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Top 10: Vehicles with the Highest Fuel Efficiency

jdpower.com — 1. Honda Insight - 66 mpg hwy - 60 mpg city

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  • mikerowave, on 10/12/2007, -3/+69Notice how not a single one of 'em is made by a US auto maker....sigh..
    • buss, on 10/12/2007, -4/+49And yet they still wonder why they're losing so much money.
    • masamunecyrus, on 10/12/2007, -6/+7What about the Smart Fortwo? It's a Chrysler (sort of).
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Fortwo
    • Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+49When California was considering allowing hybrids to use the HOV lanes (which they now can), Ford wrote them a letter basically stating that the mileage requirements were "unpatriotic" and "anti-american" because no american vehicles qualified. That should give you some sense of the disconnect with reality they have going on in the upper echelons of American carmakers.
    • Artifez, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15Yeah, that really pisses me off, the designers of american cars are so myopic and off the mark that I want to personally kick every one of them.
    • RadiantBeing, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11The market is already kicking them pretty good right now. Even the President said they need to start making a product that's relevant.
    • mtmal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12and also notice that 3 on the list are diesels...

      I can't quote a source specifically, but it is my understanding that hybrids do less well in real-world conditions than their epa numbers would suggest. (I remember one review of the Lexis SUV hybrid where the journalist claimed no improvement in fuel efficiency in his daily driving versus the all-gas version.)

      It strikes me that if we want to really get serious about fuel efficiency, given the way we drive in America (i.e., mostly on highways), we would do more to make diesel the fuel of choice. It is proven and inexpensive technology, there is apparently no performance hit relative to current cars, and the new engines are extremely clean-burning.
    • MrTimmay, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7What happened to Saturn? I drive a 2002 Saturn SL1 and I get 40 mpg Highway and 36 City. Last I checked that car was made in the US...
    • rokinroj, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9GM still offered last year's top-selling subcompact, the Chevy Aveo, and the well-regarded Chevy Cobalt compact. In fact, GM offers more vehicles that get 30 mpg or better EPA highway mileage than any other automaker. More than Toyota. More than Honda. More than Nissan.
      Give Toyota credit for the Prius hybrid. But if you look at the growth in Toyota's business in the United States over the last decade, it has come primarily from expanding into the truck segments - including full size pickups and SUVs. GM entries in those segments, by the way, have better EPA mileage ratings than Toyota's. And which automaker is building a large new assembly plant in Texas to build its biggest full-size pickup yet? Toyota.
      And the bottom line is the top 2 best selling vehicles in America across all categories is the Ford F-150 and the Chevy Silverado. So are the American auto makers so far off base? Or are they just making what people are driving/buying?
    • cartwheels, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Of course, the reason why GM makes more cars that get over 30mpg than other manufacturers is a simple one. GM makes so many more cars (I won't even bother to list every individual brand) than other manufacturers, period.
    • GooBoy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4GM, Chrysler, Ford et al don't really compete in the small car market that well. However, once you get into the mid-size, full-size, sportute/X-over category, then they become very competitive.

      Don't sweat it, with the increasing popularity of the small car segment in North America and with rising gas prices, the domestics will start releasing competitive vehicles in that market too.
    • rokinroj, on 10/12/2007, -9/+7Since I seem to be the American car/GM fanboy today, thought I would add this list of manufactures that make E85 capable vehicles. The list is quite heavily in favor of American manufacturers.

      CHEVROLET
      Avalanche
      Impala
      Monte Carlo
      S-10
      Silverado
      Suburban
      Tahoe

      CHRYSLER
      Sebring
      Voyager Town and Country

      DODGE
      Dodge Caravan
      Dodge Ram Pickup
      Stratus

      FORD
      Crown Victoria
      Ford F150 E85
      Ford Explorer
      Lincoln Town Car
      Taurus

      GMC
      GMC Sierra
      Yukon

      MERCURY
      Sable
      Sable Wagon
      Mountaineer

      MERCEDES BENZ
      C240
      C320

      NISSAN
      Nissan Titan

      IZUZU
      Hombre Pickup Truck

      MAZDA
      Mazda B3000 1999-2002
    • Rymep, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15Too bad E85 is far from the best option.
    • rokinroj, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2@rymep

      What is a better alternative right now?
    • vertigoblue, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2the new corvette could be close on there, with over 30 mpg hwy
    • KissTheRing, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@rokinroj

      Bio-diesel
    • will0861, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2E85 might not be the best overall choice, but it is one choice that could drastically reduce our dependance on foreign oil. And last time I checked we can regrow corn a lot easier than dinosaurs.
    • macattacks10, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4While we may regrow corn faster than dinosaurs... E85 gets worse mileage, pollutes as regular unleaded, and there isn't enough corn to run all our cars. Biodiesel at least has two of those beat. Plus the government is taking a hit making the E85 cheaper than it costs to make so people will buy it... which is not a nice addition to our deficit.

      So in the end, best choice wwill0861 is biodiesel
    • cgoff, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@rockinroj and @KissTheRing:

      Butanol is basically a perfect complete substitute for ethanol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butanol

      Right now if you had several gallons of Butanol you could replace all the gasoline in your vehicle and it would still run just fine. It has just a little less energy than gasoline however much more octane. It's much more fuel efficient than ethanol, and should be a great deal cheaper to produce (one company states a $.85/gallon production cost is possible, they already have a patent for the process). I believe Shell is looking into Butanol at this time as well.

