At a time when regualr petrol prices have reached record levels of over $US2 a gallon on average, and there are, at last, signs that Americans are re-evaluating their love affairs with ‘gas-guzzler’ SUVs and ‘light’ trucks, car buyers guide website Edmunds.com has produced a list of the most fuel-efficient cars for the United States 2004 model year.
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They are: the Honda Insight; Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Volkswagen Golf TDI, Volkswagen Jetta [Bora] TDI, Volkswagen Beetle TDI, Honda Civic HX, Toyota Echo [a Yaris/Vitz sedan], Toyota Corolla, Scion xA, Scion xB, Dodge Neon, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Celica GT and the Toyota Matrix.
Edmunds.com compiled its fuel economy list based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) miles per gallon ratings for city and highway travel, using the EPA’s combined fuel economy formula. No all-electric or natural gas vehicles were included. The ratings are mostly for base models equipped with manual transmission.
“It is impressive that the most fuel-efficient vehicles enjoy nearly double the per-gallon mileage of the vehicles lower on the list,” said Edmunds.com editor in chief Karl Brauer. “During city driving the Insight and Prius are rated at 60 miles to the gallon, while the vehicles tied for 10th place get 29.”
Edmunds.com also said the average fuel economy for 2004 model year vehicles is 19 miles per gallon (mpg) in city driving and 26 mpg on highways though it is worth noting that a US gallon is about four-fifths of the Imperial gallon used here in the UK – that is in turn equivalent to about 4.54 of the litre measure used in Europe and much of the rest of the world.
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By GlobalDataThe website said the average fuel expense in the US is $US1,310 per vehicle, assuming 15,000 miles are driven per year. On average, cars run up $1,178 in fuel expenses per year while trucks, SUVs and minivans average $1,606 annual fuel costs.
The most fuel-efficient segment is coupes priced under $15,000, with an average fuel cost of $843 per year while the least fuel-efficient segment is SUVs priced over $45,000, with an average fuel cost of $1,956 per year. The most popular segments are the sedans priced between $15-25,000, with an average annual fuel cost of $1,013, and the large trucks, with an average annual fuel cost of $1,874.
Edmunds.com expects the market to change drastically in the next couple of years as more manufacturers introduce hybrid vehicles, including SUV and truck models. Awaited as 2005 models are hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford Escape, GMC Sierra, Honda Accord, Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander. Additional hybrid vehicles are in development for the 2006 and 2007 model years.
Other fuel-saving technologies are also becoming more common, such as the cylinder deactivation systems recently introduced by GM and Chrysler (on the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 300C sampled recently in Europe by just-auto; its cylinder shut-off operation is undetectable from the driver seat).
