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2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:16:16 +0000

Toyota has always been the front runner when it comes to hybrid technology but it seems the past generation Toyota Camry Hybrid was severely lacking. The car cost a few grand more than the base 4-cylinder model and only returned a 22% better fuel economy. But the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid is cheaper than the previous model and gets much better fuel economy. In fact the Camry Hybrid has retaken best-in-class fuel economy honors which were previously held by the Ford Fusion Hybrid. But what makes the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid such a good gas mileage sedan?

Well for 2012 Toyota knew they had to completely redesign the Camry Hybrid. Their knowledge and expertise shines with this newly released car. The Gas Mileage figures are outstanding as the Camry Hybrid now gets 43 MPG in the City and 39 MPG on the Highway. The combined fuel economy rating is 41 MPG which is enough to make the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid one of the Top 5 BEST MPG Cars for 2012.

But why the big jump in fuel economy over the previous model Camry Hybrid? In fact the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 38% better gas mileage than the old model. These better ratings are due to a handful on revisions most notably the updating of the Hybrid Synergy Drive. As technology gets better so too does the efficiency of an automobile. The power delivery and Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy System Software has been recalibrated to help the Camry Hybrid be more fuel efficient. The 2.5 Liter 4 cylinder engine has better intake and exhaust manifolds to help the car breathe better. The engine is also beltless meaning there are no accessories like the power steering or air conditioning that run off the engine. Instead these accessories are all electrically driven.

Besides the engine and Hybrid Synergy Drive the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid got a weight reduction of over 200 lbs. The lighter a car the better gas mileage it will get. Another cool fact about the new Camry Hybrid is that it is more powerful than the outbound model. The 2012 car produces 200 horsepower as compared to the 2011 Camry’s 189 horsepower. With a base price of $25,900 the 2012 Toyota Camry is cheaper, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than last year’s car. The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid gas mileage is 43 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway. With a combined total of 41 MPG the Camry Hybrid is in a very select group of cars.

2012 Range Rover Evoque Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:32:56 +0000

The new 2012 Range Rover Evoque not only looks beautiful, the gas mileage ratings are equally as nice with the SUV getting 18 MPG in the City and 28 MPG on the Highway. Luxury SUV’s are not known for being fuel efficient. This is because the more luxury amenities a vehicle has, the more it weighs. And luxury SUVs are some of the heaviest vehicles around; think Cadillac Escalade. The luxury SUV’s that top the list of best gas mileage are mostly comprised of hybrids. But the Range Rover Evoque has a few tricks up its sleeve. And the Evoque ties the Lexus RX450h for top honors regarding highway MPG.

The Range Rover Evoque fuel economy begins with the all new engine. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine the Evoque puts out 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. This is not alot of power by most luxury SUV standards but plenty enough to get the job done. A couple of factors that make the new engine so efficient are the fact that the weight is kept down by using an all aluminum block, direct-injection, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Weight is the enemy of gas mileage and Land Rovers engineers went along way in making sure the weight of the 2012 Range Rover Evoque does not get out of hand. The generous use of lightweight materials such as aluminum and boron high strength steel go along way in keeping curb weight down. Many of the body parts and exterior pieces are made from composite materials. These weight saving methods are usually reserved for high end sports cars.

When you keep the weight down and add an efficient engine and transmission to an SUV you can get great fuel economy ratings with out the aid of a hybrid powerplant. The 2012 Range Rover Evoque has a starting price of $43k but you get tons of luxury features, Land Rover’s rock solid off-roading abilities, and a combined gas mileage rating of 22 MPG.

2012 Cars with the Best Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 05:57:41 +0000

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.

