There is no better time to consider fuel efficiency than when you are looking to buy a new or used vehicle. The choices you make can end up saving you thousands of dollars over time!

This section contains some tips on how to compare vehicles and their real costs, but let's start with basic fuel economy. The actual fuel economy of the vehicle you choose today will make a significant difference in how much fuel you consume over time. The difference between the most fuel efficient sub-compact and the most fuel hungry SUV could cost you as much as  $10,000.00 in just 5 years.

The chart above is based on the Canadian average of 20,000 km/year and $1.00 per litre of fuel. As fuel costs rise, the difference over 5 years will be even more significant. Reducing your fuel consumption by making a smart vehicle purchase will also reduce your personal vehicle emissions.

Don't forget that while a smaller engine generally means better fuel efficiency, you need look at the "actual" fuel efficiency for each vehicle you are considering. Cars are categorized according to interior size and fuel consumption within any category can vary widely depending on the specifics of the vehicle. Trucks are generally categorized by weight classes, but again considering actual fuel economy is important.