The Environmental Protection Agency has released their list of car with the best fuel economy for the 2010 model year. And guess what? Nine out of the ten cars are hybrids which goes to show that hybrid vehicles are here to stay. Missing from this list though are cars that run on battery power alone like the Tesla, cars that are powered by CNG or Compressed Natural Gas, and diesel powered cars like the Jetta which gets incredible gas mileage. Read on to see who tops the list?
1. Toyota Prius Hybrid (51/48 MPG) – The Toyota Prius has topped the list of most fuel efficient cars ever since it was introduced a few years ago! Many of the cars that follow on down the list are comprised of Toyota hybrid parts taken from the Prius hybrid system. The Prius continues to be the innovator in the hybrid car realm.
2. Ford Fusion Hybrid (41/36 MPG) – It is about time Ford decided to make a good hybrid Car. The Escape has been the talk of the SUV hybrid community, and now Ford has a midsized entry into the car segment. And the Ford Fusion Hybrid has been generating rave reviews!
3. Honda Civic Hybrid (40/45 MPG) – The Civic Hybrid has quietly been saving millions of gallons of gas for awhile now. This car combine Honda’s start-stop technology and a small electric motor assist to get up to 45 MPG on the highway which is only eclipsed by the Ultra Aerodynamic Prius.
4. Honda Insight Hybrid (40/43 MPG) – Making big news in 2009 was the Honda Insight Hybrid. Marked as the everyday hybrid for the middle class of America, the low starting price of the Insight has helped Honda sell a ton of these cars. Taking a page out of the Toyota handbook, Honda went with the wedge shape that is synonymous with hybrid automobiles.
5. Lexus HS250h Hybrid (35/34 MPG) – All new for 2010 the Lexus HS250h is only entry level luxury hybrid car. To me these cars look like a cross between the Corolla and the Civic, but the HS250h does have some great luxury amenities. The $30k + price may be a bit steep for true hybrid enthusiasts. It is a good bet that in the coming years Toyota will be able to stretch the fuel economy of this car.
6. Nissan Altima Hybrid (35/33 MPG) – Nissan’s only hybrid offering, the Altima, is really powered by Toyota technology. All of the hybrid powertrain is straight from Toyota. But hey this allows Nissan to have a hybrid vehicle in the midsized car segment. And there is a huge following of Altima lovers that are more than willing to snap up the Altima hybrid.
7. Ford Escape Hybrid (34/31 MPG) – The Ford Escape Hybrid SUV is a freak of nature. No other SUV even comes close to matching the fuel economy of the Escape hybrid. The Escape uses Toyota technology and a 2-mode hybrid system which allows the Escape to run on battery power alone. This is the main reason the Escape hybrid gets such great gas mileage. The Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner are the same vehicles as the Escape with a different manufacturer badge.
8. Smart fortwo car (33/41 MPG) – You have definitely seen these little cars running around town. They are impossible to miss. This go-cart looking car may stick out like a sore thumb, but the great gas mileage numbers speak for themselves. The Smart Car combines a small engine with a very lightweight design to maximize fuel economy and minimize all the extras.
9. Toyota Camry Hybrid (33/34 MPG) – The reigning champ in the midsized category is relegated to the bottom of this list. The Camry is in need of a serious redesign. You can bet your top dollar that the next generation of Toyota Camry Hybrid will once again overtake the Fusion and the Altima on this list. The Camry still remains one of the best selling hybrids.
10. Lexus RX450h Hybrid (32/28MPG) – The ultimate luxury SUV, the Lexus RX450h is not only a technological wonder; it is a showcase of luxury amenities from Lexus. This SUV rides great, has all the creature comforts you would expect from Lexus, and it has excellent gas mileage to boot. A combined fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon is something special from a luxury SUV. In comparison the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid only gets 19 MPG!
| http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/overall-high.htm |