2011 Honda Fit
Deciding which models are most economical can be tricky. Consumer Reports regularly rates cars based on their total cost of ownership, which takes into account purchase price and depreciation, as well fuel economy. In the magazine's latest survey, Honda's Fit minicar, selling for about $16,000, turned in the lowest cost to operate at 44 cents per mile.
"Fit is a car that holds its value well," said Gabe Shenhar, a senior test engineer for Consumer Reports. "Our test of the manual version showed 33 miles per gallon fuel economy." He noted that depreciation may account for half the cost of owning a vehicle in the first three years.
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Last updated April 20 2011: 4:01 PM ET
