The debate about whether diesel or petroleum fuel is best continues on, as fuel costs and vehicle price tags are fluctuating factors. However, when it comes to fuel economy diesel is typically the victor. This much is true especially for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, which was just rated as the most fuel efficient convertible in America, at least on the highway, according to AutoBlog.

The diesel-powered car gets an impressive 41 miles per gallon on the highway, the best among comparable cabriolets. In fact, the Smart Fortwo drop-top is the only one that comes close with a 38-mpg highway fuel economy, Motor Trend reports. While the Volkswagen has the best highway mileage, it only gets an estimated 21 mpg in the city. This translates to a combined fuel economy of 32 mpg, which is less impressive than the Smart Fortwo's 36-mpg combined rating. The latter car has a city mileage of 34 mpg.

Drivers looking for a car they plan on driving almost exclusively on the highway may be interested in the Beetle TDI's impressive mileage. But those who plan to spend at least some time on city streets may want to consider other fuel efficient options.

Car shoppers looking for a car with a decent fuel economy may want to head over to New Jersey State Auto. The dealer carries a wide selection of makes and models. Drivers will be able to find cars of all kinds here, even if they are looking for an alternative fuel model, such as a Toyota Prius of a diesel-powered car. Plus, every model on the lot is CARFAX certified, so buyers know they'll be driving away in a reliable ride.

While lists of the best new cars are quite common, automotive industry publications don't often pay as much attention to the used vehicle market. However, many drivers prefer to purchase used for a variety of reasons: they're less expensive than new, they have a lower depreciation rate and you can often find amenities on used vehicles that you'd have to pay extra for if they were new. In order to help used car shoppers navigate the wide selection of options available, U.S. News and World Report recently compiled a list of nearly 600 used models from the 2009 through 2011 model years.

"In addition to the rankings, our reviews provide a balanced summary of each used car so consumers can make an informed purchase decision," said Page Deaton, managing editor of Autos for U.S. News and World Report. "Over time, we'll expand the Used Car Rankings to include additional vehicles and model years."

The news source ranks vehicles by class as well as budget. For instance, a driver with a $14,000 budget in the market for a small car would be able to browse a selection of vehicles in the $12,000-$15,000 range. The 2009 and 2010 Honda Fit, 2010 Ford Fiesta and 2009 Scion tC are just a few of the models in this range. There are also hybrid options, large cars, luxury vehicles, hatchbacks, SUVs and more, making this an excellent resource for drivers researching their next vehicle.

When it comes time to test drive and buy, drivers can head to NJ Auto Auction. The dealer carries a variety of makes and models at affordable pricing. Plus, every car is CARFAX certified, so shoppers know they'll be driving away in a reliable ride.

Manufacturers assign certain price tags to their vehicles, but the cost to consumers tends to vary, as additional features can drive the costs higher, while incentives may lower the sticker prices. This means the average transaction price for consumer vehicles fluctuates, and the most recent report by TrueCar.com indicates July saw a 0.5 percent decline compared to June. Last month, the average price paid for a new car was $30,369, which is $139 less than in June, but $487 more than in July 2011. The reason the price has increased in the past year may be due to dealers putting more emphasis on financing than cash incentives.

"Even though automakers may give the impression that they are ramping up incentives spending, the very low cost of funds and historically high resale values are in fact enabling them to create a ton of noise with fewer actual dollars spent," said Jesse Toprak, vice president of market intelligence for TrueCar.com. "Manufacturers are increasingly moving away from cash incentives and pushing finance and lease programs, which – along with consumers continuing to buy highly optioned out vehicles – is helping with sustained high level of transaction prices."

The ratio of incentives to transaction prices has declined from June to July, and last July was higher than the same month this year as well. As many dealers are leaning away from incentive offers, drivers may want to consider buying used cars to find the savings they were looking for in new cars. New Jersey Auto Auction has a range of used vehicles, including many from the 2012 model year. All of the cars on the lot have been CARFAX certified, and the dealer offers guaranteed credit approval thanks to a partnership with the Credit Acceptance Corporation.

In warm weather, the interior temperature of a car can get very hot very quickly, which is extremely dangerous to a child left alone in the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports heatstroke is the leading cause of death for children under 14 involved in non-crash vehicle-related accidents.

