These 5 Cars Could Save You $850+ per Year on Gas

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There are a lot of little ways to save money on gas. For example, you can change your driving habits (aggressive driving isn't just irritating to others, it's bad for your MPGs!) or even fuel up at Costco .

But arguably the best thing you can do for your budget from a fuel perspective is upgrade from an older gas-guzzler to a newer, more efficient vehicle. This goes double if you're upgrading to a hybrid from an all-gas engine.

Curious how much the move could really save you? We did the math.

Average drivers spend $1,787 per year fueling up

To figure out how much we can save, we first need to know what we're spending. I took data from the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Energy, the EPA, and AAA to run the numbers:

• Average miles per gallon: 26.0
• Average miles per year: 13,570
• Average gallons per year: 13,570 / 26 = 521.92
• Average cost per gallon: $3.24
• Average cost per year: 521.92 * $3.424 = $1,787.05

Annual fuel savings from top-five hybrids

We took a look at the five most fuel-efficient hybrids we could find (minus the plug-ins, since they have a different metric) to see how much the switch could save drivers each year.

As it turns out, you can cut your gas bill by more than half if you upgrade from an average all-gas vehicle to a top-five hybrid. And these are just estimates -- your real savings could be more, especially if the majority of your driving is in the city.

Here's how the numbers work out.

1. $971.90: Toyota Prius (2024 Hybrid)

• Fuel economy: Up to 57 MPG
• Gallons per year: 238.07
• Average fuel cost per year: $815.15
• Savings over average gas-only vehicle: $971.90

2. $926.61: Hyundai Elantra (2024 Hybrid)

• Fuel economy: Up to 54 MPG
• Gallons per year: 251.30
• Average fuel cost per year: $860.44
• Savings over average gas-only vehicle: $926.61

3. $910.38: Kia Niro (2024 Hybrid)

• Fuel economy: Up to 53 MPG
• Gallons per year: 256.04
• Average fuel cost per year: $876.67
• Savings over average gas-only vehicle: $910.38

4. $893.53: Toyota Camry (2024 Hybrid)

• Fuel economy: Up to 52 MPG
• Gallons per year: 260.96
• Average fuel cost per year: $893.53
• Savings over average gas-only vehicle: $893.52

5. $857.78: Toyota Corolla (2024 Hybrid)

• Fuel economy: Up to 50 MPG
• Gallons per year: 271.40
• Average fuel cost per year: $929.27
• Savings over average gas-only vehicle: $857.78

Remember: It's not only about the gas

While saving money on gas is great, you need to think beyond the tank when deciding on your next vehicle. Keep these other potential costs in mind.

• Higher purchase price: The vast majority of hybrid vehicles will cost more to purchase than the gas-only equivalent. In some cases, this may be a few thousand bucks. In others, it could be $10,000 or more.
• Repairs could be costlier: Hybrids tend to have a lot more computerized parts, and batteries are expensive, all of which can lead to more expensive repairs.
• Insurance costs may be higher: Both the higher MSRP and repair costs could mean your car insurance costs a bit more compared to similar gas-only vehicles.
• More depreciation: In general, hybrids depreciate a bit faster than gas-only vehicles. However, this gap seems to be shrinking as hybrid demand increases.

It's vital to keep in mind that all of these points are broad generalities. The reality of buying a vehicle is that the real costs are going to depend entirely on the make, model, year, and condition of the specific vehicle.

As such, run your numbers with estimates while comparing your options. Then, run them again using the specific vehicle to make sure your math is still favorable before you buy.

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