Most fuel-efficient cars for 2006
<small>CNN ^ | October 13, 2005; Posted: 11:13 a.m. EDT (1513 GMT) | Unsigned</small>


<small>Posted on 10/13/2005 12:38:08 PM PDT by .cnI redruM</small>


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The Honda Insight, a gas-electric hybrid car, edged out the Toyota Prius as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the U.S., according to new mileage ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

Both get an estimated 60 miles per gallon in city driving.

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Top 10 vehicles overall:

(City/Highway)

1. Honda Insight (hybrid) -- 60/66

2. Toyota Prius (hybrid) -- 60/51

3.Volkswagen New Beetle and Golf (diesel, manual) -- 37/44

4. Volkswagen Jetta (diesel) -- 36/41

5. Ford Escape Hybrid FWD -- 36/31

6. Volkswagen New Beetle and Jetta(diesel, automatic) -- 35/42

7. Volkswagen Golf (diesel, automatic) -- 33/44

8. Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD (Also Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner 4WD hybrids) -- 33/29

9. Lexus RX 400h 2WD and Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD -- 33/28

10. Toyota Corolla (manual) -- 32/41

 

Show me ONE person that's getting 60mpg with their Prius. The real-world number is more like 35-40; that's a BIG discrepancy.

 

I saw on a tv program a few weeks ago and can't I remember the program but they drove a Lexus Hybrid and a Volkwagon diesel across the counrty for a comparision. Althought the hybrid got better mileage in the city overall it was the diesel that was cheapest overall.

 

Hybrids sound great until you find the "real world" numbers. Then on top of that, you have to consider the risks of new battery packs at 100k miles, or maybe they last 200k miles. No one knows. Then because no one knows, the resale suffers a little.

I just bought a '95 Merc 300 diesel to commute in 32+ mpg, excellent reliability, excellent resale, inexpensive to buy a good one.

 

I don't want to be at all trivial, but I could think of about 20-30 cars of the top of my head that gets better mileage than the car that made number 1.

Shoot, my cousin has a Honda Jazz (in its most inefficient form, "big block" 1.5l engine and manual trans).
It is capable of carrying 5 people with reasonable space, a hugely flexible cargo area, and better acceleration and handling than all those vehicles mentioned (400h/highlander excepted in the acceleration department)
She gets 61mpg purely in city traffic. Mind you she knows how to drive to get 61mpg too though.
But impressive nonetheless for a non-hybrid, practical gas engined vehicle.

And I don't think you even want me to start on a VW Lupo 3L (80mpg combined).

 

Just curious, how does an Austrailian gallon compare to a US gallon?

 

We use litres (and litres per 100km's for fuel efficiency) - I converted all those figures to a liquid US gallon... (3.7854 litres)

 

Go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov for the complete listing.

I think if I was buying a new car today it would have to be the VW Golf turbo diesel (44 mpg hwy). These cars are comfortable and have a lot of room, even the backseat. And, they're fairly dependable.

Hey Big, what's the scoop on the VW Lupo? Why can't we get that stuff over here? I'll bet ExxonMobile has something to do with it...

 

Well the prius is off my list. Toyotas having a recall on those. The thing could stop unexpectedly an leave you stranded.

 

Check this out.
http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/news...doc=vwg0006011
As for ExxonMobile having something to do with it, I don't know.
One thing is for sure, it would be too expensive (unless it was manufactured somewhere within North or South America), and I doubt it would sell... The US and Canada seem remarkably resiliant to small vehicles.

 

That's something I don't get- there are a lot of very fuel efficient models out there that aren't available to the US markets- usually because of emissions, safety, or pricing considerations. But markets are a fluid thing- what wouldn't be under consideration when gas was $1.50/gallon could be a strong contender at $3.00.

 

Good point...

 

The Prius only gets its maximum mpg in the city, due the electric motor. Our festivas and aspire get very similiar, if not a little better, on the highway. Plus it's paid for. My grandparents doesn't brag on there Prius much anymore after my dad compared the mileage. Plus the festiva/aspire of course cost alot less. I'd love to see small cars come back similiar to those two. Thats the main reason i'm holding onto them as long as I can.

 

There was an article in the local paper today about hybrids, here is a quote:

"Edmunds.com found that a consumer probably would end up paying more for a hybrid - whose prices generally range from $20,000 to $30,000 - unless he or she drove much more than 15,000 miles a year or gas prices surpassed $5.60 a gallon."

The local Toyota dealer said they have their Prius's sold (at full MSRP) before they arrive. Seems like a bunch of hype to me. Eventually, the market will regain it's sanity.

By the way, did anyone see in the news several months ago about the GM Impact? That was the all electric car that only a few Hollywood celebs bought. They couldn't give the things away, so they were sending them to the crusher. What a waste.

 

I like the tdi golfs too, they look like fun little go-carts. Would be real tight with 4 adults though...

I did a feasibility study on whether or not the fuel savings on my SD would pay for the golf and found that the fuel savings would cover the payment on a plain jane 5spd, but couldn't cover maintanence, registration, insurance. I didn't consider the mileage savings on my SD (15K/yr).

I also couldn't find any cheap used ones...go figure. They are resaling higher used than you can build em on the web. =-(