Save Money With a Fuel-Efficient Car

Lyle Ellerbee

Improved fuel economy saves you cash every time you fill your tank!

Fuel efficiency is an enormous financial consideration when buying a car. In fact, buying a car that is 10 miles per gallon more efficient in terms of fuel consumption than another option you may be interested in can save you as much as $10,000 over the time you own the car.

When shopping for your next car, one of your very first questions should be, “What kind of fuel economy does it get?” Gas prices are so unpredictable that it is essential that you prepare yourself for escalating prices by making fuel economy your number one priority – so you can make driving a not-so-guilty pleasure again!

Selecting a fuel-efficient car

  • Here’s an example from fueleconomy.gov: A vehicle that gets 30 MPG will cost you $610 less to fuel each year than one that gets 20 MPG (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $2.44). Over a period of five years, the 30-MPG vehicle will save you $3,050. Now that’s a good chunk of change!
  • There are also fuel cost and savings calculators that can be used to help you make an informed decision when buying your new fuel-efficient vehicle.

A good place to start is online at fueleconomy.gov where you can review the mileage and emissions ratings of all the vehicles currently for sale.

Another good site is edmunds.com, which also carries the EPA mileage figures on the “Specs” page of each auto.

If you’re tired of emptying your wallet every time you fill up below is a list of cars that are rated the most fuel-efficient by Consumer Reports. These gas sippers listed below are also easy on the wallet.

  • Ford Fiesta SFE
  • Mitsubishi I-MIEV
  • Ford Focus Electric
  • Nissan Leaf
  • Chevrolet Volt
  • Chevrolet Cruze Eco
  • Toyota Prius
  • Honda Civic HF
  • Hyundai Accent
  • Hyundai Veloster
  • Mazda 3

Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle not only will save you money on gas, but such a decision has other, broader benefits, too. It reduces oil dependence costs, reduces climate change and increases energy sustainability. Clearly, it’s a decision you can feel good about!

If you are ready to purchase that new fuel-efficient car, your local credit union offers affordable and competitive financing options on both new and used automobiles. Some credit unions will even give a discount for fuel-efficient cars, for vehicles with a 40-highway mpg rating or higher. So you will save on interest while you’re saving on gas.

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