Top 8 Most Fuel Efficient Cars

As gas prices soar to record highs, many people are traveling less which greatly affects the tourism business. But for those who refuse to cut down on their road trips, a great many are looking for the most fuel efficient vehicles available. FuelEconomy.gov released it’s findings for the most fuel efficient vehicles. We removed the ALL-electric vehicles from the mix since the purchase of those types of vehicles really makes them only a viable option for people with very short commutes and in some cases requires them to alter their lifestyle to even operate them. We left the Chevy Volt on the list since it uses both gas and electric and not at the same time making it a truly unique offering that doesn’t fall in the hybrid territory. Then we also removed the two-seater options like the Wheego, because most people do have families and friends. What’s left is a tidy list of the most “realistic” fuel efficient vehicles available on the market.

2011 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles
2011 Most Fuel Efficient Cars			MPG
			City	Hwy
Most Efficient Compact Cars
	Chevrolet Volt 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Automatic(CVT), Plug-in EV , Premium	Elec	95	90
		Gas	35	40
	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Manual(6), Diesel		30	42
	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Manual(6), Diesel		30	42
Most Efficient Midsize Cars
	Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual(6), Regular		29	40
Most Efficient Large Cars
	Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Manual(6), Regular		24	35
	Honda Accord 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic(5), Regular		23	34
Most Efficient Small Station Wagons
	Audi A3 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Automatic(S6), Diesel		30	42
	Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Manual(6), Diesel		30	42

^{To see the full list with all of the electric cars, two seaters, and even the WORST fuel efficient cars, visit FuelEconomy.gov here.}

Hyundai To Hit 50 MPG

For most of the Los Angeles Auto Show, there were the standard ooo’s and aaa’s that you’d expect.  However, when the 2011 Hyundai Elantra made its debut, it became glaringly obvious that Hyundai was on clear track to hit their goal of a standard 50 MPG by 2025 on their fleet.  The government deadline is well beyond that.  The Elantra showcased 29mpg in the city and 40mpg on the highway.

Hyundai accomplished its increase in MPG’s by replacing the V-6 engine that their competitors still use and putting in a turbo gasoline direct injection 4-cylinder engine called the Nu engine.  The engine is smaller weighing in at only 74 pounds and helping it achieve an 18% improvement on the highway mileage.  Those emissions are very similar to the hybrid outputs, which allowed the Elantra to garner the certification as a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle.  While many would view a move from V-6 to a 4-cylinder engine as a downgrade, according to Hyundai Vice President Mike O’Brien, Hyundai was able to outperform the V-6′s by delivering more horsepower, better driving performance and better fuel economy.

They then took that same application to the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (read Car & Drivers fantastic coverage here), which has better aerodynamics, lighter batteries and even more horsepower. The result are levels that beat their competitors hybrids like the Toyota Camry Hybrid, NissanAltima Hybrid and the Ford Fusion Hybrid.  There weren’t any details on the pricing of the Sonata, but the 2011 Elantra comes in at $1500 less than their competitors at a mere $14,850. 

Between the fuel efficiency accomplishments and the price points, not only is Hyundai well on track to get to their goal of 50mpg by 2025, but they will also have the better edge in the economical corner and those are two of the higher focal points in many car buyer’s buying decisions and puts Hyundai near the front of the pack.  Hyundai Dealerships can start their celebration very shortly.

Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars – Non-Hybrid

Between cutting back on your expenses, the crushing weight of the terrible economy, you have to watch every single dollar. And when it comes to buying a car, there are the hybrids and the straight out gas powered vehicles. While there’s an obvious mileage difference in what they can accomplish, there’s also a pretty sizable cost difference.  While there may be thousands of dollars difference in the purchase price, you can bet that at $45 dollars a tank of gas, that difference will add up quick on the backend.   But if you simply can’t afford the upfront purchase price of a hybrid and you still want the best bang for your buck. These are the models that will get it done;

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1) 2010 Smart Fortwo – 36 MPG combined (33 city/41 highway)

At the top of the list is the Smart Fortwo. There are a bunch of prerequisites that come with this car including space limitations. While it’s perfect for the single college kid or eco-conscious childless couple, it is not very roomy and is a crampy ride at best.  Some people love having a vehicle this size, but for those that haven’t starred in any Chocolate Factory movies, it’s a pretty tight experience. That being said, it still wins this contest with gas mileage that is very noteworthy and environmentally friendly.  Whether or not this fits the bill for you is totally your choice. While it certainly won’t pass any decent crash test ratings, at under $12,000 for a new car, it’s almost difficult to pass up or at least take a look at for the budget minded and short-legged height challenged person.

