Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2007

Toyota Yaris: 37

Classified as a subcompact, the new Yaris is offered in sedan and liftback form to compete against the also small Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. The lightweight Yaris is sold with a sensible 106 horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A four-speed automatic transmission is optional, while a more fuel thrifty five-speed manual gearbox is standard.

Toyota Corolla: 36

If you've noticed the relationship between engine size and fuel economy, the Corolla is no exception. While still getting respectable mileage, the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gas engine hits 126 horsepower with nearly as much torque. The combined mileage is based on the Corolla's manual transmission, but the five-speed automatic isn't far behind. All Toyota Corolla models are delivered with the same 1.8-liter engine.

Honda Fit: 35

The subcompact Honda Fit competes with the Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. The standard 1.5-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine delivers 109 horsepower. Combined mileage is based on the Fit's standard five-speed automatic transmission, although the optional automatic produces results that are nearly as impressive. The available Honda Fit Sport, tuned to offer a bit more oomph for sport driving enthusiasts, offers a bit more power and a bit less fuel efficiency.

MINI Cooper: 35

The MINI Cooper's standard 120 horsepower 1.6-liter engine with manual transmission offers an enticing blend of useable power and fuel efficiency. Unfortunately the same can't be said for other, more decked out MINIs. MINI Cooper S, MINI Cooper Convertible, and any possible combination of the two, while not exactly gas guzzlers, are unfortunately, not nearly as sensible with their consumption as their base model ancestor. Unfortunately cuteness points are not awarded.

Ford Escape Hybrid: 34

Ford's little SUV is the only thing that approaches a truck to make the list. Ford uses the traditional combination of gas and electric motor to achieve the mileage, which is only available on the front-wheel drive model. The 4x4 Escape hybrid drops three miles per gallon, which is still a decent trade-off for the practicality of 4WD. This is also the biggest engine on the list, a 2.3-liter rated at 133 horsepower and 124 lb.-ft. of torque. Non-hybrid Ford Escape models, while still remaining fairly utilitarian, do not offer nearly as impressive efficiency.