cars 2013

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Price: $27,995
Gas mileage (city/highway; combined mpg): 47/47; 47
Efficiency-cost rating: 1.68

Those who prefer sedans will see that efficiency-cost ratings drop considerably. With its updates, the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid tops the growing midsize-sedan hybrid class. The Fusion Hybrid has come under high-profile scrutiny after many owners claimed they weren't achieving, or even nearing, the EPA-estimated mileage. If this concerns you, consider the next-highest-rated 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid, which held this spot last year. Its combined mileage estimate is a less impressive 41 mpg, but its base price is lower at $26,935, giving it a 1.52 rating.

Full-Size Cars

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
Price: $25,995
Gas mileage (city/highway; combined mpg): 47/47; 47
Efficiency-cost rating: 1.81

While there are no affordably priced full-size hybrid sedans, there are now reasonably priced hatchbacks larger than the Prius, including Toyota's own Prius v. However, this is the one category out of three where the Prius model doesn't rule. Thanks to its higher mileage and lower price, the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid leads. Like the Fusion Hybrid, the C-Max Hybrid has accrued a disproportionate number of complaints about its true mileage performance. If this concerns you, the Prius v has a lower, but still respectable, 1.53 efficiency-cost rating.

Midsize SUV/Crossover

2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Price: $41,015
Gas mileage (city/highway; combined mpg): 28/28; 28
Efficiency-cost rating: 0.68

The Highlander Hybrid remains the highest-rated SUV of any size, partly because Ford's Escape no longer comes as a hybrid. The 2013 Highlander Hybrid's ECR is actually lower (worse) than that of the most affordable non-hybrid Highlander (0.74), but that's because the hybrid comes only with all-wheel drive. The gas-only Highlander with all-wheel drive costs more and thus has a worse ECR than the hybrid version: 0.58.

Full-Size SUV/Crossover

2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
Price: $54,040
Gas mileage (city/highway; combined mpg): 20/23; 21
Efficiency-cost rating: 0.39

For people who need the capabilities a full-size SUV brings, the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is the most cost-effective hybrid of its size. The Tahoe Hybrid can tow up to 6,200 pounds with rear-wheel drive, so for those who take their boats to pristine lands, this is the greenest option. Or is it? If you compare features, the Tahoe Hybrid might improve on a high-priced version of the gas-only Tahoe, but with a starting price more than $13,000 less, the base Tahoe has an efficiency-cost rating of 0.42 — better than the hybrid.