It’s no secret that fuel efficiency is becoming increasingly important to consumers as the prices of gasoline continue to rise. In fact, recent studies indicate that the fuel efficiency of a vehicle is more important than the quality of the vehicle itself in the minds of many consumers. This is a major shift from 10 to 15 years ago, and really shows just how important the green movement has become in the automobile industry.

If you’re in the market for a new car and are one of the many people who place a priority on fuel economy, here are some of the vehicles that are most likely to save you big bucks at the pump:

Toyota Prius – The Prius has become somewhat of the poster vehicle for hybrids, and offers the best fuel economy in the midsize vehicle market: a whopping 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway.

Nissan Leaf – This vehicle itself is more expensive than others on this list ($36,050) since it is fully electric, but “fueling” it costs less than $700 a year. If you were to give it electric equivalents to miles per gallon, it would have 106 mpg in the city and 92 on the highway!

Ford Fiesta – The first standard gas vehicle on this list, the Ford Fiesta is both fuel-efficient and affordable. For only $13,200 you can get a nice 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on the highway!

Volkswagen Passat - In terms of clean diesel vehicles, you won’t find a more fuel-efficient car than the Passat. Its 31 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway help to make up for the higher costs of diesel fuel.

Lexus CT – This hybrid luxury sedan offers the best fuel efficiency in the growing hybrid luxury market, giving 40 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway at a fairly affordable price for a luxury vehicle.

What other cars have you looked into because of their fuel efficiency?