      So why hasn't the US government seriously looked into this instead of ethanol? Beats me.
    • rokinroj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@KissTheRing

      I totally agree that bio-diesel is an alternative, but in terms of production, distribution, and a ready and waiting fleet of vehicles to consume it, I think E85 is much closer to being the answer right now. Not that we shouldn't pursue bio, I think we should. But with little or no adaptation our entire fleet of existing vehicles today, right now, can run E85. Offering an immediate reduction of 85% of the gasoline that we consume today. I look forward to the day when we will be able to go to the gas station and have a choice of more than just the octane level.
    • rokinroj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@macattacks10 - "Plus the government is taking a hit making the E85 cheaper than it costs to make so people will buy it"

      You couldnt be further from the truth.

      This revelation comes directly form the Renewable Fuels Association :
      "Most ethanol is sold under long-term contract. These contracts are private agreements between ethanol producers/marketers and petroleum companies. According to industry observers, roughly 90 to 95% of ethanol is sold under these long-term contracts (6 to 12 months). Many of these contracts are "fixed price." In other words, the price a petroleum company pays for the ethanol doesn't change, regardless of changes in the spot (wholesale) market price. Some of these contracts may be "pegged" to a gasoline benchmark. In this case, when wholesale gasoline prices move up or down, the price a petroleum company pays for ethanol moves accordingly.
      This collusive relationship ensures that E85 can never be a true pricing alternative to Gasoline and also ensures the two industries will never need to actually compete against each other. Instead of competing they simply make these agreements that ensure massive collusive profits for each Industry , once again at the consumers expense.

      So, it is in fact manufactured much cheaper than oil, but the big oil companies are buying it up and selling it at an inflated price. There is no government absorbed incentive that you implied, but rather a back scratching, lobbyist deal that allows big oil to buy up the competitive difference.
      The best support that our Politicians can offer their constituents is a legal separation of Ethanol and Oil . The consumer cannot win if these industries are allowed to continue to collusively come together and create collusive pricing agreements.
    • macattacks10, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Excuse me, I guess it is only my state government at the time because I'm not finding anything else doing searches. We talked about this in school with alternative fuels, that in order to make ethanol prices worth while, the state is taking the hit in order to make the cost 20 cents or more per gallon here in the state of Minnesota.
    • i64X, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1For the person that mentioned the Chevy Aveo - you might want to check out the VIN number on those cars... it starts with a "K" - which means it's made in Korea. The car is actually made by Daewoo... which was bought by GM as they were going under. Nothing about that car is American except for the badges. It even says on the window sticker that 97% of the car was made in South Korea.
    • wmarcello, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I don't want to totally destroy the domestic love here, but when I was in the market for a new vehicle (I ended up with a 2005 Echo), I barely even considered the domestic cars. I looked at the Chevy Aveo but they got poor reviews from a few different sites I visited (not to mention it's butt-ugly). It will be a long long time before I consider buying a Ford just because of their past safety issues. The reason the domestic brands are losing out is a combination between efficiency, safety, image, and reliability.
    • Doggpound, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1One word "ugly"
  • edge10, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5And that doesn't include the new Yaris which gets 40mpg Highway and 34mpg city!
    • mrmots1, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10Isn't YARIS and ECHO the same?
    • edge10, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I'll be darned, a quck check on Wikipedia show you are correct sir!
    • wmarcello, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Here in Canada the Yaris is the successor to the Echo. I think the Yaris existed in Europe for a couple years before it came to North America. From what I've seen here they definitely have a different styling to them.
    • nTensify, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I thought the Yaris was supposed to be better than the Echo due to its practically from the ground up redesign (including a ton more airbags and a smaller, more fuel effecient engine).

      *shrug* learn something every day.
    • beervolcano, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The Scion xA & xB are also basically repackaged Echos. Same as how the PT Cruiser is a Neon.
    • wmarcello, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1On the plus side for the Yaris, I test drove both a 2005 Echo Sedan and a 2006 Yaris Hatchback, and I was very impressed by the Yaris. It may be not be any more efficient than the Echo, but you get more standard amenities for the price, and it felt a lot more solid while driving. The only reason I went with the Echo was because they were clearing it out for the new models, and they had not yet come out with a Yaris Sedan. The trunk was a necessity.
  • sugardaddy4242, on 10/12/2007, -8/+7I wish there was a car that looked cool and got great gas mileage. As a twenty something I wouldn't drive any of those cars until I turn 35. That is until I have to put a second mortgage on my house to afford gasonline.
    • KissTheRing, on 10/12/2007, -5/+15I think the Civic Hybrid is a pretty snazzy looking car
    • einsfahrt, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3Although not listed, the Ford Escape Hybrid doesn't look too bad. 36 city and 31 hwy.
    • Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5"I think the Civic Hybrid is a pretty snazzy looking car"

      I do too, that's why I've had one since 2003. If you're looking for real-world numbers, I get 36-40 in the city and 46-50 on the highway.. I did better when I lived in California. I live in Vegas now and the batteries don't seem to charge as well in extreme heat. I'd think twice before buying one if you live in a desert town like Vegas or Phoenix, unless they've resolved those issues in newer models *shrug*.
    • 022A, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Problem is, fuel efficient cars are usually pretty strictly focused on just that, fuel efficiency. Therefore, they end up small and funny looking because refucing weight and drag trump style. I forget the exact number but some absurd amounf of the power in an H2 is expended just to push that heavy brick through the air at speed.
    • microview, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6At your age the Honda CBR600 should fit your profile. It's snazzy, sexy, fast, cheap, and gets great gas milage. ;)
    • violentvinyl, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5The covered wheel wells on the Prius make me think of the Jetsons. I think its a conspiracy to make hybrid cars ugly so if sexy cars are your thing, you're still obligated to shell out large piles of cash for what you want. Saturn proved you can make a good looking cheap car, what the hell were the people at Honda and Toyota thinking?