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2) 2010 Audi A3 - 34 MPG combined (30 city/42 highway)

We looked at multiple lists to compile ours and some had the Audi tied with our #3 and #4 contenders below, but further research from independent studies, had the Audi clocking in 42 on the highway which barely squeaked by the VW clan below which clocked in at 41. Audi’s diesel engine really made the difference this year and while the sales for Audi dealerships may not have been record breaking for them, it will certainly change if they can keep up this direction.  The aforementioned engine is about the same as what’s found in the VW Jetta and Golf, but the slight modifications gave it that extra 1 MPG that put it in the #2 slot as opposed to settling for a 3 way tie.

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3) 2010 Volkswagen Golf – 34 MPG combined (30 city/41 highway)
Comments below under #4

4) 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - 34 MPG combined (30 city/41 highway)

Both the Golf and Jetta tied for the coveted slots 3 and 4.   And since the Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Jetta share the same diesel engine, it’s probably why they turned in the same numbers.  Interestingly enough, while the Audi above may sit in the number 2 slot, some reviews also give these VW’s 42 on the highway, but some were showing 41 while the Audi had no variations in the reports like VW did.  The Jetta has 3 TDI models under $25K that accomplish these numbers in the 2010 line which include the TDI, Sportswagen TDI and TDI Cup.   The lower end Jettas around the $18K mark sacrifice that mileage dramatically (22 City/30 Hwy).   Same story with the VW Golf TDI.  The Volkswagen Golf is standard fair for the hatchback lovers out there.  Volkswagen will always have its hardcore fans who are almost as rabid as Apple fans and having two vehicles in the top 5 slots is something VW proponents can be proud of to make the others “green” with envy.  Yes, awful, I know.

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5) MINI Cooper – 32 MPG combined (28 City / 37 highway)

The Mini Cooper has a lot going for it and some going against it.  It comes with amazing power and driving prowess and a very British feel to it and along with that comes a very noisy ride. We’ve seen many reports showing this vehicle as very loud on the inside, which is kind of a bummer with all of its accomplishments. There is also very little leg room in the rear seats, although unlike the Fortwo, it at least actually has seats in the back.  There were a lot of other complaints about things such as the factory stereo, but since this is about the gas mileage, it rests here on the list at the midway point.

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6) 2010 Toyota Yaris – 32 MPG combined (29 City / 36 highway)

In reality, the Yaris could be tied for 5th place since they both average out to the same mileage, but there are other issues that let it take a step down that are driving related such as the very slow reacting automatic transmission.  It’s a nice quiet ride for regular drivers, but for speed demons or those with a little heavier foot, the engine can get loud when pushed to its limits.  While those are seemingly minor complaints, they still affect your driving experience and fuel efficiency.  So while fuel economy is the headline of the day, at what cost will you make sacrifices?  Apparently there are some vehicles that actually combine comfort, efficiency and a solid driving experience very well, but Toyota’s Yaris leaves us lacking., but economical nonetheless.

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7) 2010 Mini Cooper Clubman - 32 MPG combined (28 City / 36 highway)

If it wasn’t for the drop in city mileage, the Mini Cooper Clubman could have sat beside his base model, but they were sadly parted by the Yaris claim to better mileage while out on the town. The Clubman is actually a much more comfortable ride than the standard Cooper with its roomy interior. However, it does sacrifice the storage area to accomplish that.  There are also reports very stiff controls and once again, we heard about the Mini Coopers horribly noisy ride.  Our guess is that 2011 models may fix some of the insulation issues to address this problem since it’s the biggest complaint from both users and reviewers.

