With so many different models to choose from, including manufacturers developing hybrid SUVs, crossovers, hybrid sedans, hyrbrid trucks, there are so many choices for all consumers on the market today. So, when looking for the best 2011 hybrid vehicles on the market, where should a consumer turn for the best pricing, most reliable vehicles, newest models, and obviously, best fuel efficiency ratings. So, here is a list of the top 2011 hybrid vehicles which have been introduced, and which most consumers have been flocking to buy on the market this year.

First is the 2011 Toyota Prius. Toyota has always had fuel efficient vehicles, but the Prius really pushes the boundaries. The Prius is a compact sedan, with a base sticker price of $23,810. The vehicle gets a combined 49.6 MPG, which trumps above competitors, and has made the Prius one of the most widely sold hybrids in the US, and overseas, for about five years now. For 15,000 miles drive, it only takes 302 gallons of gas to fuel. Consumers can expect to save many trips to the gas station, and feel free to drive, no matter what the distance they have to travel. With great safety features, excellent interior and exterior add-ons, and a manufacturer which is trusted around the world, the Prius is a great buy for all consumers.

Another great 2011 model is the 2011 Lexus CT 200h hybrid. This compact luxury sedan comes in at a base sticker price of $29,995 due to the luxurious features, and the Lexus name. The vehicle gets a combined 41.6 MPG, which is excellent fuel mileage for Lexus. The vehicle will burn approximately 361 gallons for 15,000 miles drive. With the luxurious name and prestige which the Lexus name brings, this is a great way to save on fuel, and still have luxury.

The next model is the 2011 Honda Insight. The manufacturer has recently been gaining ground in 2011, due to so many new hybrid models being introduced, across the entire Honda family; from sedans to larger vehicles. The Insight is a compact sedan, and comes is at a base price of only $18,950, which is extremely low priced for hybrids on the market. The Insight also gets 41.6 MPG combined, and 361 gallons, to fuel 15,000 miles. The vehicle has recently been coming up in sales, due to the low sticker price, and the great gas mileage.

Honda Civic Hybrid

A couple other notable contendors are the 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid which gets 41.3 MPG combined, and the 2011 Chevrolet Volt getting 37.1 MPG combined. No matter which hybrid you choose, consumers can get ready to drive, and skip the gas pump alot more often.

The Honda Insight was first released in 1999 and is considered one of the most affordable hybrid cars available. The Insight was given the highest EPA rating for fuel economy that is currently available on the market, 70 miles per gallon. The Insight is a hybrid electric car as it runs on both gasoline and electricity. The 2011 model is currently selling at about $21,000USD. While the Insight has great gas mileage this is not the fastest hybrid vehicle available. Though Car and Driver magazine did prefer this hybrid for its fun to drive characteristics.

Honda has also produced two other hybrid vehicles: The Honda Civic and the Honda Accord. The Civic was the first hybrid vehicle to achieve Partial Zero Emission status. This five passenger car managed 50 miles per gallon and has a starting price of just under $24,000USD. The Honda Accord is considered one of the best performance hybrids available and is the second best selling hybrid car in the United States. This Civic is about $2,000 more than its gas counterpart and was estimated that it would take about five years to recover any costs.

The Toyota Camry hybrid stays under $30,000 with a base price of $26,500USD. This is a gas/electric vehicle that was introduced to buyers in 2006. Unlike other affordable hybrid cars the Camry Hybrid uses electric powered brakes, steering and air conditioning. The car can run as a gas-only vehicle, electric only vehicle or both. The dash provides information about power distribution and contains a fuel economy readout. Toyota has been trying to change to look of the hybrid so it can easily be differentiated form the gas only Camry. Gas mileage is only about 30 to 35 miles per gallon, quite a bit lower than other hybrids.

