In the past there have been many complaints, especially from hybrid owners, about EPA fuel-efficiency ratings. The main gripe was that the EPA numbers were too lofty to achieve under real-world driving conditions. In response to these claims, the agency changed its methods of computing fuel economy for the 2008 model year. Fuel economy calculations now take into consideration faster driving speeds, stronger acceleration, air-conditioning use and operation in colder temperatures. Read more about how the EPA has changed its fuel economy ratings here.
Americans are becoming more accepting of cars powered partially or completely by electricity. Five of the top 10 vehicles in the EPA list are gasoline-electric hybrids, which continue to be great choices for stop-and-go driving, where the vehicle’s electric motor does a lot of the heavy lifting.
For 2009 the Toyota Prius continues to lead the pack as the most efficient vehicle on U.S. roads today. The five-seat Prius, which was redesigned as a midsize sedan for the 2004 model year, is rated at 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. It combines the power of a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine and a 50-kilowatt electric motor to produce a total of 110 horsepower — enough power to get around town, but not enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
Next on the list is the Honda Civic Hybrid. Like the Prius — and any other hybrid, for that matter — the Civic Hybrid uses electric motors to help get the most out of a relatively small engine. The primary difference between the Civic and the Prius is that the former has a larger gasoline engine, while the latter opts for a more powerful electric motor. A smaller gas engine uses less fuel; hence the Prius stands at the top of the heap. Even so, the Civic Hybrid does achieve a very respectable 40 mpg in the city, 45 on the highway.
New to the list for 2009 is a car that was just introduced to America in the last year: the smart fortwo. More than three feet shorter than a MINI Cooper, the fortwo is the smallest car sold in the U.S. It has space for only two passengers and the ride is rather uncomfortable, but it gets up to 41 mpg on the highway, putting it third on the list.
One of the most anticipated vehicles coming to market this year is the four-door Volkswagen Jetta TDI, which takes fourth place. Running a clean diesel system that meets the world’s most stringent emission standards, the Jetta sedan is rated at 41 mpg on the highway — matching the tiny smart car in terms of fuel-efficiency, yet it offers much better performance specs. For instance, the smart fortwo produces a measly 68 lb-ft of torque, while the Jetta cranks out 236 lb-ft, so it will be faster off the line and capable of hauling around a much heavier load.
Hybrids are also doing well in the midsize arena. Number five on the list is the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which gets 34 mpg under combined city/highway driving conditions. It has a much roomier interior than its Prius cousin, and a gas-electric hybrid system that produces V6-like grunt (187 horsepower).
Although the Nissan Altima Hybrid is about the same size as the Toyota Camry Hybrid and uses similar technology, its hybrid system is tuned a little differently. Coming in sixth on the EPA list, the Altima delivers better gas mileage within city limits (35 mpg compared to 33), while the Camry does better on the highway (34 mpg to 33).
The other exception to the small-car trend is the Ford Escape Hybrid, along with its Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Mazda Tribute Hybrid siblings. Coming in ninth position on the EPA list, these are the most fuel-efficient four-wheel-drive SUVs on the U.S. market. Basically the same under the skin, each achieves an impressive 32 mpg in combined city/highway driving, and the AWD versions still do well at 28 mpg combined. Although hybrids achieve impressive fuel economy, there is a premium to be paid in order to purchase one. For example, the Honda Civic, rated at a combined 29 mpg, cannot match the 42 mpg that the Civic Hybrid should achieve; however, the gas-only Civic is priced about $7,000 less.
Other non-hybrid offerings for 2009 include the MINI Cooper, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, which took seventh, eighth and tenth places on the EPA list, respectively. All three fit firmly into the small car category and thus have relatively small engines that burn less fuel. The MINI is one of the few premium small-car offerings on the market, while the Yaris and Fit both provide a roomy, versatile interior in a rather inexpensive package. The MINI’s new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, slightly smaller dimensions and six-speed transmission conspire to produce good fuel-efficiency, particularly on the highway (37 mpg). The Yaris is Toyota's budget entry, filling a role that used to be taken by the Corolla, which has grown into a somewhat larger and pricier compact car. And the Fit’s mini-minivan styling might not seduce those who are more interested in a sportier look, but it offers users oodles of usable space.
While this list is based on combined fuel economy, there are a few cars worth noting that excel in highway fuel economy but drop off the list when combined with city mpg. The Chevrolet Cobalt XFE is rated at 37 mpg highway, while the Honda Civic lists 36 mpg highway.
It’s also important to note that no pickup trucks, vans, luxury cars or large sedans rank in the top 10, and the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid are the only vehicles from U.S.-based automakers that managed to crack the top 10.
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