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Smart, VW diesels join top 10 most fuel-efficient vehicles
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Harry Stoffer
Automotive News Europe
October 16, 2008 06:01 CET
WASHINGTON -- Smart cars and Volkswagen diesels are the new stars of government fuel economy ratings. The EPA and Energy Department today issued the 2009 fuel economy guide.
The overall fuel economy leader is no surprise. It's the Toyota Prius, rated at 48 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway.
The additions to the top 10 list this year are the Smart ForTwo convertible and coupe and Volkswagen Jetta diesels.
The Smarts, which arrived in the United States in January, were too late for the 2008 guide. This year the Smart models hold down the No. 5 spot with ratings of 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.
The Jetta diesels were not in the market last year because they did not meet tighter clean air rules. They are back this year with improved emissions controls. The sedan and wagon with manual transmissions are in seventh place with ratings of 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The sedan and wagon with automatic transmissions are in eighth place with ratings of 29 and 40.
Bringing up the bottom, among all makes and models, is the Lamborghini Murcielago, rated at 8 mpg city and 13 mpg highway.
This is the second year in which revised testing and calculation methods mean almost all vehicles get lower ratings than before. The methodology was changed to make ratings more closely reflect real-world driving.
For 2009 the EPA and Energy Department are touting the availability of the fuel economy data on mobile devices, such as smart phones or personal digital assistants.
The full guide is available at www.fueleconomy.gov.
Here is the top 10 list for 2009:
1. Toyota Prius (hybrid) -- 48/45
2. Honda Civic Hybrid -- 40/45
3. Nissan Altima Hybrid -- 35/33
4. Ford Escape Hybrid FWD; Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD; Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD -- 34/31
5. Smart ForTwo convertible; Smart ForTwo coupe -- 33/41
6. Toyota Camry Hybrid -- 33/34
7. Volkswagen Jetta (manual, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (manual, diesel) -- 30/41
8. Volkswagen Jetta (automatic, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (automatic, diesel) -- 29/40
9. Toyota Yaris (manual) -- 29/36
10. Toyota Yaris (automatic) -- 29/35
(May require registration to access)
Harry Stoffer
Automotive News Europe
October 16, 2008 06:01 CET
WASHINGTON -- Smart cars and Volkswagen diesels are the new stars of government fuel economy ratings. The EPA and Energy Department today issued the 2009 fuel economy guide.
The overall fuel economy leader is no surprise. It's the Toyota Prius, rated at 48 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway.
The additions to the top 10 list this year are the Smart ForTwo convertible and coupe and Volkswagen Jetta diesels.
The Smarts, which arrived in the United States in January, were too late for the 2008 guide. This year the Smart models hold down the No. 5 spot with ratings of 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.
The Jetta diesels were not in the market last year because they did not meet tighter clean air rules. They are back this year with improved emissions controls. The sedan and wagon with manual transmissions are in seventh place with ratings of 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The sedan and wagon with automatic transmissions are in eighth place with ratings of 29 and 40.
Bringing up the bottom, among all makes and models, is the Lamborghini Murcielago, rated at 8 mpg city and 13 mpg highway.
This is the second year in which revised testing and calculation methods mean almost all vehicles get lower ratings than before. The methodology was changed to make ratings more closely reflect real-world driving.
For 2009 the EPA and Energy Department are touting the availability of the fuel economy data on mobile devices, such as smart phones or personal digital assistants.
The full guide is available at www.fueleconomy.gov.
Here is the top 10 list for 2009:
1. Toyota Prius (hybrid) -- 48/45
2. Honda Civic Hybrid -- 40/45
3. Nissan Altima Hybrid -- 35/33
4. Ford Escape Hybrid FWD; Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD; Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD -- 34/31
5. Smart ForTwo convertible; Smart ForTwo coupe -- 33/41
6. Toyota Camry Hybrid -- 33/34
7. Volkswagen Jetta (manual, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (manual, diesel) -- 30/41
8. Volkswagen Jetta (automatic, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (automatic, diesel) -- 29/40
9. Toyota Yaris (manual) -- 29/36
10. Toyota Yaris (automatic) -- 29/35
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