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Kbb.com Editors Name Top Picks: Great Vehicles with Good Fuel Economy in Every Category
With gas prices on the rise this summer, there is no shortage of fuel economy advice available to consumers who want to save a few dollars at the pump. Drivers are often encouraged to improve their vehicle's fuel economy by reducing air conditioning use, changing filters regularly, checking tire pressure, having fuel injectors cleaned and using a fuel additive to increase engine performance. But how likely are consumers to actually use any of these gas-saving tips to help save money?
According to a recent Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study on fuel economy, nearly six out of 10 consumers say they would be likely to change their filters at scheduled intervals and/or check their tire pressure regularly to achieve greater fuel economy or save money. In addition, nearly seven out of 10 consumers (68 percent) believe that by performing some or all of the recommended gas-saving maintenance to their car, they would save up to $200 annually.
"Gas prices have reached levels that are causing consumers to take steps they may not have when pump prices were more moderate to improve fuel economy and save a few dollars," said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "If these consumers actually perform all of these gas saving tips, it's likely they could save up to 15 or 20 percent of their entire fuel costs annually."
However, only 23 percent say they would be willing to reduce air conditioning use. Even less popular options include having fuel injectors cleaned (17 percent), and using a fuel additive in each fill-up to increase engine performance (five percent).
More than a quarter of consumers (26 percent) say they would employ all of these recommended fuel-saving tips to achieve greater fuel economy or save money, and a contrasting five percent say they would do none.
When thinking about their next new-vehicle purchase, 69 percent of consumers are likely to change the vehicle they drive in order to improve their fuel economy or money situation: 22 percent would buy a hybrid version of a vehicle they already have; 21 percent would take a step down in vehicle size; 14 percent say they would buy a vehicle with a smaller engine or an engine with less power; and 12 percent say they would buy a diesel vehicle. Thirty-one percent of consumers say they would not change their next vehicle to improve fuel economy.
The Toyota Prius is in its second generation and approaching its fifth model year, and it continues to dominate the hybrid market. However, because the Prius doesn't necessarily fit every lifestyle, the editorial staff at Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com put together a list of fuel-efficient favorites filled with something for everyone.
"We certainly think there is an important place in the market for hybrid vehicles today and in the future," said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "But today's market offers a wide variety of vehicles that both fill individuals' needs and provide better-than-average fuel efficiency, and this list includes our top choices."
Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com Editors' Top Picks for Best Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

  Category    Vehicle      Kbb.com Editorial Staff Comments    MPG*   MPG*
                                                             (city)(highway)

                            The Honda Civic Hybrid is the
  Small       Honda          Prius alternative with
   Sedan       Civic         more mainstream styling, if not
               Hybrid        all the fuel economy.               40      45

                            Beneath its sporty-sedan sheet
  Mid-Size    Nissan         metal, Nissan's Altima
   Sedan       Altima        Hybrid uses licensed Toyota
               Hybrid        hybrid technology.                  35      33

                            Powered by a state-of-the-art
  Luxury      Mercedes-Benz  clean diesel engine, the
   Sedan       E320          Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec is as
               Bluetec       powerful and smooth as you'd
                             expect anything wearing a
                             three-pointed star to be.           23      32

                            The Toyota Tacoma's bulletproof
  Compact     Toyota Tacoma  reputation for reliability is
   Pickup                    backed up by some of the
                             category's best fuel economy.       20      26

                            GM's excellent new Chevrolet
  Full-Size   Chevrolet      Silverado and GMC Sierra are
   Pickup      Silverado/    just about the most
               GMC Sierra    fuel-efficient full-size
                             pickups out there.                  15      20

                            The 2008 Audi TT deftly
  Coupe       Audi TT        maximizes turbo power and
                             efficiency in one fun and
                             fuel-frugal coupe.                  23      31

                            Revamped for 2008, the Ford
  Small SUV   Ford Escape    Escape Hybrid combines
               Hybrid        excellent mileage with SUV
                             versatility.                        31      30

                            The Highlander Hybrid is
  Mid-Size    Toyota         Toyota's only hybrid SUV,
   SUV         Highlander    and the only one to boast a
               Hybrid        lineage that includes the
                             revolutionary Prius.                28      25

                            With more total cargo volume
  Large SUV   GMC Acadia     than the brand's own
                             Yukon, the three-row GMC Acadia
                             delivers everything
                             most families require from a
                             traditional full-size SUV
                             but with significantly better
                             mileage.                            16      24

                            Some of the same characteristics
  Convertible Mazda MX-5     that make the small
                             and lightweight Mazda MX-5 one
                             of the purest driver's
                             cars of all time help make it a
                             joy at the gas pump, too.           22      27

                            What some consider the best
  Minivan     Honda Odyssey  minivan available, the
                             Honda Odyssey, also delivers the
                             best mileage. Under
                             light loads, the Odyssey can
                             cruise on just three of its
                             six cylinders.                      17      24

                            A secret weapon in the fight
  Hatchback   MINI Cooper    against fuel prices, the
                             extremely fun MINI Cooper
                             delivers highway mileage
                             of up to 36 mpg.                    27      36

                            The Toyota Matrix and Pontiac
  Wagon       Toyota         Vibe cousins are small
               Matrix/       but tall wagons that have been
               Pontiac       delivering outstanding
               Vibe          fuel economy since the 2003
                             model year.                         26      33

* (Note: All fuel economy figures reflect the new-for-2008 model year guidelines, per fueleconomy.gov).
Web site: http://www.kbb.com/

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