	1) Nisan Leaf - MPG: 106 City/92 Highway Price: $28,340 – While a True Electric car and thus should not be part of this list, the EPA still gave a Gas Equevalent rating based on energy use.
	2) Chevrolet Volt - MPG: 95 City/93 Highway Price: $28,340 – When running on full electricity the Volt nears the Energy Equivalent usage as the Leaf. When running the gasoline generator the mileage really drops to below that of a normal hybrid car.
	3) Toyota Prius Hybrid - MPG: 51 City/48 Highway Price: $28,340 – Still the best performing hybrid available on the market. And with the plug-in version due out soon, these race for the first 100 MPG hybrid will be over.
	4) Lexus CT200h Hybrid - MPG: 43 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – This little Lexus borrows the technology from its big brother the Prius. It does everything right and is sure to be a hot seller.
	5) Honda Civic Hybrid - MPG: 44 City/44 Highway Price: $28,340 – It should come as no surprise that the Civic Hybrid is near the top of the MPG list. The Civic does everything well and when paired with a hybrid power plant, it kicks butt. What makes the Civic Hybrid stand apart from the crowd is the CVT (continuously variable transmission) and the Start-Stop System.
	6) Honda Insight Hybrid - MPG: 41City/44 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Insight is marketed as the Honda’s Answer to the Prius. Well the Insight shares the similar Wedge Design but cannot match the Fuel Efficiency of the Toyota Prius.
	7) Ford Fusion Hybrid - MPG: 41 City/36 Highway Price: $28,340 – All 3 cars (Fusion, Milan, MKZ) share the same power plant and thus have the same fuel economy numbers. The Fusion Hybrid gets such good gas mileage thanks to the Atkinson Cycle Engine and CVT Transmission.
	Honda CR-Z Hybrid - MPG: 35 City/39 HighwayPrice: $28,340 – The Honda CR-Z is small and packed full of technology. It’s a real shame that this is the best Fuel Economy it can muster.
	9) Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - MPG: 39 Combined = 41 City/36 HighwayPrice: $28,340 – The new kid on the block is the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The Sonata Hybrid has a Parallel HEV that allows the car to run on Full Electric Power. This is a major benefit to Gas Mileage.
	10) Smart Fortwo - MPG: 39 Combined = 41 City/36 HighwayPrice: $28,340 – The best Mileage Non-Hybrid on the list. Take a very lightweight small car, add a small engine, and you have the recipe for a fuel efficient car. This has long been the formula and many cars prior to the Smart fortwo have been designed tat way.
	11) Lexus HS250h - MPG: 35 City/34 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Lexus HS 250h has the best from Toyota in that there is an Atkinson Cycle engine, Parallel Hybrid System, and CVT Transmission. Yet the added weight of all the luxury features and options really hinder the Fuel Economy of this car.
	12) Volkswagen Jetta Diesel - MPG: 30 City/42 Highway Price: $28,340 - For some reason American’s think Diesel’s are high polluting gas guzzlers. When in fact the opposite is true. The TDI diesel engine line from Volkswagen (Turbo Direct Injected) get great gas mileage when paired with a tall sixth-gear. These cars have also won Green Car of the Year Awards.
	13) Nissan Altima Hybrid - MPG: 33 City/33 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Nissan Altima is quickly falling off the Top Fuel Economy List as more modern hybrids with newer technology take its place. But the Altima Hybrid still performs very well and sacrifices nothing. But Did You Know that the Hybrid Powerplant is all Toyota?
	14) Chevrolet Cruze Eco - MPG: 28 City/42 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Chevy Cruze Eco utilizes Technoloy and not Hybrid power to get such good gas mileage. The turbo is integrated into the exhaust manifold for better fuel efficiency. The transmission has overdrive in both 5th and 6th gears. And there are Aerodynamics that change at higher speeds to increase fuel economy.
