Consumers have more choices with great
MPG
Unpredictable fuel
prices have consumers’ warily eying the pump, as a three-figure fill-up is a
real possibility. In a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research
Center, mileage was the most important factor for car owners in choosing a new
vehicle. And most car shoppers said they would be willing to make sacrifices
with their next car for better fuel economy.
Subaru Impreza
Fortunately, that may
not be necessary. Automakers are working quickly to improve mileage in
conventional cars of all sizes to meet consumer demand, as well as tightening
fuel-economy regulations. Direct injection, smaller engines, turbo-charging,
and aerodynamic aids are just some of the technology rolling out on everything
from affordable compact cars to large pickup trucks. Hybrid models are proliferating.
And even electric cars that bun no gas at all have started to hit the market.
With so many choices, it’s hard to know what to consider
40-MPG cars
One factor that makes
it difficult to decide is the arrival of a new crop of small cars with lofty
fuel economy ratings. They are advertised as getting 40 mpg on the highway-but
that’s only if you buy a special fuel economy trim line
We tested four of
these models with automatic transmissions: the Chevrolet Cruze eco, the Ford
Focus SFE, the Honda Civic HF, and the Mazda3 SkyActiv. The results showed some
improvements. All but one boosted overall mpg by 3 or 4 mpg (the Cruze Eco
improved by just one mpg) and returned the promised 40 mpg or better on the
highway. The Civic HF even managed 49 mpg on the highway, just 1 mpg short of
the more expensive Civic Hybrid. The Focus SFE showed no improvement at all in
high-way mileage (just in the city). And the Cruze Eco just hit the 40 mpg
highway bogey.
The Civic HF
The bigger issue is
the added cost for these fuel economy specials. In our tests of standard trim
versions, three of these cars already returned better than 40 mpg on the
highway. Price premiums for the various fuel economy packages are $495 for the
Ford Focus SFE, $770 for the Chevrolet Cruze Eco, and $800 for the Civic HF.
Assuming gas is $4.00 per gallon, it would take about 3 years to pay off the
difference in fuel savings over the standard Focus; about 6 years to pay off
the difference over the regular Civic, and an amazing 38 years for the Cruze to
make up the difference.
The Ford Focus SFE
But you don’t need to
stick to small cars to get good fuel economy. In our tests, base four-cylinder
versions of the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata get an overall 26 and 27 mpg,
respectively. The Sonata gets 39 mpg on the highway.
The Chevrolet Cruze Eco
In reality, most
drivers don’t spend all their time on the highway. So it could take even longer
to pay back the difference in fuel savings when comparing overall mpg. That is
why EPA fuel-economy labels now emphasize an overall mpg figure-called Combined-rather
than the separate city and highway figures.
The “Eco” setting is appearing in more
cars as a way to improve fuel economy
It is still important
to make sure the car you buy is best for your type of driving. Toyota’s new
Prius C is billed as a “city car”. In our tests it averaged 43 mpg overall, but
its 37 mpg is the best city mileage of any gas or diesel car we’ve tested
Take the long view
The key to ensuring
that sudden spikes in fuel prices don’t hit you too hard is to avoid buying
more car than you need.
Once you clearly
identify your actual driving habits and cargo and passenger demands, decide
what class of car best suits your needs, and look for the most fuel-efficient
vehicle in that category.
For many buyers who
still need space to carry gear, bring along the dog, shuttle the kids’ friends
to soccer practice, or even occasionally tow a trailer, we’ve compiled a list,
on the left, of 12 cars that are both fuel efficient and practical.
On that scale, it’s
hard to beat the seven passengers Toyota Highlander Hybrid. It gets 27 mpg
overall in our testing – 23 in the city and 29 on the highway. No smaller SUV
can approach those small-car like figures. And the Highlander Hybrid can tow a
respectable 3,500 pounds. The only downside: Our Limited rang in at a pricy
$47,000.
If you’re considering
downsizing from a midsized or large SUV, yet still need to carry six or seven
passengers occasionally, consider a Mazda5 micro-van or the Toyota RAV4 small
SUV. Each has three rows of seats and gets 23 mpg overall. Compared with a
Dodge Durango V6 that gets 17 mpg overall, either one could save you about $700
a year in fuel. The Mazda5 is even fun to drive.
The Toyota RAV4 small SUV
The five-passenger
Prius V wagon, which is larger than the Prius hatchback and similar in size to
the Mazda5, gets 41 mpg overall and offers cargo space comparable to a small
SUV. In addition to the mazda5 and the RAV4, the Subaru Outback offers nearly
the same cargo capacity as a midsized SUV, yet seats five comfortably and gets 24
mpg overall
Minivans in general
also offer a terrific blend of practicality and fuel economy. The Toyota Sienna
seats eight and has very generous cargo room, and at 20 mpg, it gets about 15
percent better fuel economy than most popular midsized three-row SUVs.
Overall, fuel economy
is gradually improving, despite vehicles in every class gaining weight, growing
larger, and powered by engines that deliver more horsepower.
