Continuously Variable Transmission

With gas prices continuing a steady upward climb, you may be headed to the dealer in search of something less thirsty at the pump. But which cars' sticker price gives you the most bang for your buck? We asked Edmunds.com to look at the vehicles with the lowest sticker price per fuel-economy rating. The math was simple: divide the car's base price by its EPA rating for combined fuel economy. The result gives a look at how much each mile per gallon will cost you. Photos: Top 10 cars with lowest cost per mpg Topping the list is Ford's C-Max Energi.

Though there were several media preview events earlier this week, Toyota officially kicked off the first of two media days at the 2013 New York International Auto Show on Wednesday morning by introducing the all-new Highlander crossover SUV. Well, mostly new. Though the Highlander wears handsome new sheet metal and grows in size noticeably, the heart of the crossover remains largely unchanged. PHOTOS: Toyota's 2014 Highlander That means the 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine will be standard and come with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive only.

Though there were several media preview events earlier this week, Toyota officially kicked off the first of two media days at the 2013 New York International Auto Show on Wednesday morning by introducing the all-new Highlander crossover SUV. Well, mostly new. Though the Highlander wears handsome new sheet metal and grows in size noticeably, the heart of the crossover remains largely unchanged. PHOTOS: Toyota's 2014 Highlander That means the 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine will be standard and come with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive only.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder Base price: $29,095 (including destination charge) Price, model tested: $39,995, Pathfinder Platinum 2WD Powertrain: 3.5-liter, DOHC V-6 engine; continuously variable transmission (CVT) Horsepower: 260 at 6,400 rpm Torque: 240 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm 0-60: 7.6 seconds for 4WD model, according to Truck Trend Curb weight: 4,330 pounds Wheelbase: 114.2 inches Overall length: 197.2 inches EPA fuel economy: 20 mpg city/26 highway Final thoughts: Better at climbing to the top of the segment than climbing mountains

2012 Honda Civic Base price: $16,355 (including destination charge) Price as tested: $24,205 (including destination charge) Powertrain: Multipoint fuel injection, 1.8-liter, inline four-cylinder, four valves per cylinder, i-VTEC intelligent valve control system, SOHC, five-speed automatic, continuously variable transmission Torque: 128 pound-feet at 4,300 rpm Horsepower: 140 at 6,500 rpm Wheelbase: 105.1 inches Overall length: 177.3 inches Curb weight: 2,773 pounds 0 to 60: 9.2 seconds EPA fuel economy: 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway Final thoughts: Unpretentious performer

2013 Infiniti JX Base price: $41,400 (including destination charge) Price, model tested: $55,175; AWD model with premium, theater, deluxe touring and driver assistance packages. Powertrain: 3.5-liter, DOHC V-6 engine; continuously-variable transmission with simulated manual mode Horsepower: 265 at 6,400 rpm Torque: 248 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm 0-60: 7.9 seconds, according to Motor Trend magazine Curb weight: 4,419 pounds Wheelbase: 114.2 inches Overall length: 196.4 inches EPA fuel economy: 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway Final thoughts: Crosses over into comfort for the whole family

2011 Lexus CT 200h Base price: $29,995 (including destination charge) Price , as tested: $32,325 Powertrain: 1.8-liter, inline four cylinder DOHC with VVT-i engine with 60-kilowatt electric drive motor; electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) Horsepower: 134 Torque: 142 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm (gas engine only) 0-60 acceleration: 9.8 seconds Curb weight: 3,130 pounds    Wheelbase: 102.4 inches Overall length: 170.1 inches EPA fuel economy: 43 mpg city/40 mpg highway Final thoughts: A hybrid hybrid.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder Base price: $29,095 (including destination charge) Price, model tested: $39,995, Pathfinder Platinum 2WD Powertrain: 3.5-liter, DOHC V-6 engine; continuously variable transmission (CVT) Horsepower: 260 at 6,400 rpm Torque: 240 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm 0-60: 7.6 seconds for 4WD model, according to Truck Trend Curb weight: 4,330 pounds Wheelbase: 114.2 inches Overall length: 197.2 inches EPA fuel economy: 20 mpg city/26 highway Final thoughts: Better at climbing to the top of the segment than climbing mountains

2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Base price: $18,245 (including destination charge) Price, model tested: $25,345, Sport Limited five-door Powertrain: 2.0-liter, DOHC, four-cylinder boxer engine; continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters Horsepower: 148 at 6,200 rpm Torque: 145 pound-feet at 4,200 rpm 0-60: 9.8 seconds Curb weight: 3,086 pounds Wheelbase: 104.1 inches ...

