So, you're looking for a new car and you want a hybrid. But all hybrids are not alike! Some are more efficient than others. If you're going to go green, why not get the greenest vehicle for your greenbacks! I asked Jody Victor to tell us about it.

Jody Victor: Like any other product, hybrids have morphed from the unusual into a more commonplace item. They are not all the same when it comes to efficiency. With the help of the EPA, here is a list of the most efficiently rated hybrids out there.

Toyota Prius - Love it or loathe it, the Prius is the most fuel-efficient car you can buy in America. The EPA ranks the 2009 model at 48/45 mpg (city/hwy). At its heart is Toyota's synergy Drive. It is the same technology found in the Toyota Camry and Highlander hybrids.

Honda Civic Hybrid - Honda's Integrated Motor Assist pairs an i-VTEC engine with an electric motor, bumping the mpg up to 40/45. With 90.9 cubic feet of passenger space and 10.4 cubic feet of storage, the Civic Hybrid is slightly less spacious than the Prius.

Nissan Altima Hybrid - With a 40-horsepower electric motor alongside its 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, it has the feel of a V6, but at 35/33 mpg it doesn't burn gas like one. Unfortunately it is only available in California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Oregon, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey.

Escape / Tribute / Mariner Hybrids - The 2009 models of these three compact SUVs test at 34/31 mpg in their front-wheel-drive models. However, all three compact hybrid SUVs drop to 29/27 mpg when adding four-wheel drive.

Toyota Camry Hybrid - A 105-kilowatt electric motor and 4-cylinder engine give this car considerably more punch than the Prius, and fuel economy of 33/34 mpg. The Camry also offers more cubic footage for passengers than the Prius.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid - The first 7-passenger SUV of its size to go gas-electric, the Highlander Hybrid treads the line between power and efficiency. A 3.3-liter V6 offers a net output of 270 horsepower. Even with standard 4WD, the hybrid Highlander rates at 27/25 mpg.

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid - Driving a hybrid Malibu will feel different from a Prius or Camry. aside from the aesthetics, Chevy's gas-electric powertrain is what in industry jargon is called a "mild hybrid." The car will get a burst from the electric motor during acceleration, and the battery will recharge during coasting and braking. Unable to run on electric alone, the Malibu gets 26/34 mpg.

Saturn Vue Hybrid - A 2009 Vue Hybrid pulls in 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

Lexus GS 450h - Tuned for exhilaration rather than efficiency, the 450h packs a V6 alongside its Lexus Hybrid Drive. This rear-wheel-drive sport sedan tests at 22/25 mpg.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be sure to check them out!

Joe Victor

If you want to drive the most environmentally conscious or so-called greenest vehicle possible, then you need to consider downsizing to a smaller car or one that's equipped with a hybrid powertrain, according to green experts. I asked Jody Victor to tell us about some of those cars and why they are America's greenest.

Jody Victor: The Green Score is determined by more factors than just fuel economy. It also takes into consideration tailpipe and other emissions that can cause global warming. The higher the Green Score, the lower the environmental impact. Here are the 12 vehicles for sale in the U.S. with the least environmental impact.

For the third straight year, the natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX tops the Green Vehicles list. As the name suggests, the Civic GX operates on compressed natural gas (CNG). While it may not go as far on each gallon of fuel as some other entries, its combination of high efficiency and near-zero emissions makes it the cleanest vehicle on the road today, scoring 57 points.

The second, third and twelfth most eco-conscious vehicles on the list are hybrids - the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry Hybrid respectively. The only other hybrid to make it into the top 12 happens to be the largest car on the list: the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

American manufacturers have two on the list for 2009, with the Chevrolet Cobalt XFE (and its Pontiac G5 twin) placing eighth and the Chevrolet Aveo/Aveo5 taking the 10th position.

Two European brands made this year's list, the same two as last year. The fun-to-drive MINI Cooper/Clubman lands in the seventh position with a Green Score of 45, while the diminutive smart fortwo captures a fourth-place rank with a score of 49 for the second straight year.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be checking these little guys out soon!

Joe Victor

Small is, well, cute - or at least affordable. And in this downward economic climate we are all concerned enough to save where we can. Here are some more of Jody Victor's  favorite micro cars on the road today.

Jody Victor: Yes, those compact little cream puffs are just what the doctor ordered in a less than vibrant economic time. Check out this next set of small cars for affordability and fun.