      Of course, there's always the hybrid Lexus Doesn't make that list cause it's a V-6 (uses more gas than the 4s, but is still at the top of its class).
    • RAiNsTorm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2While it is all subjective, I am a "twenty something" as well and drive a Scion xA which fits that bill pretty well. Unique styling, not as many on the road, with a Yakima rack it totes everything and then some (including two 11' kayaks) and I get an average of 32-35MPG combined driving. Sure, I'd love to have a bit more HP and torque, but overall it is a great vehicle that gets the job done with some style (and room) to spare.
    • misfit815, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I've got a '98 Jetta TDI. I get 43mpg. What's impressive about that is the fact that my driving could best be described as 'digital'. Try driving one of those hybrids like you're Mario Andretti and see what kind of mileage you get.
    • moonpolysoft, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3I just bought a 2006 VW GTI. The thing absolutely rips (200hp, 207ft-lb @ 1800rpm) and it gets good mileage as long as you don't lay on the throttle too much. For me it gets anywhere between 26-31mpg highway. Depending, of course, on how much racing I do.
    • cartwheels, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Try the Honda Fit on for size. Those things are small, efficient, and according to every article I've read, extremely fun to drive. The sport model is cheap too, I think around $17,000 fully loaded.
    • evilTak, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I love the way my 2002 Jetta TDI looks. I'm 26.
    • einsfahrt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Wow, no domestic love here.
    • beervolcano, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I second the xA. I've got one, and I'm 24. It's actually very nimble and has great response. I can also put the back seats down and have plenty of room for hauling cargo, or my 2 big greyhounds! You may also want to look into the 2007 Nissan Versa. The Versa is also known as a Tiida overseas, and is considered a small luxury car, so it doesn't feel as "cheap" as other compacts.

      Also, about the xA, there are a TON of options and a whole community of tuners.
    • HP844182, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0It's not just about looks though. For a twenty something, I'd look for something that has both looks and performance.

      You might think you're gas sipper has "performance" but that's not performance.
    • andrewbmoore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I am thoroughly impressed with my 2007 Camry Hybrid's (Metallic Silver) looks, and I'm currently averaging 42.4 MPG on my current tank of gas (after 174 miles highway). When I drive the car more aggressively, I'll get down to 39MPG which is still very good. I've determined that one of the best tricks you can do with hybrids to get EPA or better mileage is to make full use of the regenerative breaking system. Hybrid batteries have a limit to how much power they can absorb per second, so if you break more gradually, you won't waste all that kinetic energy. By breaking well, I'm able to "floor" the gas pedal on my car and at least get over 35MPG.
  • wmarcello, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Can anybody explain why the Prius gets better mileage in the city then on the highway?
    • Popdmb, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6the gas doesnt kick in until you hit a certain mph .. i dont remember if it's 30 or 40 mph.
    • tnerb, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6uses more electric in the city, more gas on the highway. Since the electric system weighs quite a bit i imagine that this affects the highway efficiency.
    • eyeats, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5It's a hybrid, It doesn't use gas at slower speeds and while stopped at stoplights, so if it isn't using the gas engine there is no fuel used. Hence when traveling slower going though a city stopping and starting through stoplights you are saving gas.
    • robbh66, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10It capures energy from braking and uses it to run the motors. On the highway its pretty much the gas engine doing all the work.
    • robbh66, on 10/12/2007, -5/+104 replies, 4 different answers. Obviously most people dont really know the correct answer.

      Not saying I do either- just an observation.
    • ckelly5, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I think all the answers are correct.

      Toyota's hybrid system works on 100% battery power below a certain speed (as long as there is battery power to use), and it traps energy when you are coasting/ braking to charge said battery. If you get to a certain speed (I want to say somewhere in the range of 25-40MPH) or the battery runs out, the gas engine will kick in and propel the car/ assist in charging the battery. As was stated, city driving is usually slower speeds (under 40MPH) with a good deal of stop and go activity - a perfect situation for the electric portion of the hybrid system
    • Artifez, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5You are correct
      It recaptures breaking as electricity, so in the city it is more efficient
    • WilliamTanksley, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2All of the answers are correct. High-speed continuous driving is powered directly by the gas engine, which is more efficient at lower speeds; also, stop and go driving uses the regenerative braking more.
    • sacherjj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2How about this: City driving is slower speed. Assuming 100% energy storage for braking (regen braking), there is less air resistance at lower city speeds. Thus less energy expended and more mileage than higher speed travel. More likely, the city driving mileage is for short trips, which can be performed mostly via electric. When the electric runs down, the motor is running at a predefined efficient speed to recharge.
    • sl0hburn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Actually it is all mostley the same answer, and all are correct. There are 2 different types of hybrids, those that run gas at low speeds and those that run gas at high speeds. The Prius falls under the latter using the gasoline engine for higher speed cruising (freeway, etc).
    • FatMagic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I don't know if the Prius is the same... but on the Honda Civic Hybrid (which my parents own, and I drove for a couple months) - the electric power used in the system just "assists" the gas engine with "driving" the car. It never drove at 100% eletric, or 100% gas - it always ran on both one way or another. And the electric portion of the car only got it's power from braking/decelerating/downshifting (it was a standard). Using downshifting to brake instead of the mechanical brakes would charge the cell much faster.

