OOH GOOD QUESTION !!!

We need more info to help you better.

What is your commute like, length in miles and is it City or Hwy driving?

How long do you want to keep the car?

Do you take long vacation drives every year?

Are you prepared to drastically modify your driving habits to try and get 60 MPG?

One thing for sure - if you are JUST trying to get high MPG, a Hybrid might not be right for you. There are non-Hybrids that get 38-41 MPG on the hwy, and cost up to $5000 less than an HCH and certainly MUCH LESS than a Prius !! The "bang for the buck" per se is not great in Hybrids right now, and may not get better anytime soon.

That price is not that bad really, if it's for a CVT. I paid $19,324 for a 2004 MT HCH with 4823 miles, and that was with them pulling $800 off their asking price to try to get me to "buy today."

Regardless, with more info we can pinpoint your needs better....