All of these figures are based on the assumption that you have driven the car at least 1500 miles to break it in. Assuming 1500 miles annually and gas prices at $2.44 per gallon, combined MPG (Miles Per Gallon) and the assumption that you refill when the tank is at 10% full.

The Toyota Prius Hybrid does the best in the city at a whopping 45 MPG, but breaks even when it comes to the highway at 45 MPG and again takes the lead in the combined gas mileage at 46 MPG. It should cost you about $1.33 to drive 25 miles, while only using only .54 of a gallon of gas. This car will cost about $794.00 to fill up on a yearly basis.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid does not do as well as either car, as it only gets 35 miles in the city and 33 on the highway. It only pulls a combined 34 MPG. To drive 25 miles would cost you $1.79 and only gets 612 miles on a tank of gas.
You’re looking at $1076.00 in annual fuel cost based on 612 miles per tank fill up.

The Honda Civic Hybrid comes in about even with the Honda Prius with 40 miles in the city and 45 on the highway. It pulls a combined 42 MPG, it cost $1.45 to drive 25 miles, while only using .60 of a gallon.  To fill this car up it will cost you $43.92, while getting 612 miles off of a fill up, and a yearly fuel cost of $871.00.

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Planning is Essential

Finding the best gas prices:
Use tools on the internet such as GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas prices in your area. Prices can fluctuate greatly in different areas, finding the cheapest stations will save you tremendously.

Research a Wholesale Alternative
Costco, Sam’s Club and Safeway stores sometimes offer their members discounts of up to ten cents per gallon on gasoline if you are a member. Our local Safeway store gives us a ten cent discount on gas after we spend $50 on groceries.

Alter your commute time
If at all possible; schedule your trips and errands for times when there isn’t as much traffic on the roads. In an incredibly comprehensive research paper, Omninerd found that commute times varied greatly depending on the time he left his house. If your schedule allows it, try traveling to your destination earlier or later in order to avoid rush hour.

Organize Trips
Combine your trips: Instead of impulsively driving, schedule a list of errands and complete them in one drive. If you need groceries, a hair cut and have to pick the kids up from school, do them all in one trip.

Lose the extra weight
Don’t pack your car with unneeded weight as it can greatly affect your fuel economy (Subwoofers, golf clubs, etc). Bankrate has stated that “For every 250 pounds your engine hauls, the car loses about one mile per gallon in fuel economy.”

Eliminate Drag
Air resistance plays a big role in preventing your vehicle from moving. You car uses about half of the energy produced simply to disperse the air. (The other half is used in acceleration). Help your car reduce drag  and remove anything that may adversely affect its drag: bicycle racks, cargo units (like a Thule), etc.

Fuel Efficiency with your Car

Purchase a fuel-efficient car
If you are in the market for a new car, fuel economy should absolutely be considered.

• For the best cars on gas: the most fuel-efficient vehicles tested
• For the best SUVs on gas: fuel-effective SUVs
• For the best performance but also good on gas vehicles that are fuel efficient and perform

Maintenance is Key
A car in poor running condition will use additional gas than one that has been maintained properly. According to this checklist at AAP, an unclean air filter can reduce your gas mileage up to 20 percent. Spark plugs can have a similar effect, reducing mileage up to 12 percent.

Consider Synthetic Oil
There have been numerous studies on the fuel efficiency of synthetic oil. While it does cost more for an oil change, the savings can recouped with better MPG.

Be cautious of worthless fuel efficiency products
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has commented on these products saying most gas-saving products are worthless: “Be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been small.” Consumer Reports also noted “Don’t waste your money.”

Tire Pressure is important!
Under inflated tires are not just dangerous — they significantly reduce your fuel economy (By up to 25%). Over inflated tires are also inefficient in achieving optimal fuel economy. Balancing tires and keeping them aligned is also very important.

Driving Habits

Drive at a constant moderate speed
Edmunds.com found that the best way to improve fuel efficiency was to accelerate slowly and to brake over a longer distance. Aside from purchasing a new vehicle, this is the single most effective step you can take to reduce your costs. According to fueleconomy.gov: “As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.”

Cruise Control
Acceleration and deceleration will reduce your gas mileage. By eliminating the human interaction with the gas pedal, you will be able to improve fuel effificiency.

Excessive Idling
As a general rule if you are idling more than 30 seconds shut your vehicle off. Starting your vehicle does use a surge of gas but not enough to justify not shutting your vehicle off.

Anticipate upcoming stops
Stopping greatly affects fuel economy. Rather than race to each stop light, go at a slower pace so you are constantly moving instead.

Air-conditioning Myth
You always hear that Air Conditioning significantly reduces your gas mileage. While this is true, driving with your windows rolled down has an impact on the drag of your car. Either way results in about a 10% reduction of fuel efficiency. According to research results show there isn’t a noticable difference between driving with the windows down or using the A/C. Consumer Reports preformed similar tests with similar results:

“A/C uses about 1 mpg, but safety (and comfort) increase with use. Opening windows made no significant difference in our gas mileage.”

Drafting
When on the freeway try to find a large truck or car that will enable you to ‘draft’ behind the vehicle. This significantly helps reduce the drag produced by your vehicle and will save you a few cents at the pump!

Reduce your Driving all together!
The best way to save gas altogether is to stop driving. Use alternative modes of transportation such as bicycling, carpools, public transportation, etc.

When Buying Gasoline

Wednesdays are cheapest
“Gas prices are statistically the cheapest on Wednesdays, but this is only true over a large number of days. Obviously it won’t always be cheaper. Quoted from WikiHow, ”Gas prices often jump before holidays, too”.

A few cents are not worth the longer travel
Certainly buying gas at a cheaper location saves you money, but if it requires you to go a few miles out of your way sometimes it isn’t worth it. If you calculate the cost t

Purchase gas during the coolest times of the day
HowToAdvice.com states: “During these times gasoline is densest. Keep in mind – gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel”. When you fill your tank up, you don’t pay according to density so make the best and get the most out of your fill up.

Use the correct gasoline octane level required for your vehicle
A common misconception about gasoline octane is that the higher the octane, the better the mileage you get. This isn’t necessarily true. High performance cars or vehicles requiring high octane levels will benefit from the higher octane, but if you vehicle isn’t designed for premium fuel, don’t buy it.

Topping off your tank isn’t worthwhile
Overfilling often leads to wasted gas. Allow the pump to stop the gas flow.

Tighten your Gas Cap
AAP: “Improperly seated gas caps allow 147,000,000 gallons of fuel to vaporize every year in the U.S.”

Gas Credit-cards
Gas credit cards often have incentives to save a few cents on gasoline.

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