NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - If you're looking to save money in this new era of rising gas prices, cars with high fuel-mileage figures are tempting.
When looking at costs of ownership for five years, the cars that get the highest gas mileage tend be the least costly to own, not counting their depreciation. But while fuel costs are among the biggest items in overall ownership cost, there are many other factors to consider.
On this list of the 15 most fuel-efficient, according to the autos Web site Edmunds.com, the typical Honda Insight driver will spend more than $2,500 less on fuel over 5 years than the driver of a Toyota Celica, the 15th-ranked car on the list.
Even though it has the lowest fuel costs in this group, the Honda Insight is just the sixth cheapest car to own over five years. The difference in costs between the Insight and the Toyota Prius, also a hybrid and the least expensive car to own, isn't very large, though. The Insight costs about $450 more to own for five years
Purchase costs could negate much of the fuel-cost savings of owning a hybrid, at least over the short term. Even factoring in a $1,500 tax deduction, the Prius is one of the most expensive cars to buy.
The Prius also has higher depreciation -- the reduction in a car's value over time -- than most Toyota cars, according to Edmunds.com data. The same is true of Honda's Insight compared to non-hybrid Hondas. Ultimately, depreciation costs you money when the time comes to trade in or sell your car.
Of the cars on this list, the two that hold their value best are the non-hybrid Honda Civic and the turbodiesel Volkswagen New Beetle. The turbo diesel New Beetle also ranks third in fuel costs, just behind the Insight and Prius.
The non-hybrid Civic costs a few hundred dollars more in fuel costs over five years than those cars, but it costs thousands less to buy. It also holds its value much better than the hybrids.
 |
|
| MAKE |
MODEL |
Purchase
Price |
$1,500
deduction |
Cost to
own* |
Fuel
costs |
Deprec-
iation |
| Toyota |
Prius |
$21,460 |
Yes |
$15,181 |
$2,896 |
$11,781 |
| Honda |
Civic |
$12,988 |
No |
$15,271 |
$3,746 |
$6,595 |
| Toyota |
ECHO |
$12,671 |
No |
$15,410 |
$3,849 |
$7,902 |
| Honda |
Civic Hybrid |
$19,651 |
Yes |
$15,544 |
$3,122 |
$10,741 |
| Volkswagen |
New Beetle |
$17,758 |
No |
$15,608 |
$3,112 |
$9,383 |
| Honda |
Insight |
$20,240 |
Yes |
$15,633 |
$2,406 |
$11,635 |
| Volkswagen |
Jetta |
$18,563 |
No |
$15,941 |
$3,112 |
$10,127 |
| Scion |
xA |
$13,603 |
No |
$15,949 |
$4,412 |
$7,899 |
| Volkswagen |
Golf |
$17,305 |
No |
$15,996 |
$3,112 |
$9,397 |
| Toyota |
Corolla |
$13,669 |
No |
$16,099 |
$4,156 |
$8,196 |
| Scion |
xB |
$14,773 |
No |
$16,578 |
$4,810 |
$8,724 |
| Dodge |
Neon |
$14,222 |
No |
$16,763 |
$4,995 |
$10,937 |
| Toyota |
Matrix |
$15,550 |
No |
$16,916 |
$4,608 |
$8,499 |
| Toyota |
Celica |
$19,692 |
No |
$17,988 |
$4,995 |
$10,475 |
| Pontiac |
Vibe |
$18,408 |
No |
$17,992 |
$4,608 |
$12,027 |
*Cost to own, depreciation and fuel costs are over 5 years. Cost to own includes insurance, fuel costs, maintenance and repairs and other costs. It does not include depreciation.
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