octane points . If you have a thirstier truck or SUV or cover more mileage , it could amount to hundreds of dollars a year . New-car buyers , take notice . Add fuel requirements to your shopping checklist , because it will impact your wallet with every visit to the gas station , for years of ownership . The expensive stuff is typically recommended -- though not always required -- for luxury and high-performance cars , while less-expensive sedans , coupes , and SUVs only require 87-octane . But there are plenty of exceptions . Alan Hall , a spokesman for Ford , says that the automaker no longer has any models that require premium grade and only a few for which it 's recommended . Regular unleaded is fine across all the models of Ford 's Lincoln luxury brand , says Hall , so `` as a luxury car buyer you do n't have that added premium of premium fuel . '' Ford now does all of its engine development and vehicle testing on 87-octane , regular-grade fuel . `` We do n't want to give you a product that will have durability issues , '' explains Hall
-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- The little two-passenger smart fortwo is the most fuel-efficient car -LRB- not counting hybrids -RRB- in the U.S. market , with EPA fuel economy ratings of 33 mpg city , 41 highway . For high-mileage frugality , it appears to beat the five-passenger Toyota Yaris and its 29/35-mpg ratings by a long shot . Look at the inside of your car 's fuel door to find out whether you 're required to use a certain octane gasoline . But wait ! Premium fuel -- which cost about 12 percent more than regular at U.S. pumps last month -- is required for the fortwo . Suddenly the gap closes and the Smart no longer looks like as strong of a fuel-budget buster . And with the requirement , they mean it : smart says you 'll lose your warranty coverage if you do n't ante up . With premium fuel averaging about 24 cents more per gallon than regular , your choices at the pump can add up very quickly . If you drive a 20-mpg vehicle 15,000 miles a year , that 's an extra $ 180 , each year , toward those extra few