The Top Eco Car of 2011

July 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
toyota prius 2011, nissan leaf 2011, chevy volt 2011, top eco cars

These fuel economy figures are lame! Image via Wikipedia

After gasoline prices tanked in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and the pain at the pump eased, there wasn’t as much of a monetary incentive for people to get rid of their gas guzzling sports cars, trucks, and SUVs and trade them in for more practical, fuel economy friendly vehicles.

Now that gasoline prices are back to pushing all-time highs, it seems as if buying a fuel efficient vehicle is back in style.

Today, CNET published a great article by Wayne Cunningham entitled By The Numbers: The Top Eco Car, which, as you probably guessed, talks about the most environmentally friendly and fuel efficient vehicles on the market today, and compares all of them based on the following criteria:

  • Cost
  • Range
  • Annual fuel cost
  • Seating
  • Cargo capacity

Looking through the EPA listings for 2011 model year cars, we picked out the most fuel efficient and compared them by a few different data points. Topping the EPA list is the 2011 Nissan Leaf, with its massive 99 mpg equivalent fuel economy. This number represents the combined city and highway mileage.

The 2011 Chevy Volt is more difficult to place, as the EPA lists two fuel economy figures, 93 mpg equivalent for electric operation and 37 mpg for gasoline operation. A simple average shows 65 mpg, which isn’t particularly accurate but will do for this comparison.

That hybrid stalwart, the 2011 Toyota Prius, rings in at 50 mpg, and is the top fuel economy performer that can’t be plugged in. We also decided to throw in a diesel, the 2011 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen, which gets 34 mpg. We chose the Sportwagen because it gets the same fuel economy as the sedan, yet has more cargo area.

So, which car drove away with the award?  If you guessed the old favorite, the Toyota Prius, you’d be right, although, there were some caveats:

Given these categories, the 2011 Toyota Prius comes out the winner. Its base price is the lowest and it offers the most range, while at the same time having the largest passenger compartment.

That fact, however, does not mean the Prius is the best choice for everyone who wants an ecologically sound car. If the majority of your drives come under 35 miles, than the Leaf or Volt might make a better choice. If you don’t have easy access to the charging stations or need to maximize cargo volume, the Jetta TDI Sportwagen would serve well.

Which would you have picked?  Leave a comment below!

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Gas Prices Still Heading Downward

July 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Over the past two or three months, we’ve seen wild fluctuations in the economy, stock markets, and commodity markets.  People have been spooked that austerity measures will hurt the worldwide economic recovery (which, I would argue, never really started), which, in turn, would drive down consumer spending and demand for pretty much everything.

This, of course, affected the price of both oil and gasoline, as you can see in the chart below:

oil prices, price of oil, gas prices, gasoline prices, price of gas, price of gasoline

As you can see, this chart (courtesy of GasBuddy.com) shows pretty wild fluctuations in the price of both oil and gasoline, with the most “violent” fluctuations occurring in the price of oil.  That being said, at least the general direction of both prices is downward.

As of this morning, oil futures were trading at $75.70, and the national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline stood at $2.72, which is down one cent from where it was last month, and exactly where it was one week ago.

Currently, only Hawaii ($3.45), Alaska ($3.38), California ($3.09), and Washington, D.C. ($3.06) are reporting average gas prices above $3 per gallon.  South Carolina currently has the lowest average price, at $2.40 per gallon.

Since we’re currently at the peak of summer driving season, it’s hard to envision a scenario where we could see gasoline prices spike higher from current levels.  That being said, a rough hurricane season or a major impact from the offshore drilling moratorium could change things and are worth keeping an eye on.

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Not so Fast for $3 Gasoline?

May 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Turns out I may need to eat my words, because now it’s starting to look like $3 gasoline — this year — might not be so inevitable after all.

Thanks to the European debt crisis, over the past two weeks the price of oil has fallen nearly 16% from its 18 month highs, while the U.S. dollar has substantially strengthened in value against most other currencies.  These two things bode well for falling gasoline prices.

These factors have yet to make a big difference in the price you pay at the pump, however, since the price of gasoline is down three cents over the past week — from $2.92 to $2.89 — as we head into the busy Memorial Day summer kick-off, it’s obvious these factors are starting to have an effect.

Before we get too happy about maybe not having to deal with $3 gas in the near-term, it should be pointed out that the current price of gasoline is still 62 cents, or roughly 27% higher, than where we were at this point last year.

Currently there are ten states reporting an average price of gasoline above $3 per gallon, with Alaska reporting the highest price at $3.59 per gallon.  Colorado is reporting the lowest average price at $2.70 per gallon.