	15) Hyundai Elantra - MPG: 29 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Hyundai Elantra is another non-hybrid car that employs a very efficient engine combined with a body design that nets a very low drag coefficient. This allows the Elantra to get great highway fuel economy.
	16) Ford Fiesta SFE - MPG: 29 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – Ford has stepped up its game with a fuel efficient engine that employs Twin-Independent Variable Cam Timing, a Dry Clutch Transmission, and Electric Power Steering to reach its 40 MPG highway fuel economy rating.
	17) Toyota Camry Hybrid - MPG:43 City/39 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Toyota Camry Hybrid uses a hybrid power train that is more than half a decade old and therefore the fuel economy ratings have not progressed with the times. But the Camry Hybrid does get 27% better fuel economy than the non-hybrid version.
	18) Ford Escape Hybrid - MPG: 34 City/31 Highway Price: $28,340 – The SUV with the best Fuel Economy. The Ford Escape Hybrid has also been around for 5+ years but is still the undisputed SUV MPG king. The wonderful figures are thanks to a small 4 cylinder engine and CVT transmission. But the Escape can also run on full electric power alone which is a big help.
	19) Toyota Yaris - MPG: 30 City/38 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Toyota Yaris is a sub-compact and everything about it is small. The engine is only 1.5 liters and barely cranks out 105 horsepower. But combined with a manual transmission the lightweight Yaris gets over 32 MPG combined.
	20) Mazda 2 - MPG: 29 City/35 Highway Price: $28,340 – A relatively new-comer to the Subcompact world, Mazda’s contribution follows the same formula. Take a small, lightweight car and shove a fuel efficient engine under the hood. Combine with a manual transmission and the result is a nicely rounded car. Look to the Mazda2 to get better gas mileage as the model gets refined.
	21) Honda Fit - MPG: 28 City/35 Highway Price: $28,340 – The name says it all. The Honda Fit is indeed fit to get good gas mileage. What sets the Fit apart from the other subcompacts is its sporty dive appeal. No other subcompact provides as much fun as the Fit. Although if Fuel Economy is your thing, you will not be participating in spirited driving any ways.
	22) Kia Rio - MPG: 30 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – Kia has been the kicking stone of the Automotive world for a long time. They feel cheap. But Kia is on the rise and the Rio shows its true colors with its 30 pus MPG rating. Yet the Rio is old and outdated. Kia seems to be concentrating on the Mid-sized level cars as evident with the upcoming release of the Optima Hybrid.
	23) Lexus RX450h - MPG: 32 City/28 Highway Price: $28,340 – Incredibly the Lexus RX450h Hybrid has been on this list for years. Even though it’s the most expensive of the group, the RX Hybrid is on the top of every Hybrid SUV owners wish list. How can you go wrong with Ultra Luxury combined with Technology powered by a hybrid power plant?
	24) Chevrolet Sonic - MPG: 29 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – Unfortunately the Aveo suffers from the Cheap car syndrome the same as the Rio. Yes it gets good MPG but would you really want to own one? There are better Subcompacts out there and Chevy will have to kill or update this car if it wants to compete with the Ford Fiesta which is years ahead of the Aveo.
	25) Nissan Versa MPG: 30 City/38 Highway Price: $28,340 – What one Japanese car maker does the others must follow suite. Thus you have the Nissan versa subcompact. Built to compete with the other, the Versa has the lowest mileage thanks to its larger more powerful engine. And the portly curb weight. Still it breaks the 30 MPG barrier.

