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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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/

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!

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!

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!

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

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!