Toyota Prius

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.

Toyota's Prius has toppled the Honda Civic from its two-year reign as the bestselling vehicle in California. It was a thin margin. Toyota sold 60,688 of the hybrid last year, almost 26% of the Prius cars sold by Toyota in the U.S. last year. Honda sold 57,124 Civics. The Toyota Camry was third with sales of 50,250. The sales data are from the California New Car Dealers Assn. and tracked retail auto registrations, which do not include sales to rental car companies, government and other fleet customers.

Once a rarity in the showroom, fuel-sipping hybrids are becoming an increasingly common option at dealerships. Need a big luxury sedan with all the bells and whistles that still gets 29 miles to the gallon in everyday driving? Check out the Buick LaCrosse with the eAssist mileage boosting system. How about a station wagon you can pack with children and groceries and still get 42 mpg? The Prius v fits the bill. Looking for something with high style? Wait for the upcoming edition of the Ford Fusion hybrid that's expected to hit 47 mpg. All these new hybrids are a welcome option for consumers who face high gas prices.

Two key Toyota models, the flagship Camry sedan and the Prius v wagon, failed an important new crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an insurance industry group. Honda's newly redesigned Accord tied for the top safety rating with the Suzuki Kizashi, a car that will soon no longer be sold in the United States. The redesigned Ford Fusion also scored well. The results raise concerns that the Toyota models can't provide protection from serious injuries in common accidents.

Toyota Motor Corp. announced two safety recalls for its flagship Prius hybrid. The automaker said the steering intermediate extension shafts in 670,000 Prius cars sold in the U.S. need to be inspected and in some cases replaced. And 350,000 of those hybrids also will have to have their electric water pumps replaced. Toyota will recall another 2 million vehicles worldwide, including the Prius and the Corolla, to fix the same problems.   The gas-sipping Prius has become an important vehicle for Toyota, giving the company a reputation for producing fuel-efficient, green vehicles and quietly becoming one of the best sellers in the automaker's lineup.

What are the favorite cars of America's wealthiest families? If they live in California, put the Toyota Prius hybrid on the list. Auto price information company TrueCar compiled a list of the 10 wealthiest ZIP Codes based on Internal Revenue Service data from 1,000 or more 2011 tax returns in each locale, and then looked at the auto registrations in those communities. "For affluent buyers who live in places where environmental concerns reign supreme, the Toyota Prius is the ultimate status symbol in eco-luxury," TrueCar analyst Kristen Andersson said.

When it comes to auto brands, Californians like their passenger cars from Japan, their luxury cars from Germany and their muscle cars from Detroit. The Toyota Prius beat out all other cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles to be the best selling passenger vehicle of any type in California through the first nine months of this year. Toyota sold 46,380 of the hybrids in the Golden State, according to a report from AutoCount, the car data division of Experian Co., and the California New Car Dealers Assn.  That represents more than a quarter of all Prius sales in the U.S. through the end of September.

Apple Inc. co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak has seen his share of software glitches in the gadgets he has created and in those he collects. But Wozniak said he was surprised several months ago when his 2010 Toyota Prius started accelerating on its own -- to as much as 97 mph -- when he used cruise control to increase the vehicle's speed. He said he had to tap the brakes to stop the car from accelerating. Wozniak, 59, wanted to alert Toyota Motor Corp. and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to the possible safety issue, but he grew frustrated when no one would listen.

Toyota Motor Corp. has been saying it has a hit with its new Prius c five-door hatchback, the smallest hybrid in the Prius family, and now there's independent analysis that shows it is one of the hottest small cars to hit the market in many years. In its first three days on the market this month, Toyota sold more than 1,200 of the subcompact hybrid. It starts at $18,950, but a mid-grade version has a sticker price of $21,635. To put the 1,200 sales in perspective, Edmunds.com auto analyst Jessica Caldwell pointed out that many cars, including the similarly small but non-hybrid Smart Fortwo and even Toyota's Scion XD, didn't sell even 1,000 units last month.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday that the government now is looking into complaints about problems with brakes on Toyota's popular Prius hybrid sedan, after reports that Japan's government has asked the company to investigate the issue. LaHood also advised drivers of Toyota vehicles recalled because of sudden acceleration problems to get their vehicles fixed quickly, which will be a major task for the automaker given the number of vehicles involved. Toyota Motor Corp.

