Cars that make a statement

Statement: "Part of the 'caring' crowd"

It has an eco-friendly image and a long, varied list of celebrity owners, including Miley Cyrus, Dustin Hoffman and Cameron Diaz. "For people who live in places where environmental concerns reign supreme, the Toyota Prius is the ultimate status symbol in eco-luxury," Kristen Andersson, an analyst at TrueCar.com, tells the Los Angeles Times.

2013 Toyota Prius

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Statement: "Fabulous, just fabulous"

It prides itself on being half a car, half an accessory, and a full-on fashion statement. The color palette for the car's exterior echoes a couture catalog rather than an automotive one: olive green, espresso, copper, blue-green, etc. Fiat even collaborated with Gucci to create the so-called 500 by Gucci, replete with a velvety dashboard and leather seats. The new 500L can be delivered with an optional Lavazza espresso-maker that dispenses java while you drive.

2013 Fiat 500

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Statement: "Recession, what recession?"

Mercedes' most luxurious sedan, the S-Class, sells for between $92,500 and $212,000. Who drives it? Often not its owner, but rather a chauffeur paid to transport his ultrarich employers in a chariot swathed in buttery leather and packed with almost any option you can think of. Consumer Reports considers the S550 "a very comfortable ride that is among the best we've ever tested." S-Class sales are booming these days, particularly in China.

2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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Statement: "The outdoors rocks"

If you find yourself tackling rutted dirt roads with a mountain bike hooked to your rear liftgate, or charging up a mountain's frozen access road with a pair of skis strapped to the roof, chances are you're looking out the windshield of an Subaru Outback. The car of choice in towns throughout the Rocky Mountains, the Outback offers all-wheel drive — crucial for outdoorsy types living in snowy climates and near the wilderness.

2013 Subaru Outback

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Statement: "Economical and eco-friendly"

Those fed up with yo-yoing gas prices are driving the Volt, which saw record sales in August 2012. Data from General Motors reportedly show that 63 percent of the miles driven on the car use electrical power only, forgoing the gasoline-burning engine that extends its range. An excellent combination: green and wallet-smart.

2013 Chevrolet Volt

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Statement: "Casual cool"

Hipsterish parents who are too cool for a minivan opt for the Flex. With a third row of seats — a coveted feature for families with multiple offspring — the Flex has a sleek profile and cool styling, including an art-deco-like grille, four skylights and ambient lighting that comes in colors such as ice blue, purple and orange, letting parents pretend their days of late-night clubbing aren't yet over.

2013 Ford Flex

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Statement: "Practical yet stylish"

The Jetta has long been the car of choice for young women. It's practical, but it has better styling and more cachet than a Toyota or Honda. In short, it's a cooler ride. Hertz listed it in a blog post of the top five used-car suggestions for women, singling out its safety features and fuel efficiency. The car gets particular online buzz for its popularity with female college students — along with its cousin, the Volkswagen Beetle.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta

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Statement: "Keep on truckin"

You won't find many diehard environmentalists behind the wheel of a Yukon, one of the biggest gas-guzzlers in the SUV category. Its combined city and highway mileage hovers in the midteens, with one Yukon model getting just 12 mpg combined. But the Yukon is still beloved for its towing and hauling capabilities; its drivers can bring personal watercraft, snowmobiles and other heavy-duty toys to far-flung corners of the country.

2013 GMC Yukon

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Statement: "Die to be different"

The smart fortwo, known simply as the smart car, cuts one of the most diminutive profiles of any car on American streets, and it lures city dwellers attracted to its parkability. Logging in at just shy of 9 feet, it has only a few inches on the world's tallest man. It also gets 37 mpg in combined city/highway driving. And while the smart may not seem particularly sexy, its drivers include hot celebs such as Justin Bieber, who's been spotted driving a black smart through the Los Angeles streets.

2012 Smart fortwo

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Statement: "Socially conscious without any compromises"

On the cutting edge of tech — and beauty — the Fisker Karma is for those who crave style, performance and luxe appointments, and yet still have an environmental conscience. Leonardo DiCaprio, a famous early adopter of the Toyota Prius, traded way up when he bought a $100,000 Karma. Car and Driver praises the car's "low-slung and curvaceous flanks," noting that the so-called EcoChic edition is a PETA supporter's dream — "an animal-free showcase of high-end textiles, faux suede and rescued California wildfire hardwood." But the car has endured its fair share of drama since its 2011 launch, suffering three recalls in 13 months, raising the question: What kind of statement are owners actually making?

Read Blog:  Fisker Karma hybrids burn during Superstorm Sandy

For more information on the vehicles in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Toyota Prius
-Fiat 500
-Mercedes-Benz S-Class
-Subaru Outback
-Chevrolet Volt
-Ford Flex
-Volkswagen Jetta
-GMC Yukon
-smart fortwo

Compare: 9 Available Vehicles

Claire Martin has written for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Outside magazine. She's the former deputy editor of Men's Journal and currently lives in Los Angeles, where she covers technology, travel and food.