MINI Cooper Clubman - With 10 extra inches of width and 3 extra inches at the wheelbase, the Clubman is what the Brits would call an estate, aka a wagon on this side of the pond. The Clubman's extra size is portioned up between the passenger cabin - where legroom is more generous - and rear cargo space, and is accessed by two unique barn-like doors. Despite 54 more horsepower than the Cooper, the MINI Clubman earns the same 25/35 mpg with its automatic gearbox.

Nissan Versa - First appearing in 2007, the Versa delivers more power than its subcompact peers, with a 1.8-liter 122 horsepower engine. A standard xtronic continually variable transmission boosts drivability as well as mpg. Bluetooth connectivity, a smart key and a 6-disc CD changer are options.

Scion xD - At 155 inches long the xD is not the smallest of the pack, but earns a laudable 26/32 mpg from its 1.8-liter engine with an automatic transmission. Options on the highly customizable xD include LED taillights, a cabin light kit with illuminated cupholder, 18-inch alloy wheels and a navigation system. Standard features include anti-lock brakes, side and curtain airbags, and a dedicated iPod input.

smart fortwo - Smallest of the small at 106 inches long, the smart fortwo is almost 40 inches shorter than a MINI Cooper. Even so, the fortwo (built "for two" passengers), has deceptively ample legroom. For 2009 the fortwo will offer two new colors and some small interior changes, but no radical overhaul. The Passion Coupe has a more fleshed-out list of features, such as alloy wheels, climate control and power windows.

Toyota Yaris - Available in 3- and 5-door hatchbacks and a 4-door sedan, the Yaris family is the winner of numerous awards for safety and reliability. At 150 inches, the 3-door hatchback is one of the shortest cars out there - a plus when it comes to parking agility, as well as overall efficiency. The EPA rates the smallest Yaris at 29/36 mpg. ABS brakes and side and curtain airbags are standard, and all three Yaris versions offer a generous options list.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be sure to check them out!

Joe Victor

Yes, it is time to talk about the little gems that speed in and out of traffic with ease, use very little gas, and are the most sensible vehicle for loads of people. I asked Jody Victor to give us some details about some of the smallest cars around.

Jody Victor: Even with gas prices relenting, few people have extra cash to swipe away at the pump, so here are 5 beauties that will treat you right.

Chevy Aveo - The Aveo is a pint-sized compact that will leave plenty of room in both the garage and the checking account. The 2009 Aveo carries a 1.6-liter Gen 3 Ecotec transmission it earns an environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy estimat of 27/34 mpg. Available as a sedan or 5-door hatchback, the Aveo carries standard front and seat-mounted side-impact airbags. Wearing a Pontiac nameplate, the Aveo is known as the G3.

Ford Focus Coupe -  With considerably ore panache than the four-door model, the Focus coupe has been redesigned for 2009, though most of its new traits are cosmetic. A sport-tuned exhaust system delivers more horsepower and a "throatier" sound. It comes with either a Duratec inline 4-cylinder engine or a "super-clean" duratec 20E that qualifies the coupe as a Partial Zero emissions Vehicle (PZEV). Options include such perks as a Microsoft Sync system, electronic stability control and chromed aluminum wheels.Seats in the Focus are molded from nonpetroleum vegetable foam.

Honda Fit - With a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder VTEC engine, the Fit deserves its fair share of axccolades for balancing efficiency with peppy performance. A center-mounted fuel tank opens up interior space, and optional voice recognitio, 16-inch alloy wheels and iPod integration are among the generous list of features that make the Fit much more than simply good enough. The Fit also frequently tops Internet lists of the cheapest cars to own because of its sticker price, resale value and admirable fuel economy.

Hyundai Accent - In its third generation, the accent remains a solid, if not exhilarating, member of the subcompact club. A 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine gets 26/35 mpg with its optional automatic transmission. The Accent isn't likely to disappoint in reliability either.

MINI Cooper - Perhaps the most performance-minded micro on American roads is the MINI. Drawing on decades of road rallying (not to mention tight European parking), BMW has taken the MINI brand and imbued it with a host of features such as a 1.6-liter 16-valve aluminum engine (offering 118 horsepower), an on/off ignition button, traction control and six airbags. With a squat "bulldog" stance, the standard MINI Cooper, Cooper S and convertible make the most of their small footprint, translating it into tight turning, responsive acceleration and respectable fuel economy: 25/34 with automatic transmission. An all-electric MINI is now being leased to a limited number of Californians.

Thanks, Jody! Quite a list!

Joe Victor