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8) Hyundai Accent Hatchback - 31 MPG combined (27 City / 36 highway)
See review below #9

9) Hyundai Accent Blue – 31 MPG combined (27 City / 36 highway)

Hyundai keeps there models close together on this chart for obvious reasons.  The Hyundai Accents come with a mixed bag of reviews but all of which is repairable if you choose the right options.  On the driving side of the coin, there is a slightly slow acceleration with the automatic version of the vehicles, but at around $10,000 base price, it’s a good and economical vehicle.  However, once you add things like, um, air conditioning, and other typical things you would normally get on a base model such as power windows, stereo, etc.  you’re up at around $15,000.  The base model of these vehicles is painfully absent of features that you wouldn’t even normally think of holding back.  Air conditioning? Really?  Safety features are another thing that is minimal. It has 6 air bags, but even anti-lock brakes are optional on higher end models. But, got carried away again, we’re focusing on fuel efficiency, that’s just a taste of what you might be up against if you consider either of the Accents.  The base model is called Blue and then the hatchback is essentially a trim level, but because it’s really a truly different vehicle (although the same under the hood), it takes up two slots on the list.

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10) Chevrolet Aveo – 30 MPG combined (27 City / 35 highway)

Last on this list and coming in right behind the Hyundai clan is the Chevrolet Aveo.  There are a lot of reviews for the Aveo and most not so friendly.  The primary reason for its detractors is because of the engine. It’s extremely fuel efficient because of taller gear ratios, but at the cost of some umph on the highway. But if you’re using this vehicle to get around town and the occasional road trip, it’s a completely capable car.  Out of the gate, the Aveo comes standard with a 5 speed manual transmission and only that version accomplishes these numbers.  The automatic version drops considerably to a 28 MPG combined, so expect to lose 2 miles to the gallon by letting the car do the work for you, which is a tad disappointing.

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And there you have it. The top 10 fuel efficient cars that are non-hybrids.  We hope to do a follow up in a day or so featuring the non-hybrid winners and we’ll see who comes out on top. Are there others that should be on the list, but aren’t rated that way? Tell us about it!

Top 10 Hardest Cars To Steal

Mr. Christopher with some great news for Audi and Porsche owners (and even Hyundai). There was a extensive study from Auto Club RACV a couple years ago and apparently, not much has changed as it announced its findings of vehicles that were the most difficult to steal. The results were very interesting. The scores range from 0 to 120, with 120 being the highest a vehicle could score against being broken into, stolen and then “re-birthed”.

Of all the vehicles tested, Audi and Subaru faired the best making it extremely difficult for thieves to get away with doing any of the three. The absolute worst vehicles were from Honda and Nissan although both of them faired incredibly well on the fuel efficiency side. That’s great! That means they can drive far, far away once they steal your car. The highest score out of all the breeds was the Audi S5 Coupe that walked away with an astonishing 117 points out of 120 scoring 100% theft resistance score. Almost all of Audi’s models scored in the 100′s. So who were the top 10 regardless of size or class? All of the top 10 scores with exception of only one were in the Large category;

1. Audi S5 Coupe – Score 117 (Large Category)
2. Audi R8 Coupe – Score 115.5 (Large Category)
3. Porsche Cayman S Coupe – Score 113 (Large Category)
4. BMW 335i Coupe – Score 112.5 (Large Category)
5. Audi A3 3.2 Quattro 5 Door Hatch – Score 112 (Small-Medium Category)
6. Subaru Impreza WRX 5 Door Hatch - Score 107 (Large Category)
7. Subaru Impreza STi 5 Door Hatch – Score 107 (Large Category)
8. Audi TT Coupe – Score 105.5 (Large Category)
9. Mini Cooper S 3 Door Hatch - 105.5 (Large Category)
10. Tie – FPV FG Ute and FPV Sedan - Score 104.5 (Large Category)

Overall Winners;
Large cars: Hyundai Grandeur Sedan
People movers: Subaru Tribeca five-door wagon
Four-wheel drives: Audi Q7 five-door wagon
Luxury vehicles: Audi A8 4.2 V8 Sedan
Small cars: Hyundai Getz five-door hatch (all models except SXi)
Small/medium cars: Audi A3 3.2 Quattro five-door hatch
Medium cars: Subaru Liberty five-door wagon

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