Top 10 most fuel efficient cars which are best to buy?

Hundai fuel efficient car

Gas prices rose again this week, the summer driving season is around the corner and they are demonstrating today in Saudi Arabia.So before gas hits $5 a gallon, we thought it would be a good day to look at the Top 10 most fuel-efficient rides you can buy -- based on EPA combined mileage ratings that better reflect what you'll average per year -- and the cost to drive them.

Toyota fuel efficient car

We've included -- courtesy of industry researcher TrueCar.com, an industry price and trend tracker -- the cost to drive these cars 15,000 miles a year, at $3.52 a gallon (the national average) and at $5 a gallon. We also included the car's sticker price and TrueCar calculation of what people actually have been paying for one in the past 30 days.(Yes, you could bypass these and go for a pure electric -- if your commuting needs allow, if your family vacations are "staycations," if you have a garage to handle a charger, etc. But that's a lot of ifs, and their availability is limited.)
Of the top 10, nine are gas-electric hybrids, topped by Toyota's 2011 Prius. The only non-hybrid in the top 10 is the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.
When buying a gas-miser, "consumers should consider two factors – price (to buy it) and annual cost of fuel," advises Jesse Toprak, VP of industry trends and insights at TrueCar. His analysis of the list: "If you're looking for the most fuel-efficient car, the Toyota Prius wins. If you're looking for the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient car, the Hyundai Elantra is the clear winner."
The Top 10 and their costs to buy and drive:

2011 Toyota Prius

• Type: Compact sedan
• Base model sticker price: $23,810
• Average people pay: $22,235
• Combined EPA rating: 49.6 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 302 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,064
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,512

2011 Lexus CT 200h

• Type: Compact luxury sedan
• Base model sticker price: $29,995
• Average people pay: $30,013
• Combined EPA rating: 41.6 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 361 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,269
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,803

2011 Honda Insight

• Type: Compact sedan
• Base model sticker price: $18,950
• Average people pay: $17,851
• Combined EPA rating: 41.3 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 363 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,279
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,816

2011 Honda Civic Hybrid

• Type: Compact sedan
• Base model sticker price: $24,700
• Average people pay: $23,290
• Combined EPA rating: 41.3
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 363 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,2792
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,816

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (and sibling Ford Fusion)

• Type: Luxury mid-size sedan (mid-size sedan)
• Base model sticker price: $35,455 ($29,100)
• Average people pay: $33,478
• Combined EPA rating: 38.6 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 389 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,368
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $1,944

2011 Chevrolet Volt

• Type: Compact sedan
• Base model sticker price: $41,000
• Average people pay: $40,893
• Combined EPA rating: 37.1 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 404 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,424
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,022

2011 Lexus HS 250h

• Type: Luxury mid-size sedan
• Base model sticker price: $36,475
• Average people pay: $34,872
• Combined EPA rating: 34.5 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 434 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,529
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,171

2011 Honda CR-Z

• Type: Sub-compact two-door sedan
• Base model sticker price: $20,095
• Average people pay: $19,731
• Combined EPA rating: 33.4 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 449 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,579
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,243

2011 Hyundai Elantra

• Type: Compact sedan
• Base model sticker price: $15,550
• Average people pay: $15,052
• Combined EPA rating: 33.1 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 453 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,595
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,266

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

• Type: Mid-size sedan
• Base model sticker price: $27,435
• Average people pay: $25,138
• Combined EPA rating: 32.7 mpg
• Gas burned in 15,ooo miles: 459 gal.
• Cost per 15,000-mile year at $3.52/gal.: $1,616
• Cost per $15,000-mile year at $5/gal.: $2,295