The Toyota Prius’ popularity is phenomenal: this week, Cars.com announced that the Prius is the most searched for new vehicle on the site. In the past, cars such as the Accord and the Camry have ruled the classifed ads site.

As the Prius has climbed the list, so have other efficient cars. Other new cars that are often searched for include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. While not all of these cars are hybrids, they are all impressively efficient.

Patrick Olsen, Cars.com’s editor in chief thinks the pattern will continue. In a press release, he said, “It’s not surprising that the Prius became the No. 1 most searched vehicle on Cars.com at the same time gas reached a $4 national average. Surveys have shown $4 to be the tipping point in consumer purchase behavior, and we are seeing that ring true in shopping patterns on Cars.com.”

As more and more buyers are looking for cars with better fuel-consumption standards, the automakers are starting to respond. Just about every company is offering Cars running on alternative fuels, as well as hybrids. Those that aren’t have them on the drawing boards. As for gas-guzzling SUVs and the like, production is getting cut significantly.

Photo — Kasei