So, where do you think gasoline prices are headed?  Leave your comments below.

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The Inevitability of $3 Gas

April 29, 2010 by 3 Comments

The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline continued to climb overnight, and now stands at $2.88 per gallon.

With the busy summer driving season rapidly approaching and more people buying into the economic recovery — I think it’s just a head fake before the second leg down — it now appears that it is only a matter of time before the price of gasoline climbs back over the psychologically important barrier of $3 per gallon.

Today’s price of $2.88 is only slightly higher than a week ago ($2.86), and not much higher than a month ago ($2.80).  However, today’s price is over 40% higher than a year ago ($2.04) when we were still wondering if the financial system and the economy were about to collapse.

While the national average price of gasoline might be below $3, that certainly doesn’t mean some parts of the country haven’t already crossed that threshold.  Nine states and Washington, D.C., have an average price above $3 per gallon, with Hawaii having the most expensive gas at $3.65 per gallon.

Conversely, there are still several states that are well below the national average, with New Jersey reporting the lowest average price at $2.66 per gallon.

If the economy continues to show signs of improvement, and inflationary pressures on energy prices continue to increase, I think it’s fair to say we’ll all be sharing in the pain of $3 gas by Memorial Day weekend.

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How Much Does Your Commute Suck?

February 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment

One of the most painful things of any person’s day is the commute to and from work.

In the morning, you’re half asleep, stuck in traffic surrounded by a bunch of idiot drivers, and heading into a job you’d rather not be at. In the afternoon, you’re drained from sitting through boring meetings, being stuck in traffic surrounded by a bunch of a-holes, and probably heading to a hectic situation at home.

Driving your car used to be a release. Now it’s just an added stress.

Fun!

Thankfully, according to a recent poll, it appears that most of us don’t have to spend a “significant” amount of time blowing a gasket while bonding with our fellow commuters.

When asked “How long (on average) does your roundtrip commute take?” nearly 250 Daily Fuel Economy Tip readers responded with the following answers:

  • 44% – Less than 30 minutes
  • 26% – Between 30 minutes and 1 hour
  • 19% – Between 1 and 2 hours
  • 11% – Greater than 2 hours

A roundtrip commute of less than 30 minutes really isn’t all that bad. I know I’d enjoy that.

And with a one-way commute of about 15 minutes, it sort of begs the question: how many of these people walk or take mass-transit?  Nothing like letting someone else do all of the driving.

What’s your commute like?  Leave your comments below.

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Toyota’s Recall is Exactly What Detroit Needs

January 28, 2010 by 5 Comments

For years, it has been a common perception – or misperception as the case may be – that Japanese cars, particularly Toyota and Honda, were of better quality than their American counterparts, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler.

Don’t get me wrong, American cars did plenty to substantiate those perceptions, especially considering they were behind the curve when it came to moving from massive trucks and SUVs to more fuel efficient sedans, compact cars, and hybrids.

However, with the news the Toyota has recalled 2.3 million vehicles – including some of its best selling models –due to a problem that could make the vehicle’s gas pedal stick, and its announcement that the company will halt sales of all affected models for the time being, is the tide finally starting to turn in Detroit’s favor?

Over the past several years, American car makers – Ford in particular – have received praise for drastic improvements in reliability and quality. In fact, the Ford Fusion was recently named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year for 2010, which is a pretty big deal.

I think when you couple Detroit’s momentum with Toyota’s huge setback, I think we’re on the verge of viewing American cars as being at least as good as, if not better than, their foreign counter parts.

What do you think? Leave your comments below!

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12 Greenest Cars of 2010

January 20, 2010 by 3 Comments

Looks like even though we’re out of the 2000’s, we’re not going to be able to get away from the word “green.”

The American Council for Energy Efficient Economy has released their list of the 12 Greenest Cars of 2010. You can view pictures of each of the models listed below by clicking here.