If you have family coming for the holidays or just want a different ride, Simply Hybrid has a December deal that takes 30% off rentals of its hybrids and energy-efficient cars. The company will even deliver the cars to airports, hotels or other locations for free. The deal: Toyota Prius, Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and even a plug-in Prius are some of the selections in the compact category. The website provides the models available but doesn't list prices or take reservations; you have to call to get a quote and make a booking.

Toyota Motor Corp. on Wednesday announced two safety recalls for its flagship Prius hybrid and a separate agreement to pay $25.5 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit related to its sudden acceleration problems. In one recall, the automaker said the steering intermediate extension shafts in 670,000 Prius cars sold in the U.S. need to be inspected and in some cases replaced. In the second recall, 350,000 of those hybrids also will have to have their electric water pumps replaced.

As Ford took aim at the Toyota Prius, a brand now synonymous with green motoring, it needed a car that looked the part. So rather than convert an existing model, it imported a dowdy hatchback from Europe - tall greenhouse, short hood - and dropped in a hybrid power plant, resulting in the 2013 C-Max. Thankfully, it doesn't drive the way it looks. Pushed from a dead stop, the five-door Ford eagerly chirps its tires as it launches on a zero-to-60-mph run of just 8.2 seconds, according to Motor Trend.

Toyota Motor Corp. announced two safety recalls for its flagship Prius hybrid. The automaker said the steering intermediate extension shafts in 670,000 Prius cars sold in the U.S. need to be inspected and in some cases replaced. And 350,000 of those hybrids also will have to have their electric water pumps replaced. Toyota will recall another 2 million vehicles worldwide, including the Prius and the Corolla, to fix the same problems.   The gas-sipping Prius has become an important vehicle for Toyota, giving the company a reputation for producing fuel-efficient, green vehicles and quietly becoming one of the best sellers in the automaker's lineup.

When it comes to auto brands, Californians like their passenger cars from Japan, their luxury cars from Germany and their muscle cars from Detroit. The Toyota Prius beat out all other cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles to be the best selling passenger vehicle of any type in California through the first nine months of this year. Toyota sold 46,380 of the hybrids in the Golden State, according to a report from AutoCount, the car data division of Experian Co., and the California New Car Dealers Assn.  That represents more than a quarter of all Prius sales in the U.S. through the end of September.

Last Friday, I set out to write a blog post that would answer the question, "With gasoline prices spiking, are electric cars really a good deal?" I learned two things from this exercise. First, doing a cost/benefit analysis comparing vehicles is trickier than it seems, thanks to differing government incentive programs that can radically alter the cost equation. Second, readers are really, really passionate about this topic. After having been informed, repeatedly and in no uncertain terms, about my many failings on that post, I've decided to start over -- hopefully screw-up free this time, and with a new comparison among "green" cars.

Rising gas prices have reignited sales of the fuel-sipping Prius hybrid, and dealers are getting more money for the Toyota sedan. There's just one problem — they are starting to run out of cars. Some don't have any in their showrooms for shoppers to drive home. Others say their stock is dwindling quickly. Continuing disruptions caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan are rippling across the globe. Toyota Motor Corp. restarted the Prius factory early this week but closed it down again Wednesday to reassess its part supply.

In another serious blow to Toyota, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday morning that is opening a formal defect investigation of the 2010 Toyota Prius, examining allegations that the hybrid vehicle momentarily loses braking when it goes over uneven roads or hits potholes. The investigation, launched after the agency had received 124 reports from consumers, is another blow to Toyota's eroding reputation for quality and safety. It comes after the company was forced late last month to suspend sales and production of its most popular vehicles because of defects that could cause sudden acceleration.

This post has been updated from its original version. A new paragraph, marked by an asterisk, has been added. Walking the dog the other morning, I heard an odd whistle and hum behind me; it was one of my neighbors returning home (I happened to be standing in front of his driveway at the time), driving his new Nissan Leaf electric car. "How do you like your Leaf?" I asked, while dragging the pooch out of his path. "Man, I absolutely love it. I haven't been to a gas station in, like, two months.

What are the favorite cars of America's wealthiest families? If they live in California, put the Toyota Prius hybrid on the list. Auto price information company TrueCar compiled a list of the 10 wealthiest ZIP Codes based on Internal Revenue Service data from 1,000 or more 2011 tax returns in each locale, and then looked at the auto registrations in those communities. "For affluent buyers who live in places where environmental concerns reign supreme, the Toyota Prius is the ultimate status symbol in eco-luxury," TrueCar analyst Kristen Andersson said.