In the United States, it cannot be denied that the fuel miser Toyota Prius is very popular. In Europe, it seems that clean diesel technology has the edge over hybrid technology in popularity. When it comes to satisfying the needs of drivers in the UK though, the Prius is the top choice of car buyers.

According to the results of the poll conducted by J.D. Power and Associates and What Car?, the Prius ranks as the number most satisfying car for the majority of the respondents. Sharing the top spot with the Toyota Prius is another Asian car - the Lexus IS. Both of these cars from the Toyota Motor Corporation were given the thumbs up of 86.8 percent of the respondents of the poll. The ten most satisfying vehicle on the list is composed of eight Asian cars and two Skodas.

The Toyota Prius is the first mass-produced hybrid car in the world. It made its debut in the Japanese auto market in 1997 and was introduced to the rest of the world in 2001. The said vehicle is a gas-electric hybrid vehicle: meaning it is equipped with a small internal combustion engine and an electric motor which provides additional power to the small gasoline engine. Toyota claims that the Prius can run for 65.7 miles for a single gallon of gasoline. This claim though is being contested as unrealistic by some consumers who have already bought a Prius.

The popularity of this car model in the United States is evident in the fact that celebrities have been known to drive them. Leonardo diCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Jane Fonda, Harrison-Ford and Meryl Streep are just some of the celebrities joining the green revolution.

The Lexus IS is actually a series of entry-level luxury compact cars from Toyota's luxury division. The IS' competition which it beats in the recent poll are the BMW 3 Series, the Infiniti G35 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The IS is also one of the two Lexus automobile model to make the list of the ten most satisfying vehicles. The vehicle is first introduced in the global auto market in 1998 and is currently in its second generation of redesign. The Lexus marquee is already known the world over for the reliability of their vehicles.

Next to the Prius and the IS on the list is the Honda Jazz which is known and marketed in the United States auto market as the award-winning Honda Fit. The vehicle is a five-door hatchback sedan. The fuel thrifty Honda vehicle was first introduced to the global market in 2001. The Jazz/Fit is also one of the two Honda vehicles to make the list.

Number four on the list is the second of the two Lexus models. The Lexus RX is a mid-size entry-level luxury crossover sport utility vehicle first introduced in the market in 1997. The RX is a trendsetter in its own way for becoming the world's first mid-size crossover SUV. The RX is also popular among car buyers for its stylish styling that one would surely flaunt it and rarely hide it under a Covercraft car cover. In Japan and Singapore, the RX is marketed as the Toyota Harrier. Once again, Lexus' engineering capabilities have shown that they are capable of producing cars that will satisfy their consumers.

Ranked fifth on the list is the Skoda Octavia. The compact car produced by the Czech car manufacturer was introduced in the market in 1996 and is currently marketed in its second generation of design. The Octavia comes in two body styles - a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon. Its main competition includes the Ford Focus, Opel Astra, Peugeot 306 and the Renault Megane.

The second Honda model in the list is the full-size Accord sedan which is ranked sixth by the respondents of the poll. The Accord is one of the most popular automobiles in the United States auto market and the rest of the world. The current Accord is already in its seventh generation starting in 1976. The Accord holds the distinction of being the first Japanese-branded vehicle to be manufactured in the United States.

Number seven on the list is the Skoda Fabia. The Fabia is the entry of the Czech car manufacturer in the supermini car segment. It was introduced in the market in 2000 and since then has become a favorite among car buyers in the European region. Its competition includes the Citroen C3, Fiat Punto, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 207 and the Renault Clio.

The eighth place is shared by two Toyota models - the Avensis and the Corolla. The Avensis is a large family car introduced in the European market for the 1998 model year. It is currently in its second generation of design. The Corolla, on the other hand, is a compact car currently on its tenth generation starting in 1966. The Corolla is named the best selling car in the world since 1997. Dating back to its birth, there are now more than 30 million Corollas sold to this year.

The number ten most satisfying car according to the respondents of the poll is the Toyota Yaris. The compact car was introduced I the European car market in 1999. It is also known as the Toyota Echo or Toyota Vitz depending on the market.