      But i'm not sure if this is how the Prius works... two different manufacturers.
    • andrewbmoore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The air resistance climbs dramatically on cars as their speeds increase. The faster you are driving, the more energy you are consuming to compensate for drag (air resistance). Ideally, all cars would get better mileage in city than highway (if speed were more constant with no stop & go), but in real life, a ton of fuel is wasted as heat in the breaks as the car stops and starts.
  • samuelcotterall, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2I didn't realise the Prius was so damn expensive.

    I want a car as revolutionary as the Prius, that looks as cool as a 206, for Kia money.
    • Artifez, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Yeah thats the holy grail right now for Japanese automakers, the American automakers are confused and can't find their dentures.
  • 022A, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I wonder what a worldwide list would look like?

    As I understand it, there are some extremely efficient diesels available in Europe but, they aren't sol in the US due to some goofiness in our emission standards. Basically, the particle emissions (plain old carbon) from the diesels are too high while the actual harmful gases are plenty low.

    Maybe someone can elaborate on what I'm missing?
    • sacherjj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Our diesel fuel is years behind Europe, with so much sulphur that they are terrible with emissions. This is why VW has to limit the number of TDI (Turbo Direct Injection) Diesels they sell in the US. They bring down the "whole fleet" emissions. This is also why it is (are was very recently) nearly impossible to get a new TDI registered in California or New York. People wanting the benefits of low RPM torque and high mileage had to register the car in a neighboring state and then transfer into state as used, after 7500 miles. Yet, there is no restriction on a Hummer getting 8 mpg...
    • ricksite, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Our diesel was years behind. Not anymore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-low_sulfur_diesel
  • Clayfoot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Since government tests can be way off the mileage you get, Consumer Reports does its own mileage tests. The top 10 list by their tests is (overall, city, highway):

    1. Honda Insight 51 36 66
    2. Toyota Prius 44 35 50
    3. Honda Civic Hybrid 37 26 47
    4. Toyota Camry Hybrid 34 28 41
    5. Volkswagen Jetta TDI 34 24 46
    6. Scion xB (MT) 32 25 36
    7. Scion xA (MT) 31 22 38
    8. Honda Civic EX (MT) 31 22 40
    9. Mini Cooper (base) 30 23 38
    10.Scion xB (AT) 30 23 37

    http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/fuel-economy-1005/fuelefficient-vehicles/index.htm
    • sacherjj, on 10/12/2007, -5/+6That also doesn't distinguish between Manual and Auto. Some of the Manual VW TDIs can get real world 48-50 mpg. Switching to Auto kills about 15% efficiency.
    • Clayfoot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5MT = manual transmission
      AT = automatic transmission
    • sl0hburn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They actually just changed the way automakers are required to list MPG estimats on their cars. EVERYONE took hits in the MPG category. Shows how they flub the numbers a bit.
    • i64X, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The Scion XA and XB share the same engine and both weigh about the same - which is why they're so close on that list. As far as top 10 lists go, that's a pretty sweet deal for Toyota. :)
    • pirco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1sacherjj:

      That was always true about Automatics getting worse mpg. The new automatic civic(non-hybrid) actually gets better gas mileage that the manual. I think it's 30/40 compared to 30/38.
  • Mace37, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4Can I see these in Km/L? I hate the imperial system, it's impractical and used by only a handful.
    • astatine, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Yep, and more likely to be used by anyone who actually buys those cars...
    • Artifez, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Sadly, that handfull holds a lot of the currency so it sticks in the collective zeitgeist. The conversions arent hard and I think google will do them for you.
    • Clayfoot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3To get km/l from miles per gallon, multiple the mpg number by 0.425
    • eyeats, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3google is your friend
      http://www.google.com/search?q=8+mpg+to+km%2Fl
    • RealityMonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I prefer L/100km myself, but only because I've been using it for a while.

      Units like this are only as good as the number of people that use them for comparison. I don't really understand MPG myself, but I know that 40+ is really good, and 12 is really bad.
  • wardrive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8My motorcycle gets me about 60 mile to the gallon. And it's big, Honda VTX (1800cc engine)

