With the eye-popping fuel prices over the past year or two, many of us have begun to re-think how and what we drive. Most car manufacturers are on the band wagon to produce hybrids and ultra fuel efficient models. Think you know which vehicles are the top dogs in the 2010 mpg wars? I asked Jody Victor to give us the most recent list.
Jody Victor: Much like the EPA's list, which comes out this time of year, we have compiled a list which give both city and highway mpg ratings.
10 - Ford Escape Hybrid - Coming in at number 10, The 2010 ford Escape Hybrid FWD manages to sip away at just 34 mpg city/31 mpg highway. It's a handsome and functional vehicle. If you don't care for the Ford moniker, it also comes as a hybrid in a Mercury Mariner or a Mazda Tribute.
9 - Volkswagen Golf TDI - The 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel 4-cylinder manages 30 mpg city/42 mpg highway without any of the hassles of a hybrid drivetrain. If you find the tiny hatch a little too cramped, you can get identical fuel economy from the Audi A3 TDI, Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI.
8 - Toyota Camry Hybrid - At 33 mpg city/34 mpg highway, this 4-door will treat you nice at the pumps.
7 - Nissan Altima Hybrid - The Altima Hybrid may look just like its gas-hungry (by comparison) brethren, but under the sheet metal sits a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor, good for 35 mpg city/33mpg highway.
6 - Lexus HS 250h - The most efficient of the four hybrid cars and SUVs produced by Lexus, this small, premium hybrid sedan gets a surprising 35 mpg city/34 mpg highway.
5 - smart fortwo coupe - Both the fortwo coupe and the cabriolet manage an amazing 33 mpg city/41 mpg highway, thanks to an engine smaller than most briefcases.
4 - Ford Fusion Hybrid - Ford's midsize Fusion Hybrid zips by gas stations with a remarkable 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway.
3 - Honda Insight - It's no surprise that Honda's Prius-fighter landed a spot in the top five with a fuel economy rating of 40 mpg city/43 mpg highway.
2 - Honda Civic Hybrid - The Civic Hybrid will set you back a good deal more than the Insight, but it also delivers an impressive 40 mpg city/45 mpg highway.
1 - Toyota Prius - The hybrid model that's sold more than any other in the history of battery-powered transportation continues to kick green butt with a staggering 51 mpg city/48 mpg highway.
Thanks, Jody! Quite an impressive list!