Fuel is expensive these days. With a shrinking economy and government incentives aplenty, purchasing a fuel efficient car is a necessity in life. Here are 10 fuel efficient cars and other vehicles to look for in 2013:
1. Nissan Leaf
106 mpge city, Price: $35,200
Consumer Reports is calling the Nissan Leaf “excellent.” The older versions still hold up mechanically. Electric hybrids are reaching levels of fuel efficiency never before thought possible. The Leaf has a decent amount of room for road trips. It’s responsive, cheap, and durable
2. Tesla Model S
90 mpge hwy, Price: $49,900
Tesla looks good. The Model S is an amazing sedan. There’s no record of reliability yet, and we don’t know whether they’ll be a burnout, but I’d bet money on this car. Even if the company goes under, it’ll remain inexpensive to maintain and parts will be easy to find for a few decades after. This is one of my dream cars.
3. Ford Focus Electric
110 mpge city, Price: $39,200
Ford is a company you either love or hate. Most Ford owners stick by them. There’s a reason for that. The Focus is a great car. It’s cheap to keep and retains value decently. With so many Ford Focus Electrics on the road these days, finding cheap parts will never be an issue. This is a great ride for singles, couples, and starter families.
4. Honda Fit EV
132 mpge city, Price: $36,625
Honda is known for reliability. The mileage and space on the all-electric Fit EV makes it a great traveler for one to two people comfortably. If it breaks, there’s usually a Honda certified mechanic nearby who can fix it fast, and cheap.
5. Smart fortwo Electric Drive
122 mpge city, Price: $25,750
The fortwo from Smart is exactly that: smart travel for two people and not much else. I wouldn’t use it for long distance travel or camping, but as a city commuter, it’s amazing. Just don’t get hit in one, because you’re a bit smaller than everything else on the road.
6. Lexus ES
40 mpge city, Price: $40,475
If luxury is what you’re after, Lexus delivers with the ES series. It may not be a full electric, but 40 mpg is a small price to pay for the luxury and comfort a Lexus brings to the table within its ambient lit leather interior.
7. Ford C-Max Energi
44 mpge city, 41 mpge hwy, Price: $33,745
This Ford Hybrid isn’t quite as stylish as the Lexus ES, but it has a few comfort features of its own, such as the innovative SmartGauge with EcoGuide in the dash. Park Assist, Post-Crash Alert, and Heated seats make this gadget car worth checking out.
8. Toyota Highlander Hybrid
28 mpge, Price: $40,815
For certain environments, an SUV is necessary. BP, DHS, and rappers all heart SUV’s. Even if you’re a soccer or LAN mom, the Highlander is a great choice. With a decent factory sound system and plenty of room, the Highlander is your best option for family road trips.
9.Vespa GTS 300 ie
52 mpge, Price: $2,000
The Vespa is a stylish choice for coastal areas. You can pull one off in some coastal cities like Miami, LA, NYC, Boston, etc, but Phoenix or El Paso is probably not the place for them. The gas mileage is great, the body trim is stylish. If I were to buy a scooter, I’d buy a Vespa.
10. Honda CMX250C Rebel
95 mpge, Price: $4,300
If you want a cruising motorcycle that’ll get you started and last, the Honda Rebel is the bike you want. This baby reaches speeds of 85 mph, and is perfect for starter road trips warriors. If you have an RV, this is a great alternate mode of transportation to carry along with you if you have room.
