Top Ten Most Fuel-Efficient Cars of 2009

EPA fuel economy estimates: 48 MPG city/45 highway/46 combined

I like the Prius because it delivers what it promises -- especially now that the EPA has revised its fuel-economy testing process to be more realistic. Every Prius owner I've met averages around 45 MPG (except my friend Sean, hyper-miler extraordinaire, who averages 57 MPG). That's almost double the fuel economy of a typical mid-size sedan, with comparable acceleration and only a slightly higher price. Hybrid drivetrain aside, the Prius is exceptionally easy to live with -- it comes packaged as a family-friendly five-door hatchback that offers plenty of space and lots of amenities, including automatic climate control and optional navigation and Bluetooth phone integration.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 40 MPG city/45 highway/42 combined

I've always had trouble matching the Civic's stellar fuel economy figures; on my last trip I averaged in the high 30s, maybe 20% better than what I'd expect from a conventionally-powered Civic. That said. Our Alternative Fuels guides reviewed the Civic Hybrid and their fuel economy ranged from 41.5 up to 48.7 The Civic is one of my favorite compacts because of its styling and functionality, but I'm not convinced that the Civic Hybrid is worth the $3,000-or-so price premium over a comparably-equipped Civic EX. Besides, if I really wanted to make a difference, I'd opt for the natural gas powered Civic GX, which is cheap to fuel, super clean, and uses no gasoline at all.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 33 MPG city/41 highway/36 combined

When I tested the Smart Fortwo, I averaged just under 36 MPG, a bit disappointing considering the Smart's tiny size, leisurely acceleration, and need for premium fuel. Still, that's almost 20% better than the fuel economy you'll get in a Toyota Yaris. Even with the cost of high-octane fuel factored in, it's still a significant cost savings. And the Smart Fortwo is inexpensive to buy, with a sub-$13k starting price that includes antilock brakes and electronic stability control. They even make a convertible! If you don't need a back seat and stick mostly to urban driving, the Smart Fortwo is a great way to save money and do your part to reduce our reliance on oil.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 35 MPG city/33 highway/34 combined

The Nissan Altima has always been one of my favorite mid-size sedans. I like its ample space, simple controls, and the smoothness of its continuously-variable transmission. And the hybrid powertrain just sweetens the deal: It's smooth and unobtrusive and gets great fuel economy, providing a nice middle ground between the hard-core Prius and a conventional mid-size sedan. But there's a catch (isn't there always?): Officially, the Altima Hybrid is only sold in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. Toyota's Camry Hybrid, which has pretty much all of the same advantages, is available in all 50 states.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 33 MPG city/34 highway/34 combined

Like the Nissan Altima Hybrid, the Camry Hybrid bridges the gap between a dedicated hybrid and a conventional sedan. Why does that gap that needs bridging? Dedicated hybrids like Toyota's Prius use small engines, low rolling resistance tires, and a smooth, aerodynamic shape -- which translate to slower acceleration, a noisier ride, and far-out styling. The Camry Hybrid uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive as the Prius, but with a larger engine (2.4 liters vs. 1.5), ordinary tires, and a shape that's as familiar as Washington's face on the dollar bill. The Camry Hybrid rides and drives pretty much like a conventional 4-cylinder Camry, but goes about 35% farther on a gallon of gas.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 30 MPG city/41 highway/34 combined (manual), 29/40/33 (automatic)

The diesel-powered Jetta TDI's fuel economy is about 40% better than the gas-powered Jetta, and those are just EPA figures -- owners report real-world economy in excess of 40 MPG, and I averaged 42.9 MPG in my own test drive. Diesel fuel prices may give some buyers pause, but the gains in fuel economy will far exceed the higher price per gallon. And the 2009 Jetta TDI qualifies for a $1,300 in federal tax credit, which makes its effective purchase price lower than a comparably-equipped gas-powered Jetta SEL. All this, plus it's a Jetta, which means it's hip, practical, and fun to drive.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 34 MPG city/31 highway/32 combined

Technically, this is a site about cars, not SUVs, so the Ford Escape Hybrid (and its near-twins, the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute hybrids) has no place on this list -- but it's here anyway, because it's a remarkable (and often underrated) vehicle. The Escape is a proper SUV, yet its combined fuel economy is the same as a Toyota Yaris -- and it scores 17% better fuel economy than the Yaris in the EPA city cycle. Ford's hybrid system is brilliant -- it's smoother than Toyota's and does a better job of running on electric power at low speeds. Note that front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrids get the best fuel economy; all-wheel-drive carries a penalty of 4 MPG, about 12.5%.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 29 MPG city/36 highway/32 combined (manual), 29/35/31 (automatic)

I love the Yaris for its cute looks, small size, frugal engine, and last-forever build quality, plus there's only a minimal fuel economy penalty if you opt for the automatic transmission. For 2009, Toyota has added a handy 5-door model that casts the same size shadow as the 3-door (the 4-door Yaris sedan is slightly bigger). That said, if you're shopping for a Yaris, you should also check out the Honda Fit; it has a much more versatile interior, and the automatic-equipped Fit boast better power delivery than the automatic Yaris with comparable fuel economy.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 28 MPG city/37 highway/32 combined (manual), 25/34/29 (automatic)

I've never been shy about my criticism of the MINI, but even I will happily admit to its two best attributes: It's a lot of fun to drive and it's very fuel-efficient, with my own tests bearing out its excellent EPA estimates. Best yet, the long-wheelbase Cooper Clubman boasts the same EPA fuel economy estimates as the smaller Cooper. While the 118 hp base-model engine has enough kick for most situations, the hot-rod 172 hp Cooper S' EPA fuel economy estimates are only 2-3 MPG behind the base model, quite remarkable for a turbocharged car. Note that the MINI requires premium fuel, but it still delivers more smiles-per-gallon than most cars.

EPA fuel economy estimates: 28 MPG city/35 highway/31 combined (Base automatic), 27/33/30 (Sport automatic), 27/33/29 (manual)

We've seen a lot of small cars pop up on the market in the last couple of years, and the Fit is arguably the best of the bunch. It has a huge trunk and a roomy back seat that folds and flips six ways to Sunday to accommodate even more cargo. The Fit is sold in Base and Sport trims, and the automatic Base is the most frugal; automatic Sports have a different gear ratio between the transmission and the wheels that improves acceleration at the expense of fuel economy. The Fit got a complete redesign for 2009, but the previous-generation Honda Fit (2007-2008) offers comparable cargo space, flexibility, and fuel economy.