It goes without saying that the more expensive the car, the worse the gas mileage. Although these results display overall value, they do not compare apples to apples. Especially when you consider that most of the cars that get the worst mpg on the road are a very small percent of the vehicle population and are probably not seeing daily use. Not to mention the fact that they possess some big engines. Take a look at what the U.S. Department of Energy display as getting the best and worst gas mileage.
Most Efficient Overall Lately this category has been dominated by our Japanese friends at Toyota. The Prius tops almost every list we've researched with regards to fuel efficiency, and in fact the Prius seems to top lots of 'best of' lists. Pioneers in hybrid technology, Toyota continues to set the pace for manufacturers worldwide.
Two seaters The Mazda MX-5 gets the best gas mileage in the two seater category, which makes sense when you consider their miniscule size. A two seater in every sense of the word, the MX-5 manual transmission gets just a tad better mileage in the city than its automatic sibling. They both however, get 30 mpg on the highway which makes them an ideal candidate for that guilt-free drive up the coast.
On the flip side the two seater with the worst gas mileage is the Lamborghini L-147/148 Murcielago. A car which very few of us have even seen in person, much less been concerned with its gas mileage.
Minicompant results No 'best of' list is complete without a nod to the Mini Cooper, who proves over and over that it is a fantastic investment. Boosting a highway mpg of 40 and city mpg of 32, for the manual transmission the Mini is one of the most stylish non-hybrid options on the most fuel efficient list.
Conversely the worst in the minicompact category is the beautifully stylish Aston Martin DB9 Coupe and Volante, probably because of that gas-chomping 5.9L engine they sport. Chances are, those that will purchase a vehicle like this will not be using it as a daily commuter anyway.
Subcompacts In this category Toyota does it again with their subcompact Yaris. Odd name aside, the Yaris gets good gas mileage without the hybrid hassle and price tag. This makes it a valuable choice in the fuel efficient market today.
On the other hand is the worst in our subcompact category which is the Bently Azure, again in such a high end, specialized category most of us regular Joe's will not even see one in our life time, much less be researching their pros and cons for purchase.
Compact car class The most efficient compact cars is a close tie with the Honda Civic Hybrid giving the Toyota Corolla a run for its money. The Civic Hybrid eeks out close to 20 mpg better gas mileage in the city than the Corolla, and gets about 10 mpg better on the freeway. Although in terms of best value, this is a hybrid who is competing with a regular gas burning engine. The ever popular Corolla is a very economical choice indeed.
Again the Bentley rules the worst in class for gas mileage, this time with their Continental GT. If it can really be called a compact, this Bentley oozes sex appeal, anyone buying this car is far more concerned with image than they are the ozone layer.
Midsized models This is the Prius's category, so its 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway speak for themselves. Another brand in this category is the Nissan Versa, also a good buy for being a gas engine vehicle, it gets over 30 mpg both in the city and on the highway without the higher price tag of the hybrid models.
The reigning offender in the worst gas mileage category for midsized vehicles is none other than the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, but you knew that. Another automobile superbly designed for performance and the open road. Anyone lucky enough to drive one will let any concern about miles per gallon eat their dust.
Large cars Hyundai won this category with its Sonata, a 2.4L 4 cylinder engine powers this large car, managing to pump out about 162 horsepower which makes it well liked by reviewers. Not to mention a quick option that offers good gas mileage and more space.
Again Bentley takes the award for worst gas milage, and in the large car category it is the Arnage that gets the worst gas mileage, at 10 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway. An attractive if posh looking car, it is one that evokes images of chauffeurs and white gloves.
Owning a fuel efficient vehicle has become of greater importance in today's world, where gas has become a documented expense, as opposed to a spur of the moment purchase. Instead of being one of the minor factors considered when buying a car, fuel economy is now one of the top aspects looked at. Currently, highly fuel efficient vehicles are more expensive than their lesser counterparts, so it may take years to see a net profit from the savings on fuel.
Some people are willing to pay the extra money because they are conscious of the environment and want to consume less fuel, as it is beneficial to the planet, and others are negatively affected psychologically by seeing such high numbers at the pump. One who is environmentally and fuel conscious has a multitude of vehicle options to choose from, as there is no shortage of efficient cars in our society.
Kia offers several fuel efficient vehicles that are not lacking in other features. The 2008 Kia Rio is safe, sporty, and comes standard at $11,540. There is plenty of room, a powerful engine, and a reputable Powertrain Warranty. Best of all, the highway fuel economy is rated at 35mpg. The base model can be upgraded to LX and SX for only a few thousand dollars more, although upgrades do not effect fuel economy.
Mazda is not known for focusing on fuel economy, although a few of their vehicles are prominent in this respect. The Mazda3 4-Door has 148HP, multi-port electronic fuel injection, and a heap of sophisticated external features. Manual transmission yields higher fuel efficiency than automatic, with 32 highway miles per gallon compared to 30, respectively. Interesting, the higher priced Mazda vehicles have much lower efficiency than the cheaper ones. For example, as the Mazda3 is continually upgraded (there are five unique models of it), the economy gets proportionally lower.
Like Mazda, Mitsubishi is more popular for its innovative designs and impressive features than efficiency. Despite this, many of Mitsubishi's newer models take in to account the general population's desire for efficient vehicles. The 2009 Lancer is a perfect case of this. Its aerodynamic design makes it move easier, and it has many features that are more likely to be found on a jet than a car.
In fact, it has many futuristic characteristics that make it a pleasure to own. A keyless entry system enables drivers to open doors and start the ignition without actually needing to insert a key, and advanced navigation and Bluetooth technology complement the other attributes seamlessly. With all this, the Lancer still manages to get 30 highway miles per gallon, and a respectable 22 in city.
The company that is most notably leading the way in fuel efficiency is Chevy. Fuel solutions are one of their top priorities, next to safety, and they are pioneering the way towards a gas-free future. The Concept Chevy Volt, which has not entered the market yet, is one of the most promising electric vehicles ever designed. Chevrolet has dedicated extensive resources to perfecting the vehicle, and it is expected to have a driving range of 640 miles before needing to be recharged.
In addition to electricity, Chevrolet sees biofuels as an ideal alternative to petroleum, specifically E85 ethanol, which is made mostly from corn. Several vehicles even have the ability to run solely on ethanol, and if that fuel is not available, regular gasoline can be used as an alternative.
Both P. Filler & Daniel Millions are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
P. Filler has sinced written about articles on various topics from Build Muscle, Car Rental and Cars. About the Author:My name is Paige Filler and I'm a creative writer with a love of all things that go vroom. I do my homework to bring thought and innovation into everything I write about the auto industry.You can find more of my stuff at. P. Filler's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Daniel Millions has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Cars and Writing. If you are considering a hybrid car try this . If you are looking for. Daniel Millions's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.