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The Ultimate Guide to Buying Used Fuel-Efficient Cars Online

Looking for a used fuel-efficient car for your family? You’re in the right place! This guide will help you find a car that saves gas money without sacrificing comfort or space. We’ll cover everything from hybrid options to regular gas-powered models, giving you the info you need to make a smart choice. Key Takeaways 7-seater family cars offer versatility and space for growing familiesHybrid vehicles provide excellent fuel efficiency and lower environmental impactConsider factors like MPG ratings, safety features, and total cost of ownershipModern fuel-saving technologies can significantly improve a car’s efficiencyBalance fuel efficiency with other crucial family car needs like comfort and reliabilityThoroughly inspect and test drive any used car before purchasingExplore various financing options to find the best

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2020 Toyota Prius: hybrid sedan still worthy after all these years

The Toyota Prius, a combined gas-electric hybrid, was introduced into the United States in 2000, three years after it debuted in Japan. It was a dream car for the ecologically minded. But its freakish looks and sluggish engine prompted brutal criticism. It was called hideous to a larva on wheels. Key Takeaways Real-world 58 mpg on an 800-mile Sacramento-to-LA test: The reviewer averaged 58 mpg — more than 10 percent above the EPA combined estimate — negotiating Interstate 5 traffic and the Grapevine grades. Fourth-generation facelift finally looks modern: 2020 upgrades include Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, a 7-inch center display, and standard safety connection services across every trim. 121-hp 1.8-liter four handles highway pace without flinching: Even with traffic exceeding

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime has short shift, not short shrift

The transfer today for stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California took me from Morro Bay to Santa Clarita, California, and I’ve now driven a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid for a week. I’ve covered 775 miles and averaged 55.9 mpg, nearly two miles per gallon more than plug-in hybrid’s rating. The route from Morro Bay was a coastal trek on Highway 1 and then a diversion to Highway 101 south for about two hours. The route then turned inland on 154 through small hamlets before rejoining 101. The final short stretch into Santa Clarita was a switch to smaller inland roads on state route 126. The drive covered 184 miles. With two brief stops to stretch and

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Lexus, Porsche top J.D. Power reliability survey

Lexus and Porsche are the most dependable car brands after three years of ownership, according to the 28th annual survey conducted J.D. Power, the global marketing research company. It is the sixth consecutive year that Lexus topped J.D. Power’s annual U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. The streak puts Lexus halfway to tying its record of 12 consecutive titles for most dependable brand between from 1997 to 2008. Toyota, Buick and Mercedes-Benz rounded out the top five brands overall. Mercedes, Hyundai (No. 6), BMW (No. 7) and Jaguar (No. 10) were newcomers to the Top 10 this year, while GMC, Acura, Ram and Lincoln dropped out. The industry averaged 156 problems per 100 vehicles in the latest dependability study, up by four

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IIHS safety rankings for 2016: American cars shunned

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released its annual list of automotive safety awards. Japanese carmakers dominated the top picks while only one American vehicle received the top rating in the 2016 ratings. Among 48 vehicles that received the IIHS “Top Safety Pick Plus” rating, 23 were from Toyota, Honda and Subaru. Toyota and Honda, including their subsidiaries Scion, Lexus and Acura, were the top two automakers, overall. Volkswagen came in third with seven VW and Audi models on the list. The Chrysler 200 was the only vehicle from a domestic brand to get the top safety rating. To be a “Top Safety Pick Plus,” vehicles must get the top score in all five of the group’s crash

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2015 Ford C-Max: Underdog hybrid still chasing Prius (VIDEO)

Ford isn’t the only manufacturer attempting to infiltrate the hybrid segment dominance of the Toyota Prius. But three years ago it started its best effort, the highly touted Ford C-Max hybrid-only line-up. Ford’s marketing plan included a motto directly pointed at Toyota. It promoted the debut 2013 C-Max as “a hybrid that drives and looks like a real car.” Like previous years’ models, the 2015 Ford C-Max is true to the carmaker’s claim. It looks and drives like a non-hybrid. It’s available as a gas-electric hybrid as the Energi, a plug-in hybrid. The Ford C-Max hasn’t significantly dented the Toyota Prius market share, but it’s like its main competitor in two respects. It’s not available in a gas-only model, much

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Toyota Prius recalls continue with software, hybrid system woes

Toyota and recalls as synonymous. The Japanese manufacturer has announced another recall, this time 625,000 Prius models worldwide for a software issue. that could result in the failure of the hybrid system. In the United States, the recall affects 109,000 Prius V models from 2012, 2013 and 2014. The issue in the current software for the motor/generator control and hybrid control ECU’s can cause increases temperatures near some transistor. A warning light would warn drivers, but it could also escalate and cause the hybrid system severe damage. Dealers will upgrade the software for both ECUs to fix the issue. Toyota will notify owners in the U.S. by mail about scheduling repairs. According to Reuters, the international news agency, about 340,000

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10 cars To Drive 200,000 miles? Meet Toyota, Honda

Since the average price of a new car in the United States hovers at around $30,000, it’s safe to assume more consumers are considering keeping their current cars longer. It’s probably a good idea, too, since Consumer Reports has released a list of 10 vehicles likely to drive at least 200,000 miles. The list has some obvious and some surprising choices and it’s lead by a sure bet — the Toyota Prius. It’s the top-selling hybrid, of course, and the Prius family of cars is expansive. The Prius C is the smallest Prius offered and the lineup extends through several editions of the Prius hatchback and continues to the largest in the family, the Prius V. The Consumer Reports’ list

