The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid has garnered an impressive amount of attention from the media in the past few months since its launch, including the latest development: former presidential candidate John McCain announced via Twitter that he plans to buy one of the highly acclaimed, eco-friendly Fords.

While this unofficial endorsement has made news headlines across the nation, it’s not all that surprising. CarsDirect’s own Top 20 Most Fuel-Efficient cars of 2009 lists the Fusion Hybrid at #5, and justifiably so—it gets a solid 36/41 mpg (city/highway), making it a logical choice for city dwellers and suburbanites alike.

And with the incredible $1,700-federal tax credit available through September 30, 2009, getting a Fusion Hybrid makes even more sense. So whether or not you need the Arizona senator’s personal thumbs up, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is an excellent car that will both save you some cash and show people you care about the environment as well.

2009 Hyundai Accent Sedan

Hyundai has really stepped up to the plate all throughout this recession. First they offered their ground-breaking Hyundai Assurance program and now they’re giving incredible rebates on many of their most popular (and most affordable) models. Right now through June 1, you can get up to $1,500 cash back when you purchase a 2009 Hyundai Accent—the car that just took the title of “Lowest priced car in America” away from the Nissan Versa sedan.*

Not only will you save a considerable amount with this rebate, but with the Accent getting 27/33 mpg (City/Highway), you’ll also be spending a lot less at the pump. With savings like that, you can enjoy all of the comforts the Accent has to offer and not worry that you could’ve gotten a better deal on another car. Because you simply can’t.  

*Price based on the 2009 Hyundai Accent GS Hatchback

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe

Another great offer available is the incredible $2,000 rebate for the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe. Already reasonably priced, the Santa Fe maintains its reputation as an affordable crossover. But aside from being inexpensive, the Santa Fe is also extremely practical, with a total of 78.2 cubic feet of cargo space available when all the rear seats are folded down. When equipped with the optional all-wheel drive system, the Santa Fe transfers the power from its 2.7- or 3.3-liter V6 engine to all four wheels for maximum traction. This feature not only adds safety to the Santa Fe’s long list of great attributes, but also facilitates exciting off-pavement excursions. If Hyundai keeps deals like this coming, their spot near the top of the automotive heap is nearly assured once the dust settles.

And with a 10 year 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that Hyundai’s are amongst the most reliable cars on the road today.

Click to 2009 Hyundai Accent prices and 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe prices to see how much you can save.

Nestled somewhere deep within the the Yaris and Fit whirlwind, we find Nissan’s versatile Versa, powered by a 122-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. And now, as part of Nissan’s National Tent Event, you can get customer cash back on the 2009 Nissan Versa.

The Versa seats four adults can be comfortably toted around town without having to take extended stops to stretch—more important on those longer trips where you just want to get to your destination quickly. And those trips will cost a lot less if you decide to purchase a Versa: fuel economy figures are 24 mpg in the city and a whopping 32 mpg on the highway (automatic) and 26 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway (manual).

An optional CVT transmission is also available, though only on the Versa SL version. We’d probably opt for the manual because 1) the clutch and shifter on the Versa are butter-smooth and 2) the manual transmission will interject some enthusiasm into the driving experience. Our favorite part is that 3) it’s not just “any” manual, but a 6-speed manual, normally reserved for sports cars. _Shift is good.

To see exactly how much cash you will get back, click here.

The first vehicle emblazoned with the RR emblem to be manufactured under BMW’s meticulous eye, the super-ultra-premium 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom is now offered in an extended wheelbase version (EWB). This high dollar option offers you the grey poupon-like comfort that can only be found in, well, a Rolls-Royce.

The aluminum spaceframe of the EWB doesn’t have the cut & paste tomfoolery employed by other long wheelbase makes out there. The entire spaceframe is manufactured from the start as its own, making it the largest currently produced in the world.

Nestled between the frame’s fenders lies the hand-built 6.75-Liter V12. The engine churns out a buttery 453-hp and a turbo-dieselesque 531 lb/ft of torque while mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This combination is capable of accelerating the 6000-lb Phantom to a scant 5.7 seconds—all in the lap of lavish luxury. And it’s not an all-go-no-show proposition, either; the engine bay of the Phantom is widely acknowledged in the automotive world as the prettiest engine bay in existence. Shame it has to be hidden by the bonnet.

What’s not hiding is the highest quality leather, wood, and aluminum you can find in any interior. Car, Yacht, Spaceship…it just doesn’t matter.

The EWB version is a full 9.8 inches longer than that of the standard Phantom. To put things in perspective, the vanilla version measures 228 inches long—or a full five feet longer than a 2009 Honda Civic. And with a price of $455,000, this RR is twenty-four times more expensive. Fuel economy (or lack thereof) is measured at 11/18 mpg, for the city and highway, respectively.

Click to 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom prices if you have either the guile or privilege to have the capacity to pick one up.

For the driver who holds refinement in the highest regard, we have the 2009 Honda Accord. Reliability, quality, and performance neatly buttoned up in a package that can transport you and your occupants safely and comfortably. And now you have the perfect opportunity to enjoy all the caveats reserved for Accord owners the world over. You can lease a 2009 Honda Accord for only $199/month for 36 months.

The 2009 Accord offers three available engine packages: a 2.4-Liter 177-hp iVTEC 4-cylinder, a 2.4-Liter 190-hp iVTEC 4-cylinder, and a 3.5-Liter 268-hp V6—the engine we would most likely opt for. The V6, while offering more power and torque, offers the newest generation of Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM for short) which allows the engine to meet the demands of both acceleration and fuel economy by deactivation one bank of cylinders when you are at a cruising speed. When maximum torque and power are required, all six cylinders fire. Awesome.