While we’re finally starting to see gas prices receding a bit, fuel economy and efficiency are still important requirements for many car buyers these days, and doing our part to curb greenhouse gases and emissions is a good thing, as well.  So how do we find a more fuel efficient vehicle that also fits our lifestyle and needs? 

Here are some tips to get you shopping in the right direction:

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

While fuel efficient vehicles may come in all shapes, sizes, makes and models, choose the right vehicle that fits your family or lifestyle needs.  A good place to start your search for hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles is The Green Motorist.

Do the Math

It’s a good idea to know how much money you’ll actually save by owning a fuel efficient vehicle now and in the future.  You might not think there’s a big difference between a vehicle that gets 20 mpg and one that gets 27 mpg, however it’s a savings of approximately $652.00 per year (15,000 miles at $3.50 per gallon) and over a five year period, this translates into approximately $3,260.00 in savings. 

Don’t Buy a Prius Unless It Meets Your Needs

While everyone is talking about the Toyota Prius and waiting in long lines to get one, if it doesn’t meet your lifestyle needs, don’t even consider it as a realistic purchase. If you spend a lot of time driving the kids to baseball practice, you carpool or something similar, a larger vehicle may be more suitable to your needs, and if so, something like an SUV or CUV which comes in a hybrid model may be a good choice, instead.

Research

The US Department of Energy is a great resource to use when seeking the most up to date information about fuel efficient vehicles.   Also check out the vehicles which make up the Best and Worst MPG list, the most and least fuel efficient vehicles by order of performance.  You can also compare different makes and models to see how they add up.  Another great resource is Consumer Reports, which routinely publishes information on vehicles concerning fuel economy, fuel efficiency and how they rate.  Also, don’t forget to check out Kelley Blue Book Green, which has a lot of great information on hybrid cars, diesel vehicles and more.

Incentives

Many fuel efficient and hybrid vehicles come with some nice financial incentives and tax credits, which can make purchasing these vehicles a sweet deal.  The US Department of Energy also lists the most up-to-date vehicle incentives.

How to Save Money on Gas
Buying a fuel efficient vehicle will reduce the amount you spend on gas dramatically, but there are other ways you can save money on fuel as well. With gas credit cards you can get up to 5% cash back on all of your fuel purchases. Over time this can really add up, and can save you hundreds of dollars on fuel.

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