Best New Cars for Fuel Economy
2011 Ford Escape Hybrid,
7 Jun 2011 17:38 Africa/Lagos
Consumer Reports Names the Best New Cars for Fuel Economy
PR Newswire
YONKERS, N.Y., June 7, 2011
Best gas-sipping vehicles include Honda Fit, Volkswagen Golf TDI & Ford Escape Hybrid;
CR's tips on how to save gas before and after you hit the road
YONKERS, N.Y., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With high pump prices, Consumer Reports says that the most effective way to cute your gasoline use is to buy a more fuel-efficient car. CR named the best cars for fuel economy of those recently tested by the magazine in its own real-world fuel-economy tests. Also listed are the ones that got the lowest mpg in each class.
"Hybrid and diesel vehicles provide better fuel economy than conventional cars, but they usually cost more to buy, and as gas prices rise, the pay-back time gets shorter," said David Champion, Senior Director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut. "All-wheel drive usually reduces gas mileage by about 2 mpg while a manual transmission can improve fuel economy by 1 to 2 mpg."
The article also features a list of the best used cars for fuel economy.
Below are recommended models in six categories that provide the best fuel economy. To be recommended, they met Consumer Reports' stringent requirements for test performance, reliability, and safety. So, not only do they provide excellent fuel economy for their class, but they're solid overall choices. The full list of vehicles is available in the magazine's July issue on sale June 7th. All the reports are also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org . Updated daily, it's the go-to Website for the latest auto reviews, product news, blogs on breaking news and car buying information.
Best Subcompact car for fuel economy: Honda Fit $16,020, 30 mpg
Worst in class: Chevrolet Aveo LT: 25 mpg
Best Small Wagons and Hatchbacks: Volkswagen Golf TDI (Diesel, manual), $24,764, 38 mpg
Worst in class: Scion xB, Subaru Impreza Outback Sport (AWD):23 mpg
Best Small Sedans : Toyota Corolla LE, $18,404, 32 mpg
Worst in class: Subaru Impreza 2.5i, 24 mpg
Best Family Car: Toyota Prius IV (Hybrid), $24,750, 44 mpg
Worst in class : Ford Fusion SEL (V6, AWD), Chevrolet Impala LTZ (V6), Mazda6 V6: 20 mpg
Best Upscale/ Sports Sedan: Lexus HS 250 h (Hybrid), $38,939, 31 mpg
Worst in class: Lincoln MKZ: 20 mpg
Best Small SUV: Ford Escape Hybrid, $32,575, 26 mpg
Worst in class: Dodge Nitro SLT (3.7 liters), Jeep Liberty Sport 16 mpg
Some of the Best ways to save gas
Before you leave:
* Check your tires. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll along, which eats up more fuel. Make sure your tires' air pressure is set to the automaker's recommended level (see the owner's manual, not the maximum pressure printed on the tires' side.
* Get the right rental. If you plan on renting a car, try to reserve one with good gas mileage. For about the same rate, for example, you could get a 26-mpg Nissan Altima instead of a 20-mpg Chevrolet Impala. Or you could get a 32-mpg Toyota Corolla instead of a 24-mpg Chevy Cobalt.
On the road:
* Watch your speed. The faster you drive on the highway, the worse your gas mileage will be. CR's tested Toyota Camry dropped 5 mpg when testers increased cruising speed from 55 mpg to 65. Driving at 75 mph cut it by an additional 5 mpg.
* Drive smoothly. Avoid hard acceleration and braking when possible. In the Camry, frequent bursts of acceleration and braking reduced fuel economy by 2 to 3 mpg.
* Don't be a drag. Don't add to your car's aerodynamic drag by carrying things on top of the roof if you don't have to. When CR's testers installed a large car-top carrier on the Camry, gas mileage dropped by a notable 6 mpg when driving at 65 mph.
* Skip the gas-saving gadgets. After testing several devices that claimed to improve fuel efficiency, CR's testers have yet to find one that provides a significant difference in gas mileage or acceleration.
With more than 7 million print and online subscribers, Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, the world's largest independent, not-for-profit, product-testing organization. It conducts the most comprehensive auto-test program of any U.S. publication or Website and owns and operates a 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut. The organization's auto experts have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars. To subscribe, consumers can call 1-800-234-1645 or visit www.ConsumerReports.org .
JULY 2011
© Consumers Union 2011. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports®, ConsumerReports.org ® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our permission. Consumers Union will take all steps open to it to prevent commercial use of its materials, its name, or the name of Consumer Reports®.
SOURCE Consumer Reports
CONTACT: Douglas Love, +1-914-378-2437, dlove@consumer.org; or C. Matt Fields, +1-914-378-2454, cfields@consumer.org
Web Site: http://www.ConsumerReports.org
RECOMMENDED:
Helmet Law Repeal Will Result in More Traffic Fatalities and Costs, AAA Reports
Consumer Reports Names the Best New Cars for Fuel Economy
The Dow Jones Credit Suisse Core Hedge Fund Index Down 1.71% in May
Comments