    So if you really want fuel efficiency, motorcycles are the way to go, since most people already drive alone anyways. Most people don't carpool at all.
    • Artifez, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12If they had a motorcycle that protected me from the -10 F winters and protected me from retarded, cellphone addict soccer moms with 4 ton trucks I'd use one too, untill then, I'll drive a car for at least minimal protection.
    • sacherjj, on 10/31/2007, -1/+5Just make sure you have Organ Donor selected on your license if you decide to ride without a helmet.
    • greyghst168, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5If it weren't for the safety issue of riding a motorcycle, I'd have already made the switch, but for now, I'll stick to my car.
    • billybob476, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Motorcysles are great except if you live anywhere where it snows.
    • shoover, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Or, unless you want to, you know, buy groceries or something.
    • harleyfrog, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Yeah, talk about bias. The title of the article even reads "Vehicles with the Highest Fuel Efficiency". Appartently motorcycles aren't vehicles. That's news to me since that's how I got to work today.
  • suckfone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I've had a Jetta TDI for about a month now, and its been awesome. Around 40 mpg city and 50 mpg highway. Plus, there are plenty of places to buy bio diesel cheap around here ($2.75/gallon), so its easily more environmentally friendly than my old gas car was.
    • bigtrouble77, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm 6'4" 29 and have an insight. I could care less about the looks, the damn thing gets 65mpg in the summer and it's the cvt version- the car only cost me $17k. I get about 600 miles between fillups so I only pull up to the gas station about once a month. People need to get over their egos and buy something simply to be responsible for once.
  • typo180, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I don't quite understand why everyone thinks fuel-efficient cars are so ugly. My criteria for a car (and I'm in my early twenties) are fuel efficiency, reliability, room (I'm a bit tall), and - if all else is in place - a nice stereo system (one that sounds nice, not one that blasts bass throughout a 3-block radius). Of course price is always an issue too, I wish there were more options available to students and others without a whole wad of cash to spend on a car.
  • ZeroVector, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Don't count on the Insight being on the list next year. It is being discontinued after the 2006 model year.
  • gjscds, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Can we really trust the posted specs? There's a popular blog about how a guy bought a Civic Hybrid, and it's getting no where near the EPA estimates.

    Read for your self at http://hybridbuzz.blogspot.com/2005/09/hitting-2-year-mark.html
    • Menel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5And you trust some random blog?
    • shoover, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1n=1

      To explain - a single case is never enough to base an educated opinion off of. If that were the case, every product or company would fail as soon as one person had a negative experience.
  • MrHighSide, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3You want fuel efficiency? Try 2 wheels, with Kawasaki Ninja 250 70+ MPG brand new under $3 grand, and used ones go for even less. For three seasons you're fuel efficient and way more styling then a Prius or Insight.

    http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=12&article_id=128
    • Artifez, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9My dad was a cop for 33 years and he calls motorcyclists "organ donors" and asked me to never ride one.
    • DWatch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Riding a motorcycle is about assuming risk. You take a risk everyday you get out of bed, take a shower, go to work, eat at a restaurant, etc. The level of risk associated with a well trained motorcycle rider that wears a full face helmet, gloves, and a riding jacket is not much more than someone driving a compact car with the windows rolled down and no seatbelt or airbag. Its a risk just getting into traffic, no matter what you drive.

      And yea, I get around 60 to 65 MPG on my bike, and its way more fun to ride it than to drive my SUV. Heck I even look forward to the drive to work when I ride the bike, traffic and all.

      The motorcycle has an advantage in handling and size (smaller target), and can get out of some close calls just by driving between two obstacles. Of course, the best defense is to not be in a tight situation in the first place, training and experience will keep you out of those situations. The left-turning oncoming car is probably the biggest single cause of bike crashes. Watching for those cars and making sure they see you, even slowing down before passing them will keep you out of a dangerous situation. Expect vehicles to not see you, and stay out of blind spots, and use, but don't rely on, your horn. Never assume anyone around you can 1: see you, 2: drive like you think they will, 3: never have a problem with their vehicle (flat tire, loose cargo, broken body parts) and 4: will respect your space as if you were in a car. Regarding the last point, I can't count how many times drivers assume that because I'm a pretty small vehicle, they can fit in my lane right behind or in front of me, not even allowing a car's length in between, which is something that they would allow any other car on the road.

      Anyway, its all about the level of risk you are willing to live with. Some people who would never get on a bike out of fear of other drivers happily smoke 2 packs a day, or skydive, or scuba dive, or surf, or sit on a back porch with rotting beams, or whatever. In the grand scheme of things, riding a bike (in a sane manner) is only slightly more risky than driving a car.
    • holifila, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1 "In the grand scheme of things, riding a bike (in a sane manner) is only slightly more risky than driving a car."

      I don't normally insult people on boards, but are you insane? You want to know what one of the most dangerous duties for cops is? Funeral escorts...safe and sane driving from riders with vast amounts of road experience, more than the most hard core everyday riders. Its simple, riders get into more accidents per rider than a normal car driver and what would be a fender-bender in a car can send a rider to the ER. Don't get me wrong, I love motorcycles, but telling people that they are almost as safe as cars is crap. They are much riskier than you let on.
  • earlycj5, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Where are they getting their numbers?

    My Golf TDI 5 spd. never went below 44 mpg and as high as 57 MPG.
    • jerlensla, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Totally agree....TDIs blow everythign out of the water, IMO.
    • vuzman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I have gotten up to 60 MPG with my VW Golf TDI (6 speed), with real-world driving; however, the numbers stated in the top ten list is very close to what I actually get with regular driving.
    • vuzman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Oh, and I run on biodiesel (RME), which i can use without any conversion of the engine at all. Up to 70% less CO2 emissions and even with the minute 5% efficiency drop (which translates into 5% worse MPG) it's still cheaper than regular diesel (that is the case here in Sweden at least).
    • RealityMonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1With an un-broken in engine (< 7000km) I alraedy get about 40 MPG (5.7L/100km), and it's an auto wagon. The car is bigger and heavier than my last one (Saturn Ion) and the fuel economy is better in the city than the Saturn was on the highway. The TDI is magic.
  • ricksite, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Kudos to VW for getting good efficiency in a somewhat traditional turbo diesel engine. Add bio-diesel into the equation and you would have an efficient car that uses renewable fuel. Bio-diesel has the added benefit of being very safe. Pure bio-diesel is considered non-flammable, non-toxic and bio-degradable.
  • bobbsmithe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Next year there will be a new leader of that list. Unfortunately this is not because there will be a car more efficient than the Insight, but because Honda is stopping production on the Insight. Oh well. Hopefully Honda has something to replace it.
  • jerlensla, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0That's ok...no one buy a Jetta TDI cause these goofs say it only gets 46 mpg. That'll mean more for the people who actually look into getting a TDI. Try 50-55 or in some cases 60. Head over to tdiclub.com and check out the forums. I love my 2000 Jetta TDI with 50+ mpg. 700+ miles per tank is pretty damn convenient too :P

