Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Sedans for 2011

Higher gas prices usually bring greater focus on fuel economy, which means that compact models and hybrids can begin to look more attractive to shoppers. If you're in the market for a four-door that goes easy on the petrol, you'll want to take a look at these 10 sedans, which are the most fuel-efficient choices on the market.

As you'd expect, the list is dominated by hybrids, with sedans like the Honda Civic Hybrid and the spanking-new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid making a showing, along with Ford's three platform-sharing siblings — the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybrid. In case you're wondering why the Toyota Prius didn't join the party, keep in mind that its handy-dandy rear hatch makes it more hatchback than sedan; look for it to make an appearance on our upcoming "Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Hatchbacks and Wagons" list.

As far as non-hybrids go, you've got the newly redesigned Hyundai Elantra to consider, along with the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta.

We arrived at our rankings using the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) miles-per-gallon ratings for city and highway travel. We tapped the EPA's combined fuel economy formula: 55 percent of city mpg rating plus 45 percent of highway mpg rating. The rating for each vehicle below is expressed in mpg as a city/highway ratio.

1. 

   1. Honda Civic Hybrid

40 city/43 highway

41 city/36 highway (tie)

41 city/36 highway (tie)

41 city/36 highway (tie)

35 city/40 highway

35 city/34 highway

30 city/42 highway

33 city/33 highway

31 city/35 highway

29 city/40 highway