Below is a list of the best gas mileage cars for the 2012 model year. As you can see Hybrids dominate the list. But the first 2 positions are taken up by electric vehicles. The EPA still gives these 2 MPG ratings based on energy usage but its apples and oranges. Really the Toyota Prius Hybrid is the 2012 car with the best gas mileage. Read the rest of this entry »

The Buick Lacrosse was redesigned in 2010 and with it came a new motor that promised better gas mileage; the EcoTec direct injection engine. The premium model has an MSRP price of just under $38k. That buys you a 3.6 liter V-6 engine that has over 300 Horsepower. Bummer is that car is more expensive by $8k and the engine is less fuel efficient. The larger V-6 can only manage 17 MPG in the City and 27 MPG on the Highway. Nothing too exciting. This car is built with quality and luxury in mind. But what is even more impressive is that a hybrid model of this car is out on the market. The new 2012 Buick Lacrosse eAssist hybrid has a smaller 2.4 liter EcoTec 4-cylinder engine. Mated to the powertrain is a small electric motor that is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This electric motor adds power and fuel efficiency up to 25%. The Hybrid with e-assist gets 25 MPG in the City and 36 MPG on the highway. The hybrid only has 182 HP but torque is ample at 172 ft-lbs. Oh and the hybrid starts at about $30k. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know that Toyota has sold over 1 million Prius hybrids here in the U.S. over the past decade?  Go ahead and up that number to 2 million worldwide.  So with such great success why not create a whole family of automobiles around the Prius.  There is still no match for the Prius when talking hybrid gas mileage figures.  Sure the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are out there, but these cars not only cost thousands more, they are inconvenient for most of the population.  So the Prius remains the old standby and has grown larger with the release of the 2012 Prius V in an effort to attract more buyers.  But Gas Mileage has gone down from 50 MPG combined for the standard model to 42 MPG for the Prius V. Read the rest of this entry »

I love the new Lexus CT 200h and think it’s a really great little car. It not only has the lowest MSRP price of any Lexus at $29,120; but it also gets the best gas mileage of the Lexus family of cars. Moreover, the fact that the Lexus CT 200h gas mileage ratings are the best in the Luxury Car Segments cements the fact that Lexus is the Hybrid Luxury car king. They finally got it right after the poor fuel economy of the Lexus HS 250h. The Lexus CT 200h gas mileage figures are 43 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway. But after researching the Lexus CT 200h and realizing the car has the exact same powertrain as the Toyota Prius; I can’t help but wonder why the Prius gets almost 8 MPG more than the Lexus CT 200h. Read the rest of this entry »

Many Electric Vehicles have come and gone over the past decade or so.  And there are very few companies who are actually still around (Tesla).  But of course every large can manufacturer says they are working to produce an electric car but here we are 15 years after the GM EV-1 and you still cannot buy an Electric car from one of the major companies.  Yes I know the Leaf and Volt are coming out!  Anyways see my little list of the fastest electric cars. Read the rest of this entry »

While the 2011 Hyundai Sonata has not bee officially released, the company still has listed the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Gas Mileage on their website.  According to Hyundai USA, the Sonata Hybrid will get 37 MPG in the City and 39 MPG on the highway.  Consider the Ford Fusion Hybrid gets 41 MPG in the City and 36 MPG on the highway.  Now why does the Ford Fusion Hybrid get better gas mileage than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid in the city?  Well read on to find out. Read the rest of this entry »

For the environmentally conscious customers, plug-in electric cars are the next big frontier. Hybrids seem like the big thing right now but it’s only a trend. Hybrids can’t be charged from a wall current.  But an Electric Vehicle like the Ford EV can be charged from home and then driven all day using ZERO gasoline.  During the Detroit Auto Show in January, Ford announced they would be offering a fully electric plug-in Focus in 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

Yes it’s an Oxymoron; a hybrid race car.  Hybrid cars are supposed to be the picture of fuel economy while saving the environment with less emissions being produced.  While race car are supposed to burn fuel at an ungodly rate and expel all kinds of harmful gasses.  Well the Nissan Altima built by Braille Battery shows you can have 440 HP while saving the environment. Read the rest of this entry »

If ever there was a car made for the times and the going green trend, this would seem to be it: the new Ford Fiesta. It’s a sporty compact with the seating capability of five and gets about 65mpg. It seems like the perfect car the only negative thing is, it’s not sold in the US.

Despite the Fiesta ECOnetic’s definite potential to compete with the other US manufactures, Ford has only sold the recent generations of the Fiesta in Europe. The America Ford President reportedly stated that there were business reasons as to why they can’t sell it to the US and left it at that. Read the rest of this entry »

I am going to ruin the rest of the weekend for everyone reading this who owns a hybrid.  The Jetta gets 41 MPG on the highway!  And that’s just the EPA rating!  Real world figures are right at the 50 MPG mark.  Well your Prius gets that too right?  Maybe, but is you Prius turbocharged? Does it put down over 236lb.-ft of torque?  No your Prius is an underpowered mouse. Read the rest of this entry »