Updated: Top ten fuel-efficient cars
The other day, I paid nearly fifty bucks to fill the tank of my wife's Honda Accord wagon. Fifty bucks. It's not like we drive a Ford Expedition, for crying out loud -- it's a piddly little four-cylinder wagon with a slightly-larger-than-average 17-gallon gas tank. Fifty bucks. It's almost enough to make me feel sorry for SUV owners.
Needless to say, I had that fifty-dollar fill-up in mind when I updated our list of the top ten fuel-efficient cars. This isn't just a list of the cars with the best EPA mileage estimates; cars with the highest MPG cars aren't necessarily best suited for everyone. (After all, there's a reason that my wife's daily driver is our $50-per-fill-up Honda Accord and not our $25-per-fill-up Honda CRX.) It's a list of vehicles that are practical, enjoyable and desireable as well as fuel-efficient. Check out the updated list here -- and for those who prefer pictures, I've added a photo gallery version of the list, which you can find here. -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Aaron Gold
What? no more diesels?
In any case, I am hoping Toyota comes soon with a 4 cylinder RAV4 hybrid.
That is the car I need…(?)
The Escape Hybrid is not a good alternative for me.
I have been averaging 37mpg with my 5spd 2005 Scion xB. The highest mph I have gotten is 41.1mpg. And to think ppl think this car is ugly….. LOL I laugh everytime I fillup.
Manolo,
The Mercedes E320 BLUETEC is a diesel.
Aaron,
Do you know if Acura is planning anything hybrid for any of their lineup? (I would like to see an Acura RDX hybrid.) Or will they operate on the theory that if you can afford the car, you can afford the fuel?
AndyS – I’ve just dropped an email to Acura to see if there are any rumors they will confirm or deny. Watch this space.
An ‘86 Honda CRX HF helped me get through part of my college years. I never spent more than $10 filling it up (gas was under $1/gal), and it NEVER got anything less than 48 mpg per tank, even with mostly around-town driving. When driving home on the freeway, it would achieve 55-60 mpg.
No electric motor. No hybrid system. No electronic fuel injection. No fancy exhaust or intake systems. No special fuel. Just a plain old carbeurated 1.5 liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine on 87 octane. Add in that it was one of the lowest priced passenger cars available in all of North America, and you’ve got a sure winner.
20 years later, we have artificially underpriced $25,000 hybrids with billions of $$ of research into them, advanced fuel systems, advanced catalytic converts, advanced intakes, advanced exhaust systems…all of this for highway death-traps that can’t top 35 mpg in real-world tests?? Are you kidding me?!?
AndyS, good question. I’ve read with laughter a few blog and forums posts from people that are shopping for new $40-$60k hybrid SUV’s because of “outrageous gas prices”. And I think they’re serious.
Bryan –
Keep in mind that the CRX HF also had no airbags, no antilock brakes, no 3rd or 4th doors, no back seat, no sealed zero-evaporative-emissions fuel system, no power windows, locks or mirrors, no (I assume) air conditioning, no door beams, no way to make it to 60 MPH in less than 12 seconds, no automatic transmission, no OBD, no PZEV (or even ULEV or LEV) emissions, and no chance in a collision with a big SUV, all things that modern hybrids have.
I don’t mean to pee on your picnic; I own a CRX (’89 Si with air conditioning, 36 MPG in mixed driving, better on the freeway), which I love, and while their mileage is fantastic, their practicality and safety aren’t. In fact, the 4-door Civics of the era got mileage comparable to – or slightly less than – today’s compact sedans, which are roomier, have more equipment, and pollute less. (See this blog entry for a bit more on this subject.)
AndyS: Here is the official word from Acura:
“No Acura hybrids on the horizon. Though our sedans and SUVs are top in class in terms of fuel economy and emissions.”
Hey Terry, you laugh as you fill up your tank, while the rest of the world laughs as you drive down the road. The entire Scion lineup is a pathetic attempt to corner the ignorant car buyers market.
I think its amazing how much gas prices can raise in just twenty minutes. These gas companies just raise prices to make a big profit and have a good laugh at our expense on the way to the bank at the end of the day.
Manolo,
The Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC is a diesel engine. I haven’t had a chance to drive it.
In 2008, VW is rumored to release their BLUETEC engines. I can’t wait to test drive one! When those come out, I really hope they make this list.
EDIT:
The VW engine is called BlueMotion and is already available in Germany. It’s the Polo BlueMotion. I’m curious as to which car they’ll put it in…
Polo BlueMotion – soulds like a new cologne. (probably has a hint of diesel fragrance too) haha
I HAVE A 07 DODGE CALIBER I GET 33 MPG THATS GOOD FOR DODGE.