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2015 Toyota Prius: great efficiency, but rivals challenging

Now a mainstay in the car industry, the Toyota Prius family is ever expanding. It includes five trims of the original hatchback as well as the compact Prius C and Prius V wagon, the largest offering in the hybrid clan. The Persona Series is new for 2015 and adds a half-dozen cosmetic items to the lengthy list of standard features. But overall, the 2015 Prius lineup has only one major change. A rearview camera is now standard on all hatchback models. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Toyota Prius, including my weekly driver Five trim, is a five-passenger hatchback hybrid. It debuted in the United States in 2001, quickly gained national attention and moved to the top of the

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The Family of Prius, hybrid cars still dominate

The Toyota Prius wasn’t the first hybrid vehicle in the United States. That honor belongs to the Honda Insight. But the Prius, which debuted a few months later, has been the most successful alternative fuel car in the United States — by a substantial margin — since its unveiling in 2000. In the past 15 years, many manufacturers have joined the gas-electric hybrid segment, some offering several varieties of environmentally “green” vehicles. Competition is keen, but the Prius still dominates the segment with Toyota expanding its hybrid offerings a few years ago. The family of Prii (the plural of Prius was put to public vote in 2011) now also includes Priu plug-in hybrid as well as v and c models.

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Lexus, Mazda shine in 2014 Best Family Car list

A family car once meant a station wagon or a lackluster, underpowered box-like sedan. No more. For 2014, U.S. News & World Report has selected performance cars and family oriented cars that are perfectly capable for single drivers. The magazine (and its corresponding online edition) has selected the best vehicles for families in 19 categories, compact cars to minivans, hatchback to luxury cars. The 2014 Mazda6, the Best Midsize Car for Families, and the 2014 Mazda3, the Best Compact Car for Families, both have performance that car reviewers love. That performance comes in addition to available high-tech safety features, like forward collision warning and lane departure warning, as well as spacious cabins most car critics agree feel upscale. The Honda

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2013 Nissan Pathfinder: best family affair on wheels

There was a time when categorizing a car as a “family car” translated into “boring car.” But that generalization, once well-founded, is now long gone. With 2013 models, including the top-rated Nissan Pathfinder, a new definition is particularly necessary. Family cars are great for families and some great family cars, like the Honda Odyssey and Honda CR-V, are so versatile, they’re ideal for families of one, too. Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the esteemed vehicle assessment site, likes car lists and one of its best annual lists is its Best Family Car list. The editors at KBB have selected the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder their No. 1 choice. The editors reported: “This year’s number one isn’t just all-new for 2013, it’s completely

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2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid: New competitor for dominant Toyota Prius

The all-new 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid is designed to outgun the popular Prius V model, the largest Prius hybrid model. That’s a big job because the Prius is the darling in its various forms of the hybrid-car crowd. However, the front-drive C-Max appears to be a fairly well proven vehicle in that Ford says more than 100,000 have been sold in Europe since it was launched in late 2010. The Prius V is rather boring to drive, but the five-passenger C-Max is based on the sporty Ford Focus, which Ford proclaims was the world’s top-selling passenger car in 2012. Ford calls the C-Max Hybrid “the right car for the time as it combines the dynamics and quality of a traditional

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How to buy the best used electric vehicle

It’s been about 15 years since hybrid and electric cars first entered mainstream global automotive market. Which means, led by the Toyota Prius, car buyers in the market for second- electric cars now have an expanding versatile selection. Toyota introduced the Prius in 1997 and its global sales have now surpassed four million, far exceeding all hybrid and electric sales combined. As a result, used Prius models, which now also include the Prius Liftback, Prius C, Prius V and Prius Plug-In Electric, are plentiful and logically a best choice among shoppers seeking a used electric car. There are plenty of parts and plenty of mechanics who know Toyota intimately. Of course, there are other choices. In 2011 more than 30

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2013 Ford C-Max among Green Car of the Year finalists at LA Auto Show

The just released 2013 Ford C-MAX hybrid plug-in Energi  and its sibling hybrid as well as the Ford Fusion, Dodge Dart Aero, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota Prius are finalists for Green Car of the Year honors, a highlight of the pending Los Angeles Auto Show. The eighth annual award, which is presented to the car that best exemplifies leadership in environmental concerns, is the brainchild of the Green Car Journal. It will be announced Nov. 29, the second press day of the the show. In addition to the publication’s editorial staff, the panel selecting the winning vehicle includes the director of the Sierra Club, Jacques Cousteau’s eldest son, and noted auto enthusiast and collector Jay Leno. The Honda Civic Natural

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Toyota surpasses four million hybrid vehicles sold since 1997 debut

The Toyota Prius dominates the hybrid car segment and it's the primary reason why 16 years after its debut, the carmaker recently surpassed four million hybrid units sold. Toyota currently sells 18 hybrid passenger vehicles in 80 countries and regions. This year, hybrid vehicle accounted for 15 percent of TMC’s global vehicle sales. Prius, Toyota’s first hybrid passenger car, went on sale in Japan in 1997. Hybrid technology was later introduced to the U.S. in 2000 with the arrival of the Prius. Since then, the Toyota Division of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. sold 1.5 million hybrid vehicles in the U.S., accounting for 65 percent of all hybrid vehicles sold in the region. Prius, the iconic hybrid brand, comprises half

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