Hottest Rides of 2007

Insight cheaper, simpler than Toyota's hybrid king

(NEWSER) - Honda is rolling out a fresh—and worthy—competitor to Toyota’s Prius, king of the hybrid market, writes Joseph P. White in the Wall Street Journal. The 2010 Insight will sell for just under $20,000, some $2,000 less than the most popular Prius model, and gets “minicar mileage” while offering enough room for a bike in the back seat. "Honda has already rattled the champ," writes White, "and the first round hasn't really begun." More»

Don't sacrifice your bank account to the wheel with gas and insurance costs

(NEWSER) - Affordable cars start at the sticker price—the lower the better. But over time, insurance payments and gas costs add up. Forbes searches out the 10 vehicles that will leave the smallest footprint on your wallet.

1. Toyota Yaris
2. Honda Fit
3. Toyota Corolla

Forbes picks the 12 most environment-friendly cars.

(NEWSER) - You don't have to drive a hybrid to go green; half of Forbes' top picks for fuel-efficiency are small, brainy gas-driven cars.

1. Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan, $22,600
2. Toyota Prius Sedan, $22,175
3. Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan, $26,200
4. Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, $25,740
5. Ford Focus, $13,995
6. Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan, $31,090

Not dirty, sexy, or violent, brand is 'a minor miracle'

(NEWSER) - Nissan already had its work cut out in designing a hybrid—whatever it made had to measure up to Toyota’s hugely successful Prius. Then it needed a name, which came at the end of a process blending business, culture, and the law. Possibilities must be cleared in hundreds of countries, not only for copyright restrictions but for potential unintended hilarity: see Mazda’s “Bongo Friendee” van and Daihatsu’s “Naked” minicar. The result is the green-sounding Leaf. More»

11.5% June drop in US sales blamed on low inventory of popular small models

(NEWSER) - Popularity is proving quite the pickle for Toyota: Dwindling supplies of hot sellers like its hybrid Prius fueled the 11.5% drop in US sales last month, Reuters reports. With a waiting list 6 months long, Prius sales fell 26%—even as rival Honda bumped its sales 13.8% thanks to record demand for its fuel-efficient Fit and Civic vehicles. More»