Buick Lacrosse eAssist Hybrid Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:42:13 +0000

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.

Buick Lacrosse eAssist Hybrid

The Buick Lacrosse uses a Belt Alternator Starter Hybrid System like the short lived Malibu Hybrid. Regenerative brakes charge the batteries and a start-stop system turns off the motor when the car is idle. All these features stack up to create a luxury hybrid that has a relatively cheap price for the amount of luxury you get.

Image via http://www.sandyblogs.com/techconnect/index.html

Toyota Prius V Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:52:32 +0000

Toyota Prius V Gas Mileage

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 inconvient 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.

With 50% more cargo room than the standard Toyota Prius, the V stands for Versatile. But while the PriusV has grown, the fuel economy has shrunk. Earlier in the year when the Lexus CT 200h, I could not figure out why a car with the same drivetrain as the Prius gets much lower gas mileage. It’s the same conundrum for the Toyota Prius V. The car has the same shape and the exact same drivetrain as the standard Prius but the gas mileage is lower by 15%. Let’s take a look into the reasons for the loss in fuel economy.

1) Weight – the Prius 5 weighs over 230 pounds more than the standard Prius. This may not seem like much but coupled with the other changes; weight does play a role in Gas Mileage loss.

2) Size – the Prius V is 6 inches longer and 3 inches taller than the standard Prius. The wheelbase is a tad longer and by stretching the Prius V out, much was changed in the Prius V suspension to make the car more like a nice sedan.

3) Drag Coefficient – the 2011 Toyota Prius has a Drag Coefficient of 0.25 while the changes to the exterior of the Prius V have caused the Drag Coefficient to drop to 0.29.

While these changes may seem minor, they reduce the gas mileage on the Prius 5 by 15%. Estimated figures put the Prius V gas mileage figures at 44 on the Highway and 40 in the City. The standard Prius gets 52/48 respectively. This goes to show that the Prius is so perfectly engineered for getting the best fuel economy possible that even a few little tweaks can drastically reduce those figures. Good news is the Prius V will only cost a bit more but will offer you 50% more cargo room and should be a great buy for those looking to increase gas mileage without losing utility.

I crunched the numbers and if you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year; it will only cost you $200 more to drive the Prius V over the standard Prius (with gas costing $3.50). This actually seems like a drop in the bucket considering how much more interior space you get.

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.

Weight – the Prius 5 weighs over 230 pounds more than the standard Prius. This may not seem like much but coupled with the other changes; weight does play a role in Gas Mileage loss.
Size – the Prius V is 6 inches longer and 3 inches taller than the standard Prius. The wheelbase is a tad longer and by stretching the Prius V out, much was changed in the Prius V suspension to make the car more like a nice sedan.
Drag Coefficient – the 2011 Toyota Prius has a Drag Coefficient of 0.25 while the changes to the exterior of the Prius V have caused the Drag Coefficient to drop to 0.29.

Lexus CT 200h Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:57:35 +0000

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.

The Lexus CT 200h thankfully skips the ugly wedge shape design that is common with the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrid cars. Instead the Lexus CT 200h is a hatchback and still musters an ultra low drag coefficient of 0.29 which is necessary to get good gas mileage numbers. For comparison the current Toyota Prius has a drag coefficient rating of 0.25. Pretty similar and definitely not enough of a difference to explain the gap in MPG numbers.

Both the Lexus CT 200h and the 2011 Toyota Prius are powered by the same 1.8 Liter 4-cylinder Atkinson Cycle Engine. This engine is ultra efficient and makes 98 horsepower and 105 lb-ft. of torque. What makes the Lexus CT 200h a hybrid is the electric motor and battery assist. This electric motor adds more horsepower and torque bringing the total up to 134 HP. The Lexus CT 200h also has the same CVT transmission as the Prius which allows for optimum gear selection. And being a parallel hybrid, the Lexus CT 200h can drive on gas, electric, or a combination of both.

Another great feature about the Lexus CT 200h is the fact that the battery pack is placed with cargo space in mind. The battery pack is a 38-module Nickel Metal Hydride unit weighing only 118 lbs. And do not worry about the longjevity of the battery pack as all new Lexus CT 200h hybrid cars come with a 8-year 100k mile warranty on the batteries.

Regenerative Braking is pretty common and the Lexus CT 200h uses this method to recharge the batteries. When you stop, the braking energy is converted into electricity. This efficient system also powers the electric water pump and the electric power steering components. Since these units are not driven by belts on the engine, the Lexus CT 200h sees gas mileage improvements.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive on the Lexus CT 200h allows the driver to choose between 4 modes: EV, ECO, Normal, and Sport.

• EV Mode – EV stands for electric vehicle and the Lexus CT 200h is equipped to run up to 25 MPH on pure electricity alone. This is great for stop and go traffic and really helps with the gas mileage. Also while in EV mode the car produces Zero emissions
• ECO Mode – With the Lexus CT 200h in ECO mode you can expect the best gas mileage but you also get the worst performance in terms of acceleration.
• Normal Mode – This mode increases throttle response and is good for normal driving situations.
• Sport Mode – Sport offers the best acceleration and adjust the steering, traction, and stability control settings. You also get the worst gas mileage while in Sport mode.

