Gas Mileage Ace » hybrid

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 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.

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!

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

Nissan Altima Hybrid Race Car

Car Dude — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:49:34 +0000

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.

The idea was spawned by Nissan North America who wanted a “forward thinking race car” and Braille Battery was a company on the cutting edge of battery technology since they make super cool carbon fiber batteries for professional race teams spanning everything from NASCAR to Le Mans. The car was put together by University Technical Institute. This car has competed in the Redline Time Attack Series and the One Lap of America race.

So how do you get over 440 horsepower out of a New Nissan Altima Hybrid car that can click off 12.9 second quarter mile times? Well first a bit of hybrid car education. Hybrid cars have a small gasoline engine and an attached electric motor that either powers the car at low speeds or adds power to the car as speeds increase. So the Braille Battery Hybrid car is powered by the stock 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine. Of course this engine has been reworked and now runs on E85 fuel. But the real horsepower comes from a Vortech Electric Supercharger. Other racing parts include a full BC Coilover Suspension kit, Wilwood Brake kit, and full array of Sparco safety enhancements. Light weight Enkei LF-10 rims wrapped in Yokohama Neova tires hold this hybrid to the road. Other racing upgrades include an APR carbon fiber splitter, VIS Racing Carbon Fiber Hood, Stillen Body kit, and custom exhaust featuring a “green leaf” exhaust tip.

This car not only has an eco-friendly engine with a cool carbon fiber battery pack; but it also features a couple other forward thinking modifications. The paint is from DuPont and is called low VOC paint that is much better for the environment. The Sparco seats are made from waste materials. The tires are low rolling resistance and finally there are solar panels that help recharge the battery system.

This cool hybrid car represents the next logical step in racing. At 440 horsepower with a 57% better fuel economy rate over non-hybrid race Altima cars, the Braille Battery ride is the real deal.

Source: http://www.braillebattery.com/index.php/events/view/braille_battery_debuts_north_americas_first_hybrid_race_car_at_sema

Say Audios to the Carpool Lane My Friends

Car Dude — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:05:39 +0000

About a week ago I found a great deal on a used 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid with low miles. The icing on the cake was that it had one of those Yellow CARB Stickers. This was the ultimate kicker for me since I drive the 405 everyday and believe me it is absolute torture! On the days that I carpool with my wife, the saved drive time is at least an hour each day. Well the jig is up and the original carpool program is going to expire on January 1st, 2011. Good thing I did not buy that Civic!

A Law was passed in 2004 in order to encourage people to buy hybrid cars. The goal was to give out the CARB stickers to any hybrid that got a fuel economy rating of 45 MPG combined or more. Well that pretty much limited the cars to the Toyota Prius and the first generation Honda Insight. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) gave out 85,000 of these stickers for Hybrid, Natural Gas, and electric powered cars. Cars that have this sticker can fetch a higher resale price. I would gladly spend up to $2000 more since the savings in time spent on the freeway would be huge.

Fast forward to the year 2008 and the program had been extended a few more years. But still the only cars with these stickers were mostly Toyota Prius’ with a few Honda Hybrids like the: Insight and Civic. Honda has the only Natural Gas vehicle on the road so these cars also got a white form of the carpool lane sticker. This created some public outcry as other automobile owners with super fuel efficient cars were shut out of the program. The Volkswagen Jetta TDi is a turbo diesel car that not only nets great MPG, but it has been named Green Car of the Year. Ford has a great fuel efficient car with the new Ford Fusion Hybrid. Likewise Saturn and other manufacturers have hybrid cars in their stable. But since no more stickers were handed out after 2007; none of these new cars and hybrids are eligible.

New legislation is making its rounds that will give carpool lane exemption to new electric vehicles like the Fisker Karma or the Chevrolet Volt, natural gas automobiles, or those powered by other means of alternative fuel like hydrogen. Hybrids may once again make this list if they are the plug-in type or if they net a more stringent highway fuel economy of 65 MPG or more.

source:http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/28/business/fi-hybrid-stickers28

The Insight is Back

Car Dude — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:56:05 +0000

Lately Ford has been a car maker that is concentrating on fuel efficiency. They entered into a licensing agreement with Toyota in order to use some of the Prius’ hybrid technology. The New Ford Fusion is just the tip of the iceberg. Each year is seems like Toyota is on the cutting edge of the hybrid race. Their hybrid lineup is the largest and most fuel efficient of any manufacturer. What makes Toyota so great is that you can buy a Certified Used Car that comes with a warranty. Finally Honda is always in the mix not matter what. If their Japanese counter-parts are doing something right, you can bet that Honda will no doubt try to top their rivals. And they did just that with the New Honda Insight. The Insight has a great starting price point and is backed by Honda Nameplate.

The New Honda Insight starts at right around $20k and gets 43 MPG in the City and 40 MPG on the highway, for a combine fuel economy score of 41. What makes the Insight so fuel efficient is the small 1.3 gas engine and the integrated motor assist electric engine. These two engine can run at the same time which is a problem other hybrids manufacturers avoid. A continuois variable transmission put power down while the sleek shape reduces drag when speeds get a bit faster. And when you slow down, regenerative braking recharges the batteries. The Honda Insight has secured its place in the hybid automotive world.

Source:http://automobiles.honda.com/insight-hybrid/exterior-photos.aspx

Best Used Cars by Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:33:10 +0000

Buying a used car with the best gas mileage is easy these days. There are many hybrids and compact cars that make the best used cars you can get. 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. A variety of automobile catergories are seen here and there are after all only 10 spots. 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

Which is the Best Hybrid Vehicle for You?

Car Dude — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:44:27 +0000

How do you figure out which hybrid vehicle best suits your needs? Can you point to a hybrid car and say that this one is undoubtedly the best car for your needs? Most hybrids that are produced target a certain kind of car buyer. And each and every car maker has one important goal in their range of activity, namely to create better green vehicles that are not only fuel efficient but that will appeal to a large audience.

Fuel efficiency, horsepower, price of the car, design and utility, are just a few of the criteria that people check before making a choice on purchasing a hybrid car. First of all, the right hybrid car will net the best MPG available. Cars that have the ability to run on electric power alone for a certain distance or up to a certain speed are the best bet for fuel economy.

No matter the engine combination, the best hybrid car should be able to overcome the increased price by saving you money at the gas pump over a period of time. So a new Civic Hybrid should overcome the increased cost over a base model Civic by saving you money in the from of less gas per year.

When making a decision on which hybrid is best for your needs, size also plays a part in your decision. Will this strictly be a commuter car, or will you need something larger to haul around the family? Thus, you might be interested in the best hybrid car in the small, town-use category, or maybe the mid-size hybrid sedans are more suitable for your needs. Luxury hybrid vehicles are rather pretentious and expensive, but they do have their targeted buyers.

The right hybrid car according to personal requirements should be chosen only after alot or research has been done. The internet is full of reviews and information about all kinds of hybird vehicles. Do your dilligent research and consider the cost of maintenance, hybrid tax rebates, fuel economy, warranty, battery charging system and so on. Finally take a test drive and make sure that the car feels right.