Slideshow: 5 Least Expensive Cars to Own

HYBRIDS AREN'T THE only solution to budget-busting gas prices. Believe it or not, owning a good old-fashioned compact car will save drivers more money overall. Online auto web site Cars.com did the math and found a handful of small, fuel-efficient vehicles that offer drivers significant cost savings over the most popular green alternatives.

The company's survey evaluated all the current compact car models on the road. It calculated the total driving costs by combining the base sticker price with lifetime fuel costs of $4 a gallon and average annual driving distance of 15,000 miles over an eight-year period. The results netted five 2008 model-year vehicles that provide a savings of nearly $4,000 or more versus the incredibly popular Toyota Prius.

How is it that the hybrids, with their superior fuel efficiency, cost so much more to own? It all comes down to the sticker price. Fuel-efficient compacts typically cost less than $11,000. The Toyota (TM) Prius, meanwhile, starts at around $21,000, but car buyers will most likely have to pay a premium on that price tag since the cars are in such hot demand (there's actually a Prius waiting list in much of the country). Honda's (HMC) Civic Hybrid is a bit more expensive at $22,600. And even with the aid of a $525 federal tax credit, which expires at the end of this year, the Civic is still more expensive to own than a fuel-efficient compact.

To find out which compact cars provide the most bang for the buck, view our slideshow: