Improved fuel economy saves you money every time you fill up your tank!
Fuel efficiency is a huge financial consideration when buying a car. In fact, buying a car that’s 10 miles per gallon more fuel efficient than another option you’re interested in can save you up to $10,000 over the life of the car.
When shopping for your next car, one of your first questions should be, “What kind of fuel economy do you get?” Gas prices are so unpredictable that it’s essential that you prepare for rising prices by making fuel economy your number one priority, so you can make driving a not-so-guilty pleasure again!
Choosing a fuel-efficient car
- Here’s an example from fueleconomy.gov: A vehicle that gets 30 MPG will cost you $610 less in fuel each year than one that gets 20 MPG (assuming 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel cost of $2.44). Over a five-year period, the 30 MPG vehicle will save you $3,050. Now that is a good part of the change!
- There are also fuel economy and cost calculators that can be used to help you make an informed decision when purchasing your new fuel efficient vehicle.
A good place to start is online at fueleconomy.gov, where you can check the mileage and emissions ratings of all vehicles currently for sale.
Another good site is edmunds.com, which also lists EPA mileage figures on the “Specs” page for each car.
If you’re tired of emptying your wallet every time you fill up, here’s a list of cars that Consumer Reports rated the most fuel efficient. These gas sippers listed below are also easy on the wallet.
- Ford Fiesta SFE
- Mitsubishi I-MIEV
- Ford Focus Electric
- nissan leaf
- chevy volt
- chevrolet cruze echo
- Toyota Prius
- Honda Civic
- hyundai accent
- hyundai veloster
- Mazda3
Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle will not only save you money on gas, but there are other, broader benefits to that decision as well. It reduces the costs of dependence on oil, reduces climate change and increases energy sustainability. Clearly, it’s a decision you can feel good about!
If you’re ready to buy that new fuel-efficient car, your local credit union offers affordable and competitive financing options for new and used cars. Some credit unions will even give a discount for fuel-efficient cars, for vehicles rated at 40 highway mpg or more. So you’ll save on interest while you save on gas.