Gas Mileage Champs: 10 Cars That Get 40 MPG Highway Or More

By Michael White

4,055 views Apr 26, 2011

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco, New York City, March 2011

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A couple years ago, the EPA announced the first changes in its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in more than a decade.

Automakers were asked to increase the fuel efficiency of their fleets by almost 8 miles per gallon between 2012 and 2016. Many inside and outside the auto industry questioned whether it could be done.

Since then, carmakers have moved aggressively to increase the fuel economy of their wares, and the results are impressive. In 2009, there was only one car that could achieve 40 miles per gallon on the highway that wasn't a diesel or hybrid : the 2009 Smart ForTwo minicar.

Now there are 10 gasoline-powered passenger cars that hit that mark or higher. People who pushed the car industry to increase fuel economy may look at this list and say “See, that wasn't so difficult.”

But it's hard to know right now if this sudden surge in fuel economy is something the industry can sustain. 

In any case, it's a boon for customers. For anyone trading in a car rated at 30 mpg on the highway for of these, it will be like getting 100 free miles out of every 10-gallon fill-up.

Meanwhile, here's a rundown (in alphabetic order) of these new fuel-economy achievers, and the technological innovations that enable their high gas mileage.

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

The Eco is one of the largest and heaviest cars in this group. But, at 42 mpg on the highway, also the most efficient. Key to fuel economy in most Cruzes is a very small displacement 1.4-liter engine paired with a turbocharger that provides extra oomph when needed.

To push the Eco version over the 40-mpg mark, Chevy took 125 pounds of weight off the car, lowered the suspension, added low rolling resistance tires, and installed shutters to close off the lower grille opening at high speeds.

Manual transmissions have traditionally been more miserly than automatics, and the Eco only tops 40 mpg highway if you specify the six-speed manual gearbox. The six-speed automatic gets only 37 mpg highway.

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Although the 2012 Sonic has yet to be released, Chevy's team of auto-show product specialists are telling onlookers that at least one version of the Sonic will obtain 40 MPG.

This makes sense, as the Sonic incorporates engines and transmissions similar to the base Cruze, but in a lighter body.

Since a regular Cruze can obtain 36 mpg highway, it shouldn't be too hard to eke out another 4 miles from each gallon used in the Sonic.

2011 Ford Fiesta

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2011 Ford Fiesta SFE

The Ford Fiesta was the first five passenger gas-only car to top 40 mpg after the EPA adjusted its fuel economy ratings downward in 2008.

The Fiesta's high-tech ace-in-the-hole is a dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission that is more efficient than the manual.

The regular Fiesta automatic can obtain 38 mpg on the highway; to reach the magic 40-mpg mark, the SFE model adds various aerodynamic tweaks and low rolling resistance tires.

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2012 Ford Focus SFE

Getting a compact-sized car up to 40 mpg is a little more difficult than with a subcompact like the Fiesta.

The 2012 Focus starts out with the same dual-clutch transmission as the Fiesta, and adds an engine with direct fuel injection. That brings it to 38 mpg highway.

To boost the SFE model to 40 mpg, Ford adds grille shutters similar to the ones on the Cruze, plus aerodynamic disc-style wheel covers (with low rolling resistance tires) and a large spoiler.

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2012 Honda Civic HF

Throughout its history, the Honda Civic has often been at or near the top of fuel economy lists.

However, in recent years it's only been a little better than average for its class.Not so for the new 2012 model.

The new HF trim fills a niche between regular Civics and the Hybrid, delivering 41 mpg on the highway. It builds on the 39-mpg standard Civic by adding the wheels and tires of the previous Civic Hybrid and other aerodynamic enhancements.