Cars with the Best Gas Mileage Tested
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 9:56Cars.com announced yesterday the results of it’s gas mileage car tests, and the results are interesting. The cars tested were:
- 2008 Ford Focus SES sedan: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual; 24/35 mpg city/highway (28 mpg combined)
- 2009 Honda Civic EX-L sedan: 1.8-liter four-cylinder, five-speed auto; 25/36 mpg city/highway (29 mpg combined)
- 2009 Pontiac G5 XFE coupe: 2.2-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual; 25/37 mpg city/highway (30 mpg combined)
- 2009 Toyota Corolla XLE sedan: 1.8-liter four-cylinder, four-speed auto; 27/35 mpg city/highway (30 mpg combined)
They fueled all 4 cars up at the same pump, then took them on a 300 mile test drive. Here’s the gas mileage results:
- 2009 Toyota Corolla XLE sedan: 36.4 mpg
- 2009 Honda Civic EX-L sedan: 34.6 mpg
- 2009 Pontiac G5 XFE coupe: 33.1 mpg
- 2008 Ford Focus SES sedan: 31.0 mpg
I’m not too surprised that the Corolla performed well, as Toyotas are known for their gas mileage. In fact I’m not surprised that the Japanese cars ranked better overall. But I am surprised that the Ford Focus did so poorly, not even reaching its advertised highway MPG. 31 mpg is nothing to sneeze at, but considering the compromises Ford made to make the Focus (small, smaller engine, less features) it makes it a much less attractive car purchase.
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Posted in category Gas Mileage
Mercedes says:
November 18th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Considering these cars get such good gas mileage I do not see the point in the hybrid cars which take soo much effort and technology to produce. Either go small engine gasoline or electric zero emission, why go half/half.
mike says:
November 18th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Good information. I will probably go with a Civic when it is time to purchase a new car. I dont think the hybrid justifies the price difference, especially with falling gas prices.
Super Duper Car Insurance Quoter says:
May 13th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Cars with better gas mileage often have lower premiums for insurance. When you take the time to find the best car with higher gas mileage, you’ll not only save money on gas prices, you’ll also start to see monthly savings with your car insurance premiums. Great information for anyone buying or comparing hybrids that want to also reduce their carbon foot print.
Max from Mobile Car Valeting says:
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Tested my Toyota RAV4 today. 110 miles drive – average speed 71 miles/hour = 41 mpg. Not bad considering the speed + 4×4 factor.
jeep grand cherokee parts says:
May 30th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Thanks for sharing this useful piece of information. Among the cars on the list, the Toyota Corolla is my choice because it’s the most practical in terms of fuel efficiency and readily available parts.
Max from Pontiac Parts says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I’m surprised the Pontiac did as well as it did.
Also, like you, I’m surprised at the ford. I can’t believe that it didn’t even reach it’s advertised highway mileage. That’s really shady from Ford.
Mike says:
June 30th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Japanese make are better than the U.S. make in most cases. I will surely go for Toyota Corolla when I plan to buy one. Thanks for sharing the results. – Mike
Mike´s last blog ..Science and it’s quirks
Mega Online Car Insurance Quoter says:
August 25th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I have a 2008 Toyota Prius. I save about $150 a month in gas. I also recently changed my car insurance and i’m saving another $60 a month.
fancyAcar says:
September 11th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Well to tell you the truth, I’ve never had any problems with japanese cars in the 10 years that i’ve been driving. So yes i’d always recommend them and they are more economical as well as shown in the test results above.
JohnBenz says:
September 17th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
But couldn’t you save $100 a month if you just went with a cheaper 4 cylinder? See I don’t see the point of Prius if they cost more and more expensive to repair.
mike from cheap auto insurance says:
September 28th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Civic is really one of a kind. thanks fro the post dude! It helps!
mike@cheap auto insurance´s last blog ..California Auto Insurance Zone
Rate Car Insurance Guy says:
October 10th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
An update on 2009 best mileage cars, these are the federal estimates, which are more accurate (tougher) since being revised:
1. Toyota Prius: 48 City/45 Hwy
2. Honda Civic Hybrid: 40 City/45 Hwy
3. Smart for Two: 33 City/41 Hwy,
4. Volkswagen Jetta TDI: 29 City/40 Hwy
5. Nissan Altima Hybrid: 35 City/33 Hwy
Rate Car Insurance Guy´s last blog ..Comparing Auto Insurance Costs for Hybrid Cars
Jayson from michigan auto insurance says:
October 14th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Don’t forget the chevy cobalt. It gets around 30-35 mpg and is cheap to maintain and purchase.
Jayson@michigan auto insurance´s last blog ..Auto Insurance Flint
Shannon from Warranty Headquarters says:
November 12th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I’m wondering if people are still clamoring to get their hands on a 90s Geo Metro. That thing had 38 mpg city/45 Hwy. It would be right up there in the most recent list!
Miller from Commercial Vehicle Insurance says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
The Corolla XLE model is the most luxurious variation of the Toyota Corolla. While the XLE maintains the small sedan feel, this variation of trim level offers a larger engine and sport-tuned suspension.
Dan says:
November 30th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Thanks for taking the time to make a list of the best gas miliage cars. All too often people are lazy or they simply buy a car based on appearance. Thanks for the list. I don’t have a car at the moment but I’m thinking about it.
Eric from Chip Tuning says:
January 4th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
We are missing the Audi A3 Diesel on this list. It actually won an award for the best gas mileage.
Car Dealers says:
January 5th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
The best car, with good fuel mileage is def. the ford focus hybrid.
Car Dealers´s last blog ..Ford Ends December Up 33% and GM Down 6%