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid Base price: $25,995 (including destination) Price, model tested: $28,680, C-Max Hybrid SE Powertrain: 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine paired with a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor powered by a 1.4-kWh lithium-ion battery; continuously variable transmission (CVT) Horsepower: 188 0-60: 8.2 seconds, according to Motor Trend Curb weight: 3,640 pounds Wheelbase: 104.3 inches Overall length: 173.6 inches EPA fuel economy: 47/47 mpg city and highway Final thoughts: Faster than it looks

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid Base price: $25,995 (including destination) Price, model tested: $28,680, C-Max Hybrid SE Powertrain: 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine paired with a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor powered by a 1.4-kWh lithium-ion battery; continuously variable transmission (CVT) Horsepower: 188 0-60: 8.2 seconds, according to Motor Trend Curb weight: 3,640 pounds Wheelbase: 104.3 inches Overall length: 173.6 inches EPA fuel economy: 47/47 mpg city and highway Final thoughts: Faster than it looks

2013 Infiniti JX Base price: $41,400 (including destination charge) Price, model tested: $55,175; AWD model with premium, theater, deluxe touring and driver assistance packages. Powertrain: 3.5-liter, DOHC V-6 engine; continuously-variable transmission with simulated manual mode Horsepower: 265 at 6,400 rpm Torque: 248 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm 0-60: 7.9 seconds, according to Motor Trend magazine Curb weight: 4,419 pounds Wheelbase: 114.2 inches Overall length: 196.4 inches EPA fuel economy: 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway Final thoughts: Crosses over into comfort for the whole family

2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Base price: $18,245 (including destination charge) Price, model tested: $25,345, Sport Limited five-door Powertrain: 2.0-liter, DOHC, four-cylinder boxer engine; continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters Horsepower: 148 at 6,200 rpm Torque: 145 pound-feet at 4,200 rpm 0-60: 9.8 seconds Curb weight: 3,086 pounds Wheelbase: 104.1 inches ...

Nissan nails unconventional. One has only to spend some time driving the all-electric Leaf, the spunky Juke crossover or the anomalous Murano CrossCabriolet to know this is a company that takes risks -- and succeeds from them. So one would think such a forward-thinking carmaker would have no trouble bringing innovation and appeal to the table when it came time to redo something as blase as a minivan. Nope. The Nissan Quest returns to the U.S. for 2011 after a yearlong hiatus.

2012 Honda Civic Base price: $16,355 (including destination charge) Price as tested: $24,205 (including destination charge) Powertrain: Multipoint fuel injection, 1.8-liter, inline four-cylinder, four valves per cylinder, i-VTEC intelligent valve control system, SOHC, five-speed automatic, continuously variable transmission Torque: 128 pound-feet at 4,300 rpm Horsepower: 140 at 6,500 rpm Wheelbase: 105.1 inches Overall length: 177.3 inches Curb weight: 2,773 pounds 0 to 60: 9.2 seconds EPA fuel economy: 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway Final thoughts: Unpretentious performer

2011 Lexus CT 200h Base price: $29,995 (including destination charge) Price , as tested: $32,325 Powertrain: 1.8-liter, inline four cylinder DOHC with VVT-i engine with 60-kilowatt electric drive motor; electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) Horsepower: 134 Torque: 142 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm (gas engine only) 0-60 acceleration: 9.8 seconds Curb weight: 3,130 pounds    Wheelbase: 102.4 inches Overall length: 170.1 inches EPA fuel economy: 43 mpg city/40 mpg highway Final thoughts: A hybrid hybrid.

Magic. The word itself is thrilling. It promises surprises (good ones). Mystery. And if you're lucky, a little humor. Everyone knows the good stuff centers around optical illusions. Attractive blonds are cut in half, yet they maintain their game-show bright, five-out-of-five-dentists-recommend-your-teeth-look-like-this smile. Pull your annoying nephew out of the crowd and lay him on a table. Good magic will levitate him a dozen feet above the stage with the aid of little more than some opportune puffs of smoke.

Nissan nails unconventional. One has only to spend some time driving the all-electric Leaf, the spunky Juke crossover or the anomalous Murano CrossCabriolet to know this is a company that takes risks -- and succeeds from them. So one would think such a forward-thinking carmaker would have no trouble bringing innovation and appeal to the table when it came time to redo something as blase as a minivan. Nope. The Nissan Quest returns to the U.S. for 2011 after a yearlong hiatus.

Magic. The word itself is thrilling. It promises surprises (good ones). Mystery. And if you're lucky, a little humor. Everyone knows the good stuff centers around optical illusions. Attractive blonds are cut in half, yet they maintain their game-show bright, five-out-of-five-dentists-recommend-your-teeth-look-like-this smile. Pull your annoying nephew out of the crowd and lay him on a table. Good magic will levitate him a dozen feet above the stage with the aid of little more than some opportune puffs of smoke.