5 hybrids with the best MPG in 2013

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I read an article online about gas prices, and in the comments section, a lady was reminiscing about when it only cost $1.50 a gallon. Could you imagine filling your tank up for less than twenty bucks? It almost seems like ancient history (and in fact, 2003 was the last time gas was round $1.59/gallon).

With prices dancing near the four dollar mark, now is certainly not the best time to own a gas guzzler, especially if the car you're driving is your daily vehicle that has to travel 40 or more miles round trip in a day. So what do you do if you want to get the absolute best efficiency possible out of your car? Consider switching to a hybrid.

The technology for all electric (also called "Plug-in") vehicles is still quite a ways off when it comes to achieving good mileage on a single battery charge, leaving hybrid vehicles as the most accessible choice. Whether you need something compact, or prefer a roomy and spacious ride, there's a hybrid for your needs!

Here are the five most efficient hybrids currently available, with most priced under $30K:

1. 2013 Toyota Prius C - 50 combined mpg (53 city/46 hwy)

This is Toyota's most efficient Prius on the market. It's smaller and lighter than the original Prius, with a body style similar to that of a Toyota Yaris. The base model of the Prius C is priced just over $19,000, making it the most affordable hybrid on the market.

2. 2013 Toyota Prius - 50 combined mpg (51 city/48 hwy)

Toyota's flagship hybrid, the original model Prius continues to remain on top, only beaten out slightly by its smaller cousin. The Prius is known for it's unique look and incredibly quiet driving experience. Compared to the C, it's slightly better for long trips on the highway, but not as efficient in traffic. The 2013 "Two" model is available for around $25,289.

3. 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - 45 mpg (45 city, 45 hwy)

Who would have ever guessed a luxury brand like Lincoln would have one of the more efficient cars on the market? The MKZ is priced around $36,800 and has a stylish exterior.

4. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid - 45 mpg (42 city, 48 hwy)

The Jetta Hybrid is Volkswagen's second hybrid sold in the U.S., and the German automaker is trying hard to move away from being only known for selling efficient diesel vehicles. The Jetta Hybrid features a turbocharged engine and outputs 170 HP with a price tag of around $24,995.

5. 2013 Honda Insight - 42 mpg (41 city, 44 hwy)

The Insight gets praise for being one of the cheapest hybrids available, with a starting cost of around $18,600 for the most basic model. While the MPG numbers aren't as high as the Prius or Prius C in terms of  it's still a practical choice.

Do you drive any of these vehicles? What are your impressions of them? 

Across the Country on 10 Gallons of Gas

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It sounds like a joke. Traveling 2,532 miles on only ten gallons of gas? But this professor is serious...and he's got the technology, prowess, and just enough crazy in his blood to do it!

Cliff Ricketts, a 63  year old professor of agricultural education at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, spent the past 34 years of his life researching alternative fuels. He announced his plans last week to travel from Georgia, to Long Beach, California. The idea stemmed from his fear of rising gas prices and the thought that if an oil crisis were to occur, people would need a backup option in case the price per gallon ramped up to $10 or more. As evidenced by my previous blog post back in January, the tell-tale signs are clear that gas isn't getting any cheaper!

Rickett's plan to drive this extraordinary distance is fueled, literally speaking, on the power of three specially equipped Toyota vehicles- a 1994 Tercer, and two Prii (the official plural form of Prius, according to Toyota!) 
Each of these vehicles is outfitted to run on a combination of compressed hydrogen, as well as solar power and an ethanol/gasoline mixture. Cliff would have used purely hydrogen, but could not secure all of the hydrogen tanks he needed in time for the trip.
He claims his motive is not so much an environmental message as it is a message on fuel efficiency. Now, flash forward and Cliff has done the unimaginable: he made it to his destination in not only record time but also using only two gallons of gasoline!

His cross country journey took five days, and spanned from Tybee Island, Georgia, to Tennessee, and then through Arkansas, and then all the way out west to Long Beach. The majority of the trip was done on Interstate 40, not to be confused with the highway 40 that we all know and love in St. Louis!

After reaching Long Beach, Cliff walked onto the beach and dipped his toes into the Pacific Ocean. "I feel like I climbed Mount Everest," he said. "This has significance in life and it has significance for mankind."

Has the rising cost of gas changed your perception on hybrids like the Prius C, or alternative fuel vehicles? Where would you travel to if you could road trip with such an efficient vehicle?