If you are looking for a 2009 model vehicle with excellent fuel efficiency, you will likely look for the EPA projections for miles per gallon (MPG) posted on car windows. The EPA and the Department of Energy have recently published their Fuel Economy Guide for all vehicles sold in the United States. With a rash of zero percent financing deals on the market today, you may want to look at efficient vehicles if you are looking for a middle ground until truly efficient vehicles hit the market.
The leader for yet another year is the Toyota Prius with a projected 48 city and 45 highway MPG rating. Professionals and couples looking for lower prices at the pump can choose from the smart fortwo (33/41), Mini Cooper (28/37) and Honda Civic Hybrid (40/45). Construction workers looking for pickups without gas-guzzling engines can check out the Ford Ranger (21/26), Chevrolet Silverado (21/22) and GMC Sierra (21/22).
While the top performers may not seem impressive, we need only look at the bottom feeders to see the disparity between fuel-efficient modesty and gas-guzzling excess. The EPA report says that the Nissan Titan is the least efficient pickup at 12 miles per gallon city. The usual culprits sit at the bottom of the EPA/DOE list of least efficient vehicles with Lamborghini, Bentley and Saab anchoring most of the car rankings. Lamborghini’s Murcielago may get the gas-guzzler award with a horrific 8 miles per gallon city, a number that car lovers accept as part of the automaker’s commitment to powerful engines.
The EPA/DOE 2009 Fuel Economy Guide is linked here for your viewing pleasure. We can set aside criticisms of the EPA’s methods of measuring MPG to look at the larger problems of ranking vehicles based on fuel efficiency. We can see within this post that one of the report’s effects is a successful justification of high performers in comparison to gas wasters.
Drivers should use the EPA guide as a part of a larger strategy to learn more about new vehicles rather than a stand-alone text. As drivers get familiar with more efficient technologies like continuously variable transmission, they will understand why fuel efficiency is the product of multiple mechanical processes. This appreciation will engender curiosity that can be used to help promote alternative fuels and new transportation options through consumer demand.
One more reason to consider the Prius when I shop for my next car!!! Although I was checking out a little car that works with compressed air… that could be an alternative if that comes into the market soon enough!
Damn, maybe I sound like a ”typical” girl, but I would not buy this car because I just don’t like the looks of it!
I know a lady up into her near nineties who loves to drive all over creation (and she’s still good as it, too) and her car is a Prius. She can’t say enough good things about this car.
The ”lines” of this car are not exactly head turners, but if the engine is really delivering the way they say, I would look over the design and follow performance.
I have a Prius and she loves it. I wouldn’t mind having one myself. As for the looks I think it looks better than some I have seen. As long as it is a good running car that’s the most important thing to me.