2014

While hybrids are one way to get good gas mileage in a variety of cars, another way is to wring every last drop of efficiency out of new and highly-efficient gasoline engines and transmissions. That's the path Mazda's taken, and it seems to be working. Two overachievers Almost two years ago, we...

Solar power has proven itself better for static charging than it has for on-vehicle use, even if Australia's Solar Challenge race has shown solar cars to be possible under certain, very specific conditions. The trouble is, electric cars draw too much power and take up too small an area for solar...

Sometimes the media don't quite know what they're talking about. And so it was with a story that had actress Anne Hathaway importing one of the first 2014 BMW i3 electric cars from Germany for her husband because she didn't want to wait for it to go on sale in the U.S. next spring. The story, which...

Stop-start engine technology is used widely in cars in Europe, but until recently very few automakers have applied it to vehicles sold in the U.S. For the most part, that's because the benefits aren't shown up in EPA testing. But a few automakers are also worried that customers may not be accepting...

Contrary to published reports, no plug-in Porsches were sold in the U.S. last month. Whether the first one is handed over late this month or early next month--we'll know by Friday, January 3--the company is taking an unusual step with its 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid. The German prestige maker...

The Ford Escape, entirely redesigned for 2013, is one of the best-selling entries in the popular category of compact crossover utility vehicles. The real-world gas mileage of the latest Escapes, however, does not quite seem to equal those cars' combined EPA ratings. Ford has put a great deal of...

Stop-start systems have taken much longer to infiltrate the U.S. market than they have elsewhere, but several manufacturers are finally coming around to the idea of the gas-saving technology. One such automaker is Ford, which has announced that 70 percent of its North American vehicle lineup will...

A race track is not the typical environment for an electric city car with narrow tires and upright styling. Nevertheless, that's exactly where the 2014 BMW i3 finds itself in BMW's latest video, displaying its handling prowess on a closed circuit. It's a place few actual i3 owners will ever...

Carbon fiber is not a cheap material. If it was, we'd all be driving around in cars made from it--rather than it being limited to a few supercars and high-end sports cars. And the BMW i3, of course. The expense of its carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) chassis might lead you to assume repairing...

The Cadillac ELR extended-range electric car is too expensive, Consumer Reports says.

Lexus recently displayed its updated CT 200h compact luxury hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and now full details of the refreshed model have landed. It's disappointing news for anyone hoping for efficiency improvements though, as the 2014 CT 200h features identical economy to the 2013 model...

BMW is hedging its bets with the i3 electric city car. You can buy it not only as a pure electric vehicle, but also as a range-extended electric car. And if the extra price and curiously stunted extra range hadn't put you off so far, perhaps reviews of the range-extended model might dissuade you...

GM has offered one reason the Chevy Volt-based Cadillac ELR is so expensive, but it's not the reason you might have been expecting. Priced similarly to Tesla's Model S sedan, it's logical to think that Cadillac may be angling for undecided cross-shoppers in the "green luxury" market. Instead...

November is fairly late for the next model year of a car to arrive, but now we've finally seen the updated 2014 Lexus CT 200h compact hybrid hatchback. The lightly restyled model was unveiled at the Guangzhou Motor Show, but made an appearance just hours later at the Los Angeles Auto Show as well...

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is proving unexpectedly popular, both in Japan and the U.S., and that's causing supply challenges for Honda. Two readers have contacted us in the last week to complain that they were unable to purchase the new Accord Hybrid, which Green Car Reports named its 2014 Best...

A new CVT gives the 2014 Honda Civic HF impressive fuel economy.

The nation's only diesel half-ton truck may also be its most fuel-efficient.

It's the world's best-known small car, and it's all new for 2014. It is of course the MINI Cooper, though you might have stumbled over the phrase "all new", since a quick glance won't really reveal what parent company BMW has changed--the quirky retro styling is as familiar as ever. BMW has changed...

Ford's Edge crossover is a popular model in the automaker's lineup and one enjoying strong sales, but it's never really piqued the interest of green car buyers. That could change with the next generation model, which could be offered as a hybrid, according to some sources. Ford's current lineup...

From the current