With gas prices nearing $ 4.00/ gallon, many Americans are shifting to smaller, more economical compact and subcompact cars. For the month of April 2008, one of every five cars sold in total were small cars.

How drastic is the shift in demand for smaller vehicles?

Consider this: For the first time, four cylinder vehicles have outsold their V6 counterparts.

In the small car category, the top ten best sellers are:

1. Toyota Corolla/Matrix: 32,435 units sold
  MSRP: $ 14,405 - $16,415/ $15,410 - $ 17,720
  Corolla: 28 MPG city/ 37 MPG highway, Matrix: 30 MPG city/ 36 MPG highway

2. Honda Civic: 31,710 units sold
  MSRP: $ 15,010 - $22,460
  25 MPG city/ 36 MPG highway

3. Ford Focus: 23,850 units sold
  MSRP: $ 14,660 - $ 16,835
  24 MPG city/ 35 MPG highway

4. Chevrolet Cobalt: 18,636 units sold
  MSRP: $ 13,925 - $ 19,210
  24 MPG city/ 33 MPG highway

5. Toyota Yaris: 11,434 units sold
  MSRP: $ 11,350 - $ 14,450
  29 MPG city/ 36 MPG highway

6. Hyundai Elantra: 9,981 units sold
  MSRP: $ 13,625 - $ 17,325
  24 MPG city/ 33 MPG highway

7. Mazda3: 9,234 units sold
  MSRP: $ 13,895 - $ 20,845
  24 MPG city/ 32MPG highway

8. Nissan Sentra: 8,842 units sold
  MSRP: $ 15,830 - $ 20,260
  25 MPG city/ 36 MPG highway

9. Dodge Caliber (compact wagon): 8,825 units sold
  MSRP: $14,000 - $22,435
  24 MPG city/ 29 MPG highway

10. Kia Spectra: 8,406 units sold
  MSRP: $12,895 - $16,995
  23 MPG city/ 30 MPG highway