    Go buy your crappy, overpriced hybrids...leave the TDIs to those in the "know."
    • 022A, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0If only VW made a TDI that would fit someone over 6 ft. tall.
    • RealityMonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm 191cm tall -- about 6'2". I fit in my TDI just fine.
    • 022A, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm nearly 6'6" and I felt like I was wearing the car the last time I sat in a Jetta.
  • got-haggis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1a reporter from the washington post did a test drive of a prius and a vw golf tdi. the tdi actaully got better mileage.

    i own a vw golf tdi and love it.
  • Clayfoot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3For fun, the 10 worst mileage list from Consumer Reports. Note that the Hummer H3, often much maligned for fuel economy, does not top the list.
    (overall, city, highway)

    1 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 SLT 11 8 17
    2 Dodge Ram 1500 4.7 SLT 12 8 17
    3 Nissan Titan SE 13 9 18
    4 Jeep Commander Limited (5.7) 13 9 19
    5 Land Rover LR3 SE (V8) 13 9 21
    6 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer (V8) 14 9 21
    7 Hummer H3 14 10 20
    8 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7-liter (V8) 14 9 21
    9 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (6-cyl.) 14 10 19
    10 Kia Sorento LX 15 10 21

    http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/fuel-economy-1005/fuelefficient-vehicles/index.htm
    • 022A, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0People don't hate the Hummers due to facts, it's the image. Hummer lovers are the same way (image over fact) so they cancel each other out.
    • i64X, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Bugatti Veyron gets 4 mpgs :)
    • RealityMonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Veyron economy is only that bad if you've got your foot all the way down on the pedal. Many sports cars are that bad. Efficient engines, but not very economical.
    • satanatnmtedu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1But, the Hummer *is* #7. And, the differences between those vehicles is slight. So, I wouldn't crow too much about the Hummer being that great.

  • Topher06, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The numbers are from very controlled in lab testing and are unrealistic. The Hybrid numbers (as usual) do not reflect the way people actually drive these things, and so of course are skewed to look more fuel efficient then other cards with REAL world fuel efficiency, like the Golf TDI.

    I watched some british car show (forget which one, but the more popular one), and they test drove hybrid's comared to a Golf TDI, and the TDI spanked the hybrid's silly. For best fuel economy, get a deisel. EVERY report I have seen for real world Hybrid efficiency shows them to perform as good as, or even less, then other gas engine only cars. Lets face it, unless you want to drive 40km/h to work in an 80 km/h zone, your never going to get the fuel efficiency rated.

    Hybrid's are for rich yuppies that think by paying more for something, they are saving the environment.
    • jerlensla, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Nothing but truth...

      Go bio and really save the the environment.
    • thinkdifferent, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you really want the best mileage, get a TDI hybrid. Although not common and I don't think any are available in the U.S. yet, they offer the best combo.
  • jwinky, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Although I'm a big fan of hybrid "technology" and environmentally friendly cars, I can't say I'm going to be buying a hybrid soon.

    As has been pointed out above, most hybrids dont' get nearly the advertised gas milage in practice, regardless of how they are designed. A lot of the EPA regulations for testing gas milage don't apply to hybrids. New EPA regulations for testing and reporting milage for hybrid cars goes into effect later this summer.

    Also, there's the periodic cost of replacing the battery packs. A friend of mine bought a hybrid 2 years ago and was rather upset to discover she will need to replace the batteries next year at a cost of almost $7000. Hybrid technology is a good idea, but our batteries still suck. From what I understand this cost has gone down recently, but it's still pretty expensive.
    • 022A, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1One thing I'd love to know...

      What is the total environmental impact of a hybrid car? A lot of a hybrid hype is built around the clean image. There are hidden costs to everything.

      In every case I've seen, only the running emissions are considered. There are other questions...

      How are auto-makers using (abusing) the hybrid's skew in their fleet averages?

      What resources are used to create the batteries for the car?

      What is done with them when they go bad?

      How often do they go bad?

      How will this change as hybrids grow in popularity?

      How will things change when hybrid tax credits disappear?
    • RealityMonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1From what I've heard, Toyota and Honda both use recycled materials in the cars, and try and soften the environmental impact as much as possible in the actual construction of the car. They also offer a bounty on the batteries to ensure people will recycle them. The technology will only get better, and really is superior if you have to drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic. Otherwise, diesel is just fine. I'm happy that I bought my TDI after examining the options; the hybrids just didn't offer the cargo capacity that I wanted.
    • andrewbmoore, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Toyota has a 10year warranty on the battery packs for all Hybrid Synergy Drive II vehicles (at least in Massachusetts). Your friend should check the state laws and/or the warranty guide for her car, since I beleive that Honda has a good warranty on batteries as well. If her batteries died after a few years, then it was likely a manufacturers defect. Hybrid batteries are supposed to last for 10 years or more if they aren't dropped in the ocean or severely abused.
  • SmeRndmGy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2We need to destroy the false rumor that buying a "cool looking" car will get you laid. Then people will be more likely to consider more practical vehicles.
    • 022A, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0One problem...

