Save Money with a Fuel-Efficient Car

April 24, 2015 - by Patrick Redo

Improved fuel economy saves you cash every time you fill your tank!

Fuel efficiency is an enormous financial consideration when buying a car. In fact, buying a car that is 10 miles per gallon more efficient in terms of fuel consumption than another option you may be interested in can save you as much as $10,000 over the time you own the car.

When shopping for your next car, one of your very first questions should be, "What kind of fuel economy does it get?" Gas prices are so unpredictable that it is essential that you prepare yourself for escalating prices by making fuel economy your number one priority – so you can make driving a not-so-guilty pleasure again!

Selecting a fuel-efficient car
A good place to start is online at http://www.fueleconomy.gov where you can review the mileage and emissions ratings of all the vehicles currently for sale.

Here’s an example from www.fueleconomy.gov: A vehicle that gets 30 MPG will cost you $610 less to fuel each year than one that gets 20 MPG (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $2.44). Over a period of five years, the 30-MPG vehicle will save you $3,050. Now that’s a good chunk of change!
There are also fuel cost and savings calculators that can be used to help you make an informed decision when buying your new fuel-efficient vehicle. You can try it here file://localhost/(https/::www.fueleconomy.gov:feg:savemoney.shtml).

Another good site is http://www.edmunds.com, which also carries the EPA mileage figures on the "Specs" page of each auto.

If you’re tired of emptying your wallet every time you fill up below is a list of cars that are rated the most fuel-efficient by Consumer Reports. These gas sippers listed below are also easy on the wallet.

Ford Fiesta SFE
Mitsubishi i-MIEV
Ford Focus Electric
Nissan Leaf
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Cruze Eco
Toyota Prius
Honda Civic HF
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Veloster
Mazda 3

Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle not only will save you money on gas, but such a decision has other, broader benefits, too. It reduces oil dependence costs, reduces climate change and increases energy sustainability. Clearly, it’s a decision you can feel good about!

If you are ready to purchase that new fuel-efficient car, your local credit union offers affordable and competitive financing options on both new and used automobiles. Some credit unions will even give a discount for fuel-efficient cars, for vehicles with a 40-highway mpg rating or higher. So you will save on interest while you’re saving on gas.

allU.S. Credit Union is committed to stewardship and care of the environment. In the changing technology of our world, hybrid and fuel-efficient cars offer a chance to practice these values. Visit the branch today or apply online for an auto loan that fits your budget.

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