Fuel Economy Tops Priorities of U.S. Car Owners

Nearly four in 10 American motorists say fuel economy will be their main consideration when buying their next vehicle, according to Consumer Reports.

The magazine's survey of car owners last month found that fuel efficiency far outstrips the other priorities cited by respondents, including quality (17%), safety (16%), value (14%) and performance (6%).

Gasoline costs are cited by 90% of the owners who most value fuel efficiency. That group also mentions concerns about the environment (62%) and dependence on foreign oil (56%).

Owners of large SUVs are the group most likely to consider buying a different type of vehicle next time and many of them say they plan to purchase a smaller SUV, according to CR. Among all vehicle owners, small cars are most frequently mentioned as the next purchase, followed by larger sedans and midsize SUVs.

Almost four in five respondents agree that fuel economy standards should require vehicles to average at least 55 miles per gallon. The U.S. government is expected to set rules this summer that mandate an average of 54.5 mpg by 2025. More than 80% of consumers say they are willing to pay extra for a more efficient vehicle if they can recoup the extra expense via fuel savings.