      That isn't a false rumor, it's a fact.

      Image is a big deal in the US. Where else do people demand "premium" labels for cars?
    • SmeRndmGy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I happen to know for a fact that you can get laid, and often, without purchasing a "cool" car. Buying certain items will not make people like you. These items continue to sell because people THINK they do.
  • dustedbunny, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I drive a 1991 Toyota Camry and get about 40 mpg highway.
    Sure it might not look wonderful. But I laugh at people driving by in Hummers pinching their pennies for gas every other day.

    I can fill up on saturday...and drive too and from New Jersey from Delaware (about an hour drive one way)...and then drive to work (not a long commute, but still) and not have to fill up for a week and a half.
  • ngmcs8203, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1My Yukon XL Denali gets about 16mpg and was worried about gas prices when I first got it last year. First thing I heard from another full sized SUV owner was, "If you can afford the car, you should be able to afford the gas." Wise words when I was driving 10miles a day for my "commute". We now drive 60miles a day as a commute and $75 a week in gas is beginning to get pricey.

    I think the only down side with the Hybrids is the waiting lists to get one. To get a Prius I'd have to wait atleast a year on a list. But with the stock gas mileage and the possible 100 mpg with the new hybrid "hack" (upgrade) I think it's time to sign my name on that list and pony up that $22k.
  • MrHighSide, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1It's true; you do have to know what you are doing and watch out for yourself, especially with the cell phone talking radio changing Hummer driving crowd. But overall motorcyclists get a bad rap from the 18-21 year old crowed riding the 200 HP liter bikes doing stupid things and getting themselves killed (see also Ben Rothlessburger (sp?) ), and the no gear wearing, I'm to cool for school, Harley guys. The run of the mill motorcyclist is pretty safe as long as you pay attention, and stay in your limits. Oh yeah remember, that guy turning left, he doesn't see you.
  • copilot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Umm TDI Power!! Seriously. I love my TDI and recommend them to anyone looking to save money on fuel.
  • tdp05, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've heard too many bad things about VW's and VW dealers in Los Angeles to take the risk of buying a TDI, though for my commute it'd be great.

    I'd love to buy a Japanese made diesel car, but they just don't sell them here. I also dont trust the build quality of American cars, excluding Saturns. Parents had a few Dodge,Ford and GM cars when I was growing up. None held up as well as the Hondas we had.
    • ngmcs8203, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"I've heard too many bad things about VW's and VW dealers in Los Angeles to take the risk of buying a TDI, though for my commute it'd be great."

      First hand experience right here... 97 Jetta GLX. Talk about problems. It seemed that atleast once a year we were putting atleast $500 in non normal wear-and-tear repairs. Fuel lines, gas tank, transmission, starter... The list goes on.

      Our 97 honda civic EX is still running strong however at 120k miles.
    • i64X, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Hondas are where it's at - especially older ones.

      Check this out:
      http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/9776.shtml

      92-95 Civic VX hatchback. Sure it's not as hot as a Porsche, but it actually gets better real world gas mileage than the big heavy hybrids that are out now, AND the smelly VW deisels. Honda did this in the early 90's by making an extremely light car with really advanced engine technology for it's price (engine varied from 8 valves to 16 valves depending on the situation, and used a wideband O2 sensor to tune itself) and achieved an average of around 50 miles per gallon city and highway COMBINED - and those numbers are from real world drivers and not Honda (Honda claimed 54 back in the day).

      One of those can be had for around 3-4K in mint shape and IMHO is one of the most perfect commuter cars ever. Since it's a Civic, everything on it is easy to fix and the parts for them are super cheap (unless you have to replace the $350 wideband oxygen sensor).
    • RealityMonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1My last car was a Saturn, and it was a shoddy piece of crap. I had the ignition cylinder replaced 3 times because I couldn't turn the key in the ignition, had the hood release break on me while I was driving home on a trip when I stopped to top up the windshield fluid, and it got pretty lousy fuel economy. I'm much happier with my VW in basically every way.
  • kmbrooks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Seeing as the TDI's get as good mileage as the gasoline-electric hybrids, wouldn't a diesel-electric hybrid be that much better? Hey, VW, we need a TDI-brid!
    • kmbrooks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Well, a quick search finds that VW made a d-e hybrid prototype that got 100+ mpg. That would seriously be cool.
    • tdp05, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0GM makes one in Europe called the Opel Astra. Could be coming to the states as a Saturn.

      Take this for a what you will, from a wikipedia article.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Astra
  • screamokid, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2what no BMW love my 94' 318i gets around 30 highway and 24 street on average and i think that's good for me, i want performance and handling, and it was cheap (1,600 bucks on creigslist)

    but how is the safety on those cars i was driving last month on the highway and some new Toyota (2004?) corolla hit a idk 96 BMW 325i and the corolla was like destroyed and the driver had to be taken away in a ambulance while the BMW was in rough shape yeah but still drivable, but the driver was perfect maybe a bruise or 3 but nothing that a ambulance needed, that's why German cars rule! they last FOREVER my old car witch was a Volvo still runs great even with 202xxx on it and most can go to 250 , BMW's are expected to go 250 :(

    my moms 99 Mazda Melania sucks ass and with only 123,xxx

    anyone want my old 94 Volvo 850 wagon $1000? 202xxx miles, its in the rhode island criegslist
    • i64X, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'm sorry but "318i" and "performance" shouldn't be used in the same sentance. I had a 325is and even that wasn't very fast, and didn't handle well at all. 318 is the same car with a smaller motor in it and still has all the weight.
  • joe-ball, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'd like to speak with anyone who gets that kind of mileage in those cars. The Prius milages is widely known as being totaly inacurate in real world scenarious.