The first hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius is also an affordable vehicle with a price range of $22,000 to $28,000USD. This car gets excellent gas mileage with 51 miles per gallon city driving and 48 miles per gallon highway driving. Some fun features include voice activated navigation and traffic reports with the navigation system. One complaint is the lightness of the vehicle which can make driving in wintery or windy conditions very difficult.

The Ford Fusion hybrid has a base price of $28,000USD and if any extras are included then the car exceeds what may be considered affordable. It has an automatic transmission and typically gets 700 miles to a tank of gas. This is a popular hybrid vehicle that was awarded best in Show when it debuted in 2010. This was Motor trend’s Car of the year and considered one of the top 10 cars of 21010 by Car and Driver magazine. This vehicle created a new benchmark for hybrid cars. It linked the hybrid power train with a fun car that has excellent performance. It has quickly become the hybrid car to own, and is poised to edge the Prius and Insight out of the top spots.

There are a few other factors to take into consideration when looking at 2011 cars with best gas mileage.

• The original cost of the vehicle has to be looked at. You can buy a car like the Chevy Volt and get wonderful gas mileage but you’ll pay a lot more upfront.

• How many passengers do you need to carry? A car that only seats four is not practical if there are five in your family.

• Would you drive a stick shift to save on fuel? Although automatics are catching up, cars with manual transmissions often get better gas mileage than the same model with an automatic transmission.

When looking at gas economy there almost has to be two lists – one for electric cars and one for gas or diesel powered vehicles.

There is no beating the combination electric/gas car for fuel efficiency. But they cost a lot more than a conventionally powered vehicle. If you don’t mind spending the extra cash, a hybrid just might be the best option.

Topping the list of these hybrids is the 2011 Toyota Prius. You’ll get an amazing 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway using regular gas. The Prius comes with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor of course. The Prius is a mid-sized car that will seat five.

Toyota Prius

A couple of Hondas offer comparable fuel efficiency – the 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid and the 2011 Honda Insight Hybrid. Both get 40 mpg city and 43 mpg highway. These are similar vehicles with both having 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engines. The Civic has a few extras and is priced accordingly.

The next most fuel efficient hybrid is the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid. It comes in at 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The Fusion runs on a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine.

No talk about fuel efficient cars would be complete without mention of the Chevy Volt. The 2011 Volt is unique in that it has a duel power source.

One source is the battery, which when fully charged will run the vehicle for about 35 miles. It uses an on-board 1.4-liter generator/engine which uses premium gas to produce additional electricity, as the other power source.

You can expect to get a whopping combined 60 mpg when you factor in both gas and electricity together.

Despite these exceptional figures, the downside is that The 2011 Volt is pricey. Purchase price can be as high as about $41,000, although there are a number of tax rebate programs that are available.

Chevrolet Volt

Granted, with the price comes a lot of features that you might find in a luxury car, but if you’re buying it primarily to save money at the pumps, you’ll have to do a lot of driving to make it worthwhile.

Once you get past hybrids, the top 2011 cars with best gas mileage are diesels. You’ll pay more for a diesel than for a gas powered motor, but they are more fuel efficient than conventional engines. People seem to either love or hate diesels and if you’re used to the usual gas powered engine, a diesel may take some getting used to.

Two of the top makes and models are the Volkswagen Golf TDI (Diesel) which is priced at about $23,000, and the Audi A3 (Diesel) priced at about $31,000. Both cars get roughly 30 mpg with city driving and 42 mpg on the highway.

Volkswagen Golf TDI

Finally, let’s move on to conventional gas powered vehicles. There are several out there that get great gas mileage, at an affordable price.

Two of the best are considered sub-compacts – the 2011 Toyota Yaris and the 2011 Kia Forte. The Yaris with its 1.5-liter 4 cylinder gets 29mpg in city driving and 35mpg in highway driving. The Forte with a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder comes in at 26mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Today there are lots of vehicles available that are fuel efficient. By looking at this list of 2011 cars with best gas mileage, hopefully you can narrow down your search and find the right one for you.