So in conclusion the Lexus CT 200h has all the same operating systems as the Toyota Prius yet net a far lower fuel economy rating. The Lexus CT 200h Gas Mileage is 43 MPG city, 40 MPG highway, and 42 MPG combined. While the Prius enjoys 51 MPG city, 48 MPG highway, and 50 MPG combined. Drag coefficient cannot be the cause of the variation in gas mileage and the Lexus CT 200h only weighs 100 more lbs. than the Prius. And both cars sport low rolling resistance tires. What Gives?

Photo Credits : http://www.lexus.com/models/CTh/

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:36:49 +0000

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.

Hyundai took a different road when designing the Sonata Hybrid. Where most hybrid cars are currently based off the same system or technology, the engineers at Hyundai have gone a different route. A study by the Society of Automotive Engineers found that hybrid owners use their car for highway driving mostly. And most hybrid cars have a CVT transmission to help with gas mileage in the city. Well the Hyundai Sonata uses a regular 6-speed automatic transmission which is more efficient on the highway thus the Sonata Hybrid gets better gas mileage.

Hyundai engineers have also made the Sonata Hybrid more aerodynamic and they also employ systems to help reduce wind resistance at higher speeds. The Sonata Hybrid is powered by a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 169 horsepower. There is a 40 HP electric motor on hand for the extra umph! The Sonata Hybrid also has a polymer battery pack which further reduces the curb weight. Look for the Hyundai to be about 300 lbs. lighter than the Fusion Hybrid.

The base price should also be much less than its competitors. So the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid not only gets great gas mileage, it weighs less, and should be cheaper than any of its competitors. What is not to like about that!

Cadillac CTS MPG – Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, and CTS-V

Car Dude — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:54:45 +0000

The Cadillac CTS has taken its cues from the big German automakers. You can now get the Cadillac CTS in a broad range of configurations like the coupe, sedan, sport wagon, and even all-wheel drive. In some cases the Cadillac CTS MPG numbers are good and in others like the supercharged version, the Cadillac CTS gas mileage ratings are not so great. But see below the various Cadillac MPG figures.

Starting with the very base model Cadillac CTS MPG which comes in at 18 MPG in the City and 27 MPG on the highway. These figures come from the 3.0 liter V-6 engine with the automatic transmission and puts out 270 HP. What’s weird is the gas mileage ratings go down a bit when you add in the manual trans? Then when you step up to the 3.6 liter engine, you get a nice 34 HP bump and the fuel economy does not suffer at all. In fact the Cadillac CTS MPG is the same in the 3 liter and the 3.6 liter car.

Stepping up to the big 6.2 liter V-8 engine the CTS-V gets 14 MPG in the City on the 19 MPG on the Highway with the manual transmission. The automatic gets less at 12/18. But keep in mind this car has a supercharged V-8 from the Corvette ZR-1 that puts down 556 HP!

The Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and Coupe get the same gas mileage as the sedan with the V-6 engine. So if you are in the market for a CTS then by all means opt for the larger 3.6 liter V-6 engine!

Best 3rd Row SUV Gas Mileage – Prices Under $40k

Car Dude — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:28:33 +0000

See some of the gas mileage and fuel economy ratings from large SUVs with 3 passenger rows. These are resonably priced thrid row SUV so that means big luxury SUVs and Hybrids were not on the list since those are out the price range for most. What is shocking is that all these 3rd row SUVs have similar gas mileage ratings. The highs came in at about 24 MPG on the highway and most averaged 17 MPG in the city.

Below is a list of third row SUV gas mileage with current model year and price info. This is a good list of SUV fuel economy to aid in the process of finding a good SUV!