    This list is crap. I'd rather see a list of *real* mpg ratings.
    • Metasquares, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I get close to the rated MPG in my echo. It's a great car, even if it does look a bit weird.
  • Thumprr, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1"Vehicles." Humph.

    If they actually listed the ten "vehicles" with the best mileage, no cars would make the list.

    How about motorcycles (which accelerate faster than a corvette and get 50-60mpg) or scooters (which are slightly slower but can get north of 120 mpg)?

    Restricting "vehicles" to only those with four wheels is just the kind of restricted thinking that gets us "oil-addicted" in the first place.
  • kdehead, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1the 70s version of the Mini did 60 mpg.

    looks like things havent advanced that much in nearly 30 years.
    now , i would be seriously impressed if those cars were doing 100 to 200 mpg.
    • Butros, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wow. was it considerably smaller than today's mini? Maybe the switch in gas type changes things somehow? (leaded to unleaded). That is an interesting factoid nonetheless, and it's also a little discouraging.

      Maybe it didn't have any air conditioning...
    • DWatch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The lead in gasoline was mainly just a lubricant for the engine. Today's gas is every bit as explosive as the old gas, octane-wise. The big difference back then would have been relaxed smog emission standards (no catalytic converters, smog pumps, etc.).

      Add to that the expectation of a minimum amount of acceleration people want, and you need a bigger engine.
    • barfnz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0lead was used as an octane booster not a lubricant! benzene is used instead now but only at most 1-5% because of emission concerns. which is why i run about a ~20-30% benzene-and-98-octane mix which yields about 10% more power and cooler combustion.
  • warfang, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1They're missing the Yaris and I checked a lot of the manufacturer sights and they don't even list the mpg effecientcy as high as this site does. marked as inaccurate
  • Llan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Anything like this for european models and real units, like kilometers, and not the Middle-Age miles and gallon ridiculousness?
    • Butros, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Way to troll my international friend, you are truly an asset to the global internet community.
  • CeeJayDK, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I looked at the list and it doesn't seem accurate .. there are many cars not on the list that are very efficient.

    Like the VW Lupo 3L .. it goes 100Km on 3 liters of diesel .. that's 33.3 km/l or 77mpg
    Even my own car does better than some of the cars on that list.
    It's a Peugeot 206 HDI 2.0 and I get around 45mpg ( 19km/l ) .. and the car is even tuned from 90hp to 150+ hp , without it affecting fuel economy.

    We are still along way from cars that use as little as the VW 1-liter concept car .. 235mpg
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vw_1_liter_car
    • kozie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Agreed, the Lupo is a winner. up to 99MPG...
  • coolbru, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So you want a good looking HDI hybrid? Take a look at the Peugeot 307CC Hybrid. It has about the best small diesel engine around, an electric system, and it's a great looking car: There are some pics here: http://forum.avtoindex.com/foto/categories.php?cat_id=62 and the official site is here: http://www.peugeot.com/tradition/concept_cars/en/cc_307cchybride_fiche.htm
    VW have a very cute HDI concept sports car; the EcoRacer: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0605_2006_volkswagen_ecoracer_concept/
  • NJShadow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Nice lttle list. Love it. "DUGG"
  • NJShadow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Nice little list. Love it. "DUGG"
  • vr1000, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I am very dubious of the VW diesels, I think they are tuned for the EPA test. My friend who has a Jetta TDI does't get close that mileage.
    • suckfone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0As a new owner of a VW TDI, I was a little skeptical at first too. Intially I was getting around 37 mpg a tank, but after breaking it in, I'm getting closer to 45mpg per tank. On a tank of completely highway miles, it easily goes above 50mpg. Also, the way you drive influences your mileage a lot. I use cruise control constantly.
  • everfalling, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1you'de be lucky to get 50 pmg on the prius during normal driving. maybe it's partially due to living on top of a large hill, but i know my mom struggles just to get the thing past 45. 60 is like, absolutly flat. i donno how exactly they rate these cars.
  • c5mjohn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Mostly all cars never get near their EPA estimates.
  • johnburk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Here in The Netherlands, andythin under 35 mpg is considerd Low Fuel Efficiency. It has to bee atleast 45 mpg to be considerd Highest Fuel Efficiency. Here we pay around 7.30 USD per gallon
  • danielj1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Mostly all cars never get near their EPA estimates."
    Indeed the case. My 1991 Toyota Camry (4cyl. auto, currently 168,000 miles) was rated 24/30. This past weekend I took it out on the freeway for an informal fuel-economy test, driving 80 miles in each direction and filling up before each leg. Drove with the windows closed but air conditioning on, and limited speed to 55-60mph the whole way, driving reasonably (but not excessively) gently. Resulting highway fuel economy was: 46.5 mpg.
  • lasdigg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Define for Ethanol
    http://hallencyclopedia.com/topic/Ethanol.html
  •  

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