Gas Mileage and Gas Prices » hybrid

The Top 3 Hybrids of 2009 for the Best Gas Mileage

Fuel Economy Advisor — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:25:45 +0000

The 2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid is hands-down the highest rated of the hybrid vehicles. Gas mileage, the most important consideration for many, is 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. This Toyota was designed from scratch as a hybrid, not modified from a conventional vehicle, and is considered by many the best blend of efficiency, dependability and affordability. It’s roomy design seats up to 5 people and maximizes interior space. At $21,100 it is a good value for all that it offers.

The 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid has excellent gas mileage at 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. Its price is competitive with the Prius at $22,600. The Civic Hybrid is a roomy, 4-door style sedan with a number of trims and options available. This hybrid vehicle is considered reliable and affordable, all-in-all an excellent value. Plus Honda has an award-winning extended warranty program which is standard for most vehicle purchases.

The new kid on the block, coming out this fall, is the 2009 Smart Fortwo. The Fortwo is a small, affordable 2-seater, designed more for around-town than for long trips. It’s base price of only $11,590 is very affordable, and it gets great gas mileage: 33 in the city and 41 on the highway. Although this Smart car is definitely not for everyone, it is easy to park anywhere and it’s low fuel consumption will definitely save you money.

For those who need a more conventional vehicle, the Volkswagen Jetta may be a better alternate choice than these hybrids in a slightly bigger class. It is not an alternative fuel or hybrid vehicle; it gets great gas mileage through efficient design. It gets 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, with some variation between specific models. Available in a coupe or a sportwagon, the VW Jetta boasts quality design and construction for a long lasting vehicle, starting about $17,500.

The Philly Car Show; 2009 Philadelphia Auto Show Begins

Fuel Economy Advisor — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:33:51 +0000

The 2009 Philadelphia Auto Show starts today, January 31, and runs until February 8, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Besides all the cool cars and autos from around the world which will be presented at the Philly Car Show, they’ve also got some great events going on.

They’ve got a whole list of really cool Green Technology Cars they’re going to be spotlighting over the course of the next week:

Cadillac — Escalade

Chevrolet — Tahoe

Chrysler — Aspen Hybrid

Ford — 2010 Fusion Hybrid

Lexus — RX 400h

Mercury — 2010 Milan Hybrid

Toyota — Camry

Toyota — Highlander

Volkswagen — Jetta TDI Sedan

Perhaps the most surpirsing on that list is the gigantic Cadillac Escalade SUV! Who ever thought a huge SUV would be discussed in the same breath as fuel economy? But Cadillac says the new Escalade Hybrid will deliver more than a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving with its new fuel-saving 2-Mode Hybrid system. It’s still only listing at 20 MPG, but hey, that’s alot better than the miles per gallon the regular version gets! Since its pricetag is starting at over $70,000, though, you’re probably not worrying about saving a few bucks on gas if you buy it …

Rising Gas Prices: Fuel Economy and Your Next Car Purchase?

Fuel Economy Advisor — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:31:13 +0000

The Associated Press reported that oil prices fell Tuesday as fresh signs of a deepening U.S. recession trumped tensions in the Middle East and worries over natural gas shortages in Europe. Light, sweet crude for February delivery fell 23 cents, to $48.58 a barrel, in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The five-month slide in gasoline prices has come to an abrupt halt, with gasoline rising by several cents in recent days amid indicators that the national average could jump to $2 a gallon or higher this spring.

So we’re facing rising gas prices — how does that impact new car purchases, specifically hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles?

Automotive analysts expect consumers, who are still wary over the shaky state of the economy, to buy between 10 million and 12.4 million new cars and trucks in 2009. That’s down substantially from the 16.7 million in annual sales the industry has averaged over the past decade. And it’s even lower than the dismal 13 million or so in sales expected for 2008.

So the question is, at what point does fuel economy and better gas mileage become an issue again? A lot of consumers have simply stopped purchasing new cars due to the poor economy. Once car sales begin to pick up, though, it will be a new market out there. Consumers will want cars which get better gas mileage and more miles to the gallon. Next years answer may come from Ford:

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and its twin, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid, are mid-to-full-size sedans that seat five in surprising comfort and offer a full-size trunk measuring around 12 cubic feet. They measure 190.6 inches and weigh a goodly 3,720 pounds. The gas-electric output is 191 horsepower and 0-60 mph acceleration is under 9 seconds.

With the cost of gas increasing to $2 in the next few months, more and more consumers will take another look at hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.

Top 3 Choices for Hybrid Vehicles 2009: Insight, Escape and Accord

Fuel Economy Advisor — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:43:42 +0000

Hybrid cars are increasing in popularity as consumers are wishing to cut the costs of fuel. With the economy and fuel prices in a state of upheaval, many customers are willing to spend the extra two to four thousand dollars and get a better bang for their buck, especially at the pump! Here are the top three Hybrid vehicle choices for 2009 – these stylish and affordable models are a great reason to go green, while saving on green.

Honda has won the award for the best Hybrid car in the terms of fuel consumption. The Honda Insight combines a sleek and lightweight design offers the highest fuel capacity, and although it may not be as roomy as its family designs, it is well worth its price in the money that will be saved on fueling costs.

The Ford Escape hybrid is a vehicle that confirms that we do not have to sacrifice capacity, or the SUV styles we have come to know and love for fuel efficiency. It has all of the power of a small SUV and all the style, and room required for the size. If you are looking for a hybrid that doesn’t sacrifice the spacious and luxurious features of an SUV, this vehicle is for you.

The next model is created by Honda with their hybrid rendition of the Accord, which is available in a family friendly four-door model. The 253 horsepower engine is one of the best Hybrid vehicles that come with the V6 engine. The electric motor combined with battery power allows for the best fuel efficiency on the market for a family vehicle.

Hybrid models are a stylish choice for those wanting to save the environment while increasing fuel efficiency. Keep these choices in mind for your next trip to the car dealership!

Better Gas Mileage Car Review: 2009 Chevrolet Aveo

Fuel Economy Advisor — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:33:02 +0000

If you’re considering a hybrid car because you like the idea of increased gas mileage, but are wary of the disadvantages of hybrid cars, the new 2009 Chevy Aveo or Aveo5 might be for you. These new cars from Chevy promise to get around 34 mpg, which is in the same class of the current hybrid vehicles. Unlike hybrids, however, the Chevy Aveos are traditional gasoline powered cars with a modern 16-valve four-cylinder engine and variable valve timing for optimal power and fuel efficiency.

The Aveo is the sedan version and the Aveo5 is the hatchback. Both pump out just over 100 horsepower and lb/ft of torque, so while they’re not ready for the NASCAR circuit they’re not wimply little boxcars, either. They start in the mid $12,000 to $13,000 range, so they’re very affordable as well.

Now, the 34 mpg sounds pretty good, but that’s the best it will get. The actual breakdowns are 27 mpg/City, 34 mpg/Highway for a manual transmission, and 25 mpg/City, 34 mpg/Highway for the automatic (according to Chevy’s specs). This is approaching hybrid fuel effeciency, but not quite there yet. The Toyota Prius gets 48 mpg/City, 45 mpg/Highway (according to federal mileage specs).

But since the Toyota Prius starts at $22,000, almost $10,000 more than the Aveo and Aveo5, you have to consider total cost of ownership. How many times do you have to fill the tank to make back your investment on a hybrid car as opposed to the Chevy Aveo?

It’s not a direct comparison, because the Aveo is a little smaller than the Prius. It’s a nice car to get around in, but noone’s going to mistake you a rock star in it. But if you’re not a rock star, chances are you don’t have rock star money to pay for gas, so it might be worth your while to consider Chevy Aveo‘s increased gas mileage and low sticker price as a great way to save at the pump.

Top Ten Reasons to Choose a Hybrid Vehicle: Car or SUV

Fuel Economy Advisor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:26:10 +0000

With the rising costs of gas there is an abundance of reasons that we are choosing to go green – for one, it releases the strain on your wallet when you see the gas gauge dwindle towards the empty line. Now with the option of a hybrid vehicle customers aren’t forced to look upon that empty gas tank with dread – in fact, with a hybrid vehicle you will see this happen a lot less often!

1. The best reason to buy a hybrid vehicle is to save money! No matter how much some of us may deny it, we all like to save money wherever we can. Now we can save money at the pumps by increasing fuel economy and filling up less with a hybrid vehicle.

2. Not only can we save money but we can also save the environment. Everyone wants to decrease their emissions while protecting the planet for the future generations. Many hybrid vehicle owners are thinking about their children’s future generations and the state of the earth that they are going to be faced with in fifty years. Go green for the younger generations!

3. Hybrid vehicles may cost more to begin with, but upkeep is not as expensive as it once was. Mechanics are becoming more familiar with the different types of hybrid cars and SUVs as they grow in popularity.

4. Hybrid vehicles are all the rage! Celebrities and Stylish people are going green – you are in luck, never before has it been so trendy to go green!

5. Many of our favorite vehicles are available in Hybrid format now with increased gas mileage and specialized engines. This is one reason that a Hybrid can be for everyone! It is available in styles that range from the Toyota Prius, to the traditional Honda Civic, or Ford Escape – there literally is a hybrid for every vehicle owner.

6. Now, you don’t have to worry about losing power within the vehicle. Many of the hybrid vehicles that are being manufactured as just as powerful as those gas guzzling SUVs that we have all come to know and love.

7. Hybrids are the latest technology and are not going to become obsolete the way that some older vehicle models (like electric) did. Soon they are also going to stop making vehicle parts for those gas-powered vehicles that are bad for our health, our wallets, and the environment.

8. Some day soon Hybrid may be the only way to go! Think about the legislations occurring on a daily basis, warranting companies to reduce their CO2 emissions — it is only a matter of time before this legislation is introduced to vehicle owners. Why not get ahead of the game and start reducing today?

9. Hybrids are forming the path to future technologies. Once consumers have decided to care about the environment, their finances and contributing to the transition – auto companies will jump on this trend, too!

10. Doesn’t everyone want to contribute to pressing world issues? When consumers purchase hybrid vehicles, they are assisting the local communities and the nation as a whole to stop relying on foreign oil production. The truth is that the more we learn to become an independent nation, while learning to rely on other methods of energy rather than oil, the better off the relationships between developed countries can be.

With all of these reasons to go green, how can you resist? Not only will you be saving the crunch on your wallet, but also the crunch on the earth – Are you ready to start making a difference and consider trading in that gas guzzling SUV for a hybrid?