3rd Row SUVs	Year	2010 MSRP	MPG
Toyota 4Runner	2009+	$27,500	16/21
Toyota Highlander	2008+	$34,670	18/24
Mazda CX-9	2007+	$28,805	16/22
Chevrolet Traverse	2008+	$29,224	17/24
Hyundai Veracruz	2006+	$28,145	16/23
Honda Pilot	2009 +	$27,895	17/23
Nissan Pathfinder	2005+	$27,540	15/22
Saturn Outlook	2007+	$30,625	17/24
GMC Acadia	2007+	$31,740	17/24
Buick Enclave	2008+	$35,515	17/24
Subaru Tribeca	2008+	$30,345	16/21
Ford Flex	2009+	$28,950	17/24
Volvo XC90	2007+	$37,700	14/20

Good Gas Mileage SUV – Hybrids Win

Car Dude — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:13:50 +0000

A good gas mileage SUV is an imporatant and popular decision in the car world these days. Why get 20 MPG when you can get 50% better with ease. Hybrid SUV’s return both excellent city and highway MPG numbers. But there are many good gas mileage SUV’s out there that are excellent performers. And for the 2010 model year you have many good choices. Lets just start with the top performers. Of course Hybrid SUV’s win.

1) Ford Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape hybrid is a good gas mileage SUV with fuel economy numbers that check in at a mind-boggling 34 city and 31 highway MPG! And the Escape Hybrid has been the top dog since its release in 2004. Now don’t freak out because yes, the Mercury Mariner and the Mazda Tribure are both pretty much the same car. The reaseon why the Ford Escape is such a good gas mileage SUV is because the Hybrid can use electricty alone to acelerate to 30 MPH per wikipedia. An electric motor helps boost the 133 HP inline 4-cylinder. Also an Atkinson Cycle engine is much better for hybrids as the power produced is less but the efficiency is better which is more important in a good gas mileage SUV. The loss in power is made up with the electric motor. Which is recharged by regenerative braking. Price for the Escape hybrid is about $30k.

2) Lexus RX 450h

Yes luxury companies car produce a good gas mileage SUV. And Lexus has been doing so for more than 5 years! Ok here’s the goods: MSRP is around $43k and MPG is 32 city and 28 highway. The 297 HP V-6 engine is helped via a power inverter and 2 electric motors. The engine also runs on the atkinson Cycle. And believe it or not the RX 450h is 20% more efficient than the previous generation 400h.

3) Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain

Hey here is a good gas mileage suv that is not powered by a hybrid motor. The Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain only get 22 MPG in the city, which is nothing special. But if you do alot of highway driving and need a good gas mileage SUV, than the Equinox should be on your list. Getting 32 MPG on the highway without the aid of any electric motors, the Equinox is a real surprise. You can get a very base model for $23k which is the perfect range for many consumers. The motor is a 182 HP 4 cylinder.

4) Jeep Patriot

What a Jeep is also on the list of good gas mileage SUVs? Yes its true, Both the Jeep Patriot and the Compass are excellent fuel sippers. The Jeeps both get 23 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. So if you are a Jeep lover like my buddy Wendy, you should upgrade to one of these bad boys. These figures are of course for the base model 2.0L 172 HP Patriot. And with an MSRP of $15,300 there is no denying that the Patriot should be on this list!

5) Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is an odd fellow. You would think that the Highlander would kill in the MPG department since is has the Prius as its little brother. What kills the fuel economy of the Highlander is its heavy and energy wasting 4-wheel drive. The Highlander does make the good gas mileage SUV list due to it still good numbers at 27 in the city and 25 on the highway. On more ding against the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the $35k price tag.

Honorable Mention

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

The Escalade Hybrid gets 22 MPG ok. You may say: “WTF”! But when you find out this is a 40% improvement over the non-hybrid version it hits you that the Escalades are a big waste. And you have to fork over $62k for the base model and $73k for the hybrid ouch.

BMW Active Hybrid

The Active Hybrid BMW X6 costs $89k but it has a 400-HP twin-turbo V-8 powering it! Totally worth the 18 MPG figure it returns. For comparison the non-hybrid SUV gets 14 MPG.

Source: Fuel Economy.gov check the stats for yourself