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January 2011

2011 Best New Car Values: Most Fuel-Efficient

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Green is still a red-hot buzzword in the auto industry, with carmakers competing to showcase their commitment to fuel savings. Not every winner is a paragon of green technology, but each vehicle we spotlight is the least thirsty in its class based on annual fuel cost.

The annual fuel cost assumes 15,000 miles of combined city and highway driving each year and fuel prices of $3.10 a gallon for regular, $3.25 for premium and $3.35 for diesel. Models must make our top 25 to be eligible, and no model can win the award if another trim level of that model has won in a previous category.

Let's go for a spin:

Data comes from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com (new vehicle data from 12/28/10, resale values from January/February 2011 Kelley Blue Book� Residual Value Guide); Vincentric (service and insurance costs); and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Top Safety Picks). Fair Purchase Price, also supplied by Kelley Blue Book, is based on actual new vehicle transactions across the country.