Nine Fuel Efficient Cars That Will Save You Money

If you're in the market for a new car, you probably know what to look for at the dealership. How many airbags does it have? What's the car's crash test rating? But do you ever stop to check the vehicle's fuel efficiency rating? It's time to start looking! With gas prices at an all-time high, buying a car with good fuel economy is going to become even more important. After all, you're already spending enough on the car -- why drive off in a vehicle that will cost you hundreds of dollars a week in gas?

Here's a list of some of the most fuel efficient cars on the road today:

1) The Ford Focus gets 24 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. And although most of the other cars you'll see here are imports, the Focus does an admirable job of showing just how fuel-efficient a domestic car can be (although, yes, it was designed by the company's European division).

2) The Honda Fit gets an average of 33 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. It's just one of several "mini-cars" that has come to the US in the past year. This one provides more than just good gas mileage though -- it's also highly ranked for its interior space.

3) The Honda Civic gets 30 mpg in the city and close to 38 mpg on the highway. With a fuel efficiency approaching the 40 mpg mark, this car performs better than any other automatic transmission, non-hybrid car currently on the market. It's also a consumer favorite for its interior room, reliability and many additional safety features.

4) The MINI Cooper gets 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. Produced by BMW, the MINI Cooper is known as a fun car to drive and has an impressively large amount of interior space. And reaching an average of 40 mpg, you'll save money every time you hit the pumps.

5) The Nissan Altima currently drives 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. This fuel-efficient vehicle packs a large 2.5 liter engine and 180 pounds-per-foot of torque -- that's quite a bit of power for a car with this kind of fuel efficiency! It's perfect for those who want fuel economy in a mid-size car, without giving up powerful driving capabilities.

6) The Nissan Sentra gets almost 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. What makes this an impressive car is that you get great fuel economy in a car that offers continuously-variable automatic transmission. Unbelievably, the car gets better gas mileage than even a manual transmission. And you won't trade fashion for function -- the Nissan Sentra is a beautiful car to look at!

7) The Toyota Camry -- a classic fuel efficient car -- gets 43 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. It's one of only two cars on our list that gets better fuel economy in the city. And at 43 mpg, it's hard to beat if you drive locally most of the time. It's got a large 2.4 liter engine and standard tires -- plus there's plenty of interior space for all your friends.

8) The Toyota Corolla is another great car that gets 32 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. This car always ranks well with Consumer Reports because of its outstanding fuel efficiency, safety features and reliability. The Toyotas are well know for retaining their value over time, so buying this car is an investment that will pay off for years to come.

9) The Toyota Prius is the crowning achievement in gas mileage, getting an unbelievable 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. Of course you'll get better gas mileage in a hybrid, but the Prius is really at the top of the pack. Don't worry about losing power with a gas-electric combination engine -- the technology is constantly improving to give you great performance that's comparable with any regular sedan on the road. Just act now -- you may have to spend some time on a waiting list for one of these cars.