The 5 most fuel efficient cars

Evolving from a 2-door subcompact through the iconic CRX to today's eighth generation 4-door sedan, the Honda Civic has always counted good gas mileage among its more marketable attributes.

The Civic Hybrid - first introduced in model-year 2003 - has jacked that selling point up a notch. While Toyota's Prius and Honda's now-departed Insight were ground-up gas-electric designs, this offering simply infuses hybrid technology into the massively popular Civic.

In 2006, the Civic Hybrid got new bodywork plus a power boost for its 1.3-liter SOHC 4-banger. The variable cylinder management system allows all four cylinders to be shut down during deceleration, enhancing the unit's power regeneration efficiency.

Rated at 40mpg (city) / 45mpg (hwy), the Honda Civic Hybrid is second on the EPA's fuel efficiency list at 42mpg combined.