• When you avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, you'll be driving more efficiently. An extra 100 pounds in your car could reduce your mpg by up to 2 percent.

• Keep your car well maintained. When your car is tuned up, it can improve gas mileage by 4 percent.

Interestingly, the most important fuel economy decision you'll make is selecting the car you drive.

The new USA Hyundai Sonata, for example, is now more fuel efficient than the Camry and Accord four-cylinder engines, delivering an impressive 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway fuel economy with the standard five-speed manual transmission or the newly available five-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC.

Surprising to many motorists is that the difference between a car that gets 20 mpg and one that gets 30 mpg amounts to $1,125 a year, when you assume 15,000 miles of driving a year and a fuel cost of $4.50 per gallon.

Interestingly, Sonata's 3.3-liter V6 engine has also been improved for more performance and efficiency. It now pumps out more horsepower. The mileage figures for the V6 Sonatas are 19 mpg city/29 mpg highway. This represents unsurpassed V6 fuel economy in the midsize sedan driving segment.

One of the pleasant surprises in the Hyundai Sonata is that designers have thoroughly revamped the cockpit to create the ambience of an upscale, premium sedan.

The sophisticated look is achieved thanks to a completely new center console and instrument panel, which borrows design cues and rich materials from the premium Hyundai Veracruz.

Motorists have always liked the idea of fuel economy, especially when seated in a luxurious interior.