      $18,825      $37,865



For a more complete guide to fuel economy, including cars that get the best gas mileage, information on alternative fuel technology and fuel-savings tips, visit www.Cars.com

About Cars.com

Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their websites, Cars.com (www.cars.com) is the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site lists more than 2 million vehicles from 13,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web site for car shopping, Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with sellers each month.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE:BLC) , Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI) , The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) , Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) and The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO) .

Source: Cars.com