You’re sick of your SUV and thinking of getting a car that’s new to you, but which ones get the best gas mileage for the price? Consumer Reports has the answer — a list of the 7 most fuel efficient used cars for under $10,000.

Why buy used? Well, as CR says “depreciation accounts for 46 percent of the owner costs over a five-year period.” Why not let someone else take the hit?

By focusing on a nearly-new model, say 2-3 years old, you can find a vehicle that offers comparable fuel economy, performance, safety, and reliability as a new car, often with some transferable warranty coverage remaining.

Amen! Anyway, here’s the list. Some of the cars are older than 2-3 years, but hey. They’re all under $10k.

Here’s the list:

1. 2000 Honda Insight (manual) 51 mpg

2. 2001-02 Toyota Prius 41 mpg
3. 2000-05 Toyota Echo 38 mpg
4. 1998-2002 Chevrolet Prizm 32 mpg
5. 1998 Mazda Protegé LX 32 mpg
6. 1998-2000 Toyota Corolla LE 32 mpg
7. 1998-2001 Acura Integra LS (manual) 32 mpg

Consumer Reports also has a list of the top cars from $10,000-$20,000, which you can view here.

Best used cars for fuel economy [Consumer Reports]
(Photo: smcgee )

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