Gas prices have soared more than 60 cents in the past year, leaving car buyers looking for more efficient ways to get from Point A to Point B. Smaller cars have answered that call.

Smaller, fuel efficient cars aren't new, as European drivers can attest. Toyota, Volkswagen and Vauxhall -- one of two General Motors-owned European subsidiaries -- have been making smaller, gas-sipping cars for decades. Now, however, Americans are having more and more options in the small car market.

Consumer Reports, in its upcoming June issue, named the Volkswagen Rabbit as the top-rated affordable hatchback. The Rabbit was tested against five other versatile small sedans—the Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, Toyota Matrix, Saturn Astra, Mini Cooper Clubman, and the Scion xD. Prices ranged from $16,620 for the xD to $24,700 for the Clubman.

"With agile handling and a versatile, well-finished interior, the Rabbit feels solid and is a pleasant car to drive," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center. "The Rabbit has commendable fit and finish, a versatile interior and agile handling."

The cars tested by Consumer Reports all have four doors, tailgate openings, usable back seats and seating for up to five. Consumer Reports said that the interior quality is often on par with larger, more expensive models. Hatchbacks often include comfort and convenience features like power windows and locks, climate control, good sound systems and cruise control.

"As gas prices continue to soar, hatchbacks make sense for anyone used to the utility of an SUV but ready for a smaller, more affordable and efficient alternative," Champion said.

The Rabbit achieved an "excellent" overall score in Consumer Reports' tests, the only vehicle in the group to do so. The Impreza and Matrix were rated "very good" overall. The Astra and Mini Cooper scored lower, but still in the "very good" range. The xD was the lowest rated vehicle in the group, judged "good" overall.

The Astra has been available for the last 17 years around the world -- except in the U.S. Made by General Motors under by its Opel brand in continental Europe, Ireland, the Middle East, north Africa and South Africa and Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, the Astra offers 24 miles per gallon in city driving, and more than 30 per gallon on the highway, depending on the model.

"In Europe, the Astra’s combination of style, performance, safety technology and fuel efficiency have made it a hit with owners and auto critics alike," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. "Now, Saturn brings the newly restyled Astra to North America and marries it with our celebrated customer experience."

The Matrix, Clubman and xD, as well as the Astra, are all new or redesigned for 2008.

Another small car new to the U.S. is the Smart Fortwo, the smallest car for sale in the United States market.

Brought to the U.S. by Daimler, the Smart Fortwo is classified a microcar, meaning it's smaller even than minicars. Weighing about 1,800 pounds, the Smart is more than 3 feet shorter and almost 700 pounds lighter than a Mini Cooper. It weighs about one-third the weight of the BMW X5 SUV.

"The big question from consumers is, 'How safe is it?'" said Adrian Lund, the president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "All things being equal in safety, bigger and heavier is always better. But among the smallest cars, the engineers of the Smart did their homework and designed a high level of safety into a very small package."

In recent IIHS testing, the 2008 Smart Fortwo earned the top rating of good for front and side crash protection.

"People base their buying decisions on a lot of factors," Lund said. "If you drive only in congested urban areas where speeds are low, a small car may be more practical than a big one. We conduct crash tests so people who want small cars can choose the ones that afford the best protection."

The Smart has a crashworthy design for its size and is equipped with the latest safety gear, which is especially important in a small car. This vehicle's standard equipment includes seat-mounted combination side airbags designed to protect both the heads and chests of the driver and passenger.

The Ford Focus has been a top-seller in Europe since 1998 and came to the U.S. two years later as a replacement for the Ford Escort.

Sales for the Focus in the U.S. for 2007 comprised 173,213 units, making it the No. 3 best-selling domestic-nameplate car behind Chevrolet's Impala and Cobalt and the No. 16 best-selling vehicle, according to the Reuters Top-20 U.S. Vehicle Sales Scorecard.

Nissan's Versa is a compact car that debuted in July 2006 for the 2007 model year. The car is considered a midsize car by the Environmental Protection Agency due to its interior space. The Versa is influenced by Renault, Nissan's European partner.