Cash in the Tank

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Fuel of any type is expensive. What you drive and how you drive it can greatly affect how much fuel you use. The vehicles and fuel-saving driving tips listed here are some of the easiest ways that you can save money on gas. Stop burning so much of that Cash in Your Tank!

"Fuel for Thought": The Cheapest Vehicles to Own & Operate*
 
1. Toyota Yaris:

  • MSRP:$11,550+ ANNUAL FUEL COST:$9,776= $21,326
2. Kia Rio:

  • MSRP:$10,890+ ANNUAL FUEL COST: $10,608 = $21,498
3. Hyundai Accent: 

  • MSRP:$10,775 + ANNUAL FUEL COST:$10,863=$21,638
4. Chevy Aveo:

  • MSRP:$11,460+ ANNUAL FUEL COST:$10,809= $22,269
5. Nissan Versa:

  • MSRP:$12,990 + ANNUAL FUEL COST:$10,960 = $23,950
6. Honda Fit:

  • MSRP:$13,950 + ANNUAL FUEL COST:$10,297 = $24,247
7. Toyota Corolla:

  • MSRP:$15,250 + ANNUAL FUEL COST:$9,980 = $25,230

8. Pontiac Vibe:


  • MSRP:$15,310 + ANNUAL FUEL COST:$10,659 = $25,969
9. Suzuki SX4:

  • MSRP:$14,770 + ANNUAL FUEL COST:$12,248 = $27,018
10. Scion xB:

  • MSRP:$15,750 + ANNUAL FUEL COST:$12,574 = $28,324
 
*Mileage estimates and annual fuel costs from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy through fueleconomy.gov



"Dos"
& "Don’ts" for Better Fuel Economy and Efficiency

DO - Drive Sensibly: Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5% - 33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.12 - $0.81 per gallon

DO - Drive the Speed Limit: While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.  Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 7% - 23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.17 - $0.56 per gallon

DON'T - Weigh the Car Down: Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1% - 2% per 100 pounds
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.02 - $0.05 per gallon

DON'T - Idle Excessively: Idling gets 0 miles per gallon! Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.


DO - Use Cruise Control: Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

DO - Use Overdrive Gears: When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear. From: fueleconomy.gov