Unfortunately I ran into some major car repairs late last year and was fooled. I ended up finding a used Chevy Aveo. I really do like every aspect of the car EXCEPT gas mileage! It gets 29-33 (which is a pleasure in comparison to my truck) but I was sold on the “IT WILL GET 40 MPG” — the salesman said. Anyway Gas mileage sometimes comes from strange places. My Chevy 1500 P/U gets roughly 18MPG empty. A month or so ago we bought a TOY (94 Trans Am) needs a tranny. I hauled it home with my truck – on a trailer – nearly 150 miles and averaged 15 MPG while towing GO FIGURE, I was shocked and ECSTATIC. 15 is unheardof while towing.
Hey Aaron Is there any truth to DODGE putting a deisel in their 1500 trucks in 09? Thanks
Thanks Justin, I love my xB too!!
I have a 2005 Scion XB, it averages 32 mpg. Some people might say it is ugly. but do any of you with boxy SUV’s get that kind of milage from your car.
Justin, obviously you haven’t riden in let alone driven any of the Scion line up. We’ve had ours for just over 2 years and 51000 miles, it just keeps getting better all the time. Just made a 1500 mile round trip to Myrtle Beach, SC in the xb and couldn’t be any happier with it’s performance and gas mileage. I’m not going to talk down your choice of vehicle, so please allow us the respect of not trashing our choice. To each their own.
justin, you fail to mention what you drive, but to trash an entire car line without doing any research only shows how painfully ignorant you are.
Like some of the others that have posted, I have a Scion as well. To call it the ignorant car buyers line is totally unfair and ill informed. How ignorant is a car that gets good mileage and is fun to drive at the same time? Enjoy your $50 fill ups.
Where are the VW diesels on this list?
Dave -
This list is limited to cars currently available new, and officially VW is not selling any new diesel models for 2007. (Unofficially, I understand that some 2007s were sold labeled as special-edition 2006s.) The new VW TDI is due out soon as a 2008 model. Once I’ve had a chance to drive it, there’s a pretty good chance it’ll end up on this list — it’d have to be a pretty lousy engine not to!
Hey Justin – thanks for being ignorant.
Nobody’s laughing at my car. I drive a Turbocharged Scion tC. I’ve won trophies with it at car shows and I’ve done very well at the track.
What do you drive that makes you think you’re so hot?
Anyone that will bash an entire car line without any factual research is IMHO not a very reliable source. I love my tC, and I get in the 30’s for mpg, and it was not about price when I bought it or any larg company getting one over on me, I bought it because I love the styling, the great communities of owners and enthusiasts, and the fact that it is so easy to modify. To post such a remark about a car line that has done so well and shattered all expectations is just a sign of ignorance. Do I think my car is the best in the world, to me it is, and that’s all that matters.
Justin, I totally love it when people bash on an entire car line. I drive and xB. I get about 34 mpg, and spend perhaps $25 a week on gas. You may not like the car, but that doesn’t mean that the people who drive them are ignorant. Think before you make such ignorant statements. See, we’re not the ignorant ones, you are =-)
First off, don’t be jealous of us xB owners, just because we get awesome gas mileage. It doesn’t cost much to fill the tank, and it lasts for a long time. I’ve taken it to, Daytona Beach and back, then also Myrtle Beach and back, It’s great to travel in, because there is so much space. I absolutly love my car, dispise what you say. Infact I don’t like your comment.
I am surprised that a Scion didn’t make the list. But gee, look at all the Scion owners adding comments…..Justin, you really know how to make friends!!! Give us your address and we will stop by and have a party with you!!! LOL
Just wanted to let everyone interested in any VW know, BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS. Please research the web for all the problems these cars have. I paid a dealer mark up adjustment over sticker, yeah I’m stupid, for the mileage of a TDI jetta. I just sold this P.O.S. after owning it for 10 months, and I promise you that it was in the shop for at least 5 of those months. Each time something else new would go wrong. I am not talking about silly cup holders falling apart, I’m talking about service engine soon, airbag warning light, and the never ending battles with the dealership and VW of America over “The Lemon Law”. PLEASE LOOK elsewhere for mileage. Good luck if you think for a second that I’m playing this up. These cars are poor quailty, and they don’t fetch the market adjustment at resale. NOR do they achieve 50 MPG, more like 35/40 if you can keep the rattle box out of the shop.