"With summer temperatures hitting record highs around the country, child heat stroke is clearly an issue of national concern," said U.S. transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Public education is the best way to help parents and caregivers prevent tragic accidents and keep their children safe."

There are many products on the market that claim to prevent parents from accidentally leaving their kids in the car, but a recent study by the NHTSA and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found these devices are unreliable and cannot be trusted as the only line of defense in preventing child heatstroke. CHOP analyzed the effectiveness of available products that connect to a child's safety belt and found any number of situations can render them useless. If a child slouches in his or her seat or spills a drink on the device, it may not alert the driver if they leave their kid in the car when exiting.

These devices are also ineffective when it comes to children finding their way into their parents' parked cars. If a kid decides to play in the car, he or she may get locked in. It is important for parents to consider other strategies to ensure their child is safe around the vehicle. Keeping a car locked and leaving the keys out of a child's reach can stop children from trying to play inside a vehicle. Putting a purse, wallet or phone with the child can also serve as a reminder to double check the backseat when getting out of a car.

Drivers looking for a new family car can head to New Jersey State Auto Auction. The dealer carries a variety of vehicles, from minivans to SUVs and midsize sedans, so shoppers will be sure to find something that fits their families' needs.

Most major automakers have electric vehicles or hybrids in their lineups, but these options are typically accompanied by higher price tags than comparable gas-powered options. There is now a new option for drivers looking to make the switch to electric without spending too much. Alvarez Electric Motors Company (AEMC) recently unveiled its very first vehicles, the Eco-E Commuter Car, EcoVan and EcoTruck.

The Eco-E has a maximum range of 30 to 40 miles and can reach a cruising speed of 25 miles per hour, making it a possibility for drivers who spend most of their time on city streets. The car starts at about $10,000, and is expected to use up about $5 of electricity on a monthly basis. AEMC partnered with the Liuzhou Wuling Special Purpose Vehicle Manufacturing Company in China to create these new electric vehicles.

"Americans who love the environment and hate the price of gasoline are showing an increasing level of interest in owning an electric vehicle, but they sometimes have been stymied by the relatively high cost of ownership," said Ramon Alvarez, the president of AEMC. "AEMC is going to bridge that gap with a commuter car that is priced just under $10,000 and is eligible for thousands of dollars in rebates and tax credits through our local, state and federal governments."

Alvarez believes the Eco-E could be perfect for commuting across a college campus, getting around a golf course or at large-scale manufacturing sites. The new car is smaller than a Smart ForTwo, and only seats two, so drivers who want something bigger may want to consider used options that don't break the bank and can be driven on the highway. NJ Auto Auction features a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, including the Toyota Prius and other alternative fuel options.

New federal guidelines for fleetwide fuel economy improvements as well as consumer demand for better fuel economy have spurred automakers to strive to improve their vehicles' gas consumption. The hard work has paid off, as industry analysts Baum and Associates found new cars that came onto the market in the first half of 2012 set the record for high fuel efficiency.

The average fuel economy of new passenger vehicles in the first six months of 2012 was calculated to be 23.8 miles per gallon (mpg), which is a 1.1-mpg improvement over the previous six months. The estimated averages are already ahead of expert predictions of 23.4 mpg for the year, and they will only get better as the year progresses.

"Thanks to a bumper crop of fuel efficient models in the most popular segments, consumers don't have to choose between fuel efficiency and performance," said Alan Baum, principal of Baum and Associates. "No matter what type of vehicle you want, midsize car, minivan, SUV or pickup truck, car makers are now upping fuel efficiency performance across the board. The new era of fuel efficiency is truly here."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sets fuel economy guidelines for automakers to meet, and last year they set the new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard to be 54.5 MPG by 2025. These guidelines will be finalized by the fall, which means consumers can expect to see the average fuel economy continue to improve over the coming years.

While new cars, in many cases, have vastly improved mileage over their predecessors, this does not mean there are not fuel efficient used models available. In fact, there are many options available for used car shoppers at NJ Auto Auction. Plus, every vehicle on the lot is CARFAX certified, so drivers know they'll be getting behind the wheel of a reliable ride.