For the sake of brevity, here’s the list of cars, as well as a breakdown of each model’s gas mileage:

1. Honda Civic GX – The cool thing about the Civic GX is that it runs on Natural gas, and gets an equivalent of 36 MPG highway
2. Toyota Prius – Most well known Hybrid on the road, gets 48 MPG highway, 51 MPG city
3. Honda Civic Hybrid – The hybrid version of one of the best selling cars in the U.S. gets 45 MPG highway, 40 MPG city
4. Smart ForTwo – Has tiny 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder engine which allows it to get 41 MPG highway (I’d be afraid to take this out on an interstate), 33 MPG city
5. Honda Insight – Honda’s equivalent of the Prius gets 43 MPG highway, 40 MPG city
6. Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrids – first American car on the list, and the Detroit Auto Show 2010 Car of the Year, gets 36 MPG highway, 41 MPG city
7. Toyota Yaris – Tiny and cheap, and gets 36 MPG highway, 29 MPG city
8. Nissan Altima Hybrid – Just another hybrid on the list. 33 MPG highway, 35 MPG city
9. Mini Cooper – Fun, zippy car gets 37 MPG highway, 28 MPG city
10. Chevy Cobalt XFE – Small, 2.2 liter, 4-cylinder engine gets 37 MPG highway, 25 MPG city
11. Hyundai Accent Blue – A new car under $10 grand that gets 36 MPG highway, 27 MPG city?
12. Honda Fit – 33 MPG highway, 27 MPG city. Really nothing much else to say.

So, if you’re in the market for a new car, be sure to check out all of the cars listed above!

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What Sort of MPG do Reindeer Get?

December 9, 2009 by Leave a Comment

If you’re anything like me, you’ve gotten a late start on your holiday shopping. In an attempt to help you avoid the crowded malls and shops, wandering around searching for gifts, I’ve come up with three gifts that would be great for any interested in getting the best fuel economy out of their vehicle.

Scan Guage IIScanGauge II – This 3-in-1 compact multifunction vehicle computer with customizable display will show you your real-time gas mileage and cost per mile, in addition to acting as a diagnostic scan tool.

This devise works on all 1996 or newer OCDII vehicles, requires no special tools for installation, and fits pretty much anywhere in the vehicle.

So, if you or someone you know is interested in testing out different ways to increase your gas mileage, this gift would be perfect!

Garmin Nuvi GPSGarmin Nuvi with Traffic Updates – The average driver could cut their carbon footprint by 21% and reduce their annual commute by four days by using a GPS with real-time traffic updates.

This particular Garmin Nuvi 780 model has a 4.3 inch display, gives turn-by-turn directions and has the option to receive traffic updates from MSN.  And the best part?  It’s currently priced at 75% off!

Gas Mileage BibleThe Gas Mileage Bible – As if the tips on Daily Fuel Economy Tip weren’t enough, this book will provide driving and car maintenance tips that could help to increase your vehicle’s gas mileage by up to 30%, with very little effort on your part.

Obviously, this isn’t an all inclusive list, but if you’re looking for great last minute gifts, any of these will be sure to bring a smile to any fuel economy enthusiast’s face!

What are your thoughts?  If you’re a gas mileage enthusiast, what do you want for the holidays?  If you’re giving gifts to a fuel economy freak, what are you planning on giving?

Per the new FTC regulations, the above links are affiliate links, and I will receive a small commission should you purchase any items after clicking the link(s).

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American Cars Can’t Shake Their “Not Good Enough” Image

October 14, 2009 by 2 Comments

For many years it has been widely believed that if you wanted to buy a quality car that would be reliable for years to come, you should avoid the big three American car manufacturers and buy something foreign.

While the American car makers did little to help themselves by mostly producing inferior products, over the past couple years it seems as if they have done a good job of got their act together and have started making better quality and better value vehicles.

In fact, just this past year, it was Ford, not Honda or Toyota, that scored the highest for quality and reliability.

While this is certainly good news for the American automotive industry, the bad news is all of the shoddy work of prior years makes it hard to shake the “just not good enough” image.

Here’s how nearly 500 people responded when asked: Do you believe American cars are the same quality as foreign cars?

  • 60% said “No, I think they are worse quality.”
  • 25% said “Yes, they are on par.”
  • 13% said “No, I think they are better quality.”
  • 2% said they had no opinion

[Read more…]

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GPS Systems Can Cut Your Carbon Footprint (and Your Commute)

October 14, 2009 by 19 Comments

According to a recent study released by NAVTEQ, the average U.S. driver that uses a GPS system with real-time traffic updates is able to cut nearly 4 days off of their annual commute as well as decrease their carbon footprint by over 21%.

Both of these data points should be reason enough for you to go out and pick up a new GPS with real-time traffic updates.  Think about it: how much would you be willing to pay to cut four days off of your annual commute AND reduce your emissions by 21%?  That would probably be worth a couple hundred bucks a year to you, right?

Well, funny, because that’s about how much a new Garmin Nuvi GPS with real-time traffic updates costs.

As the late Billy Mays would say, “But wait!  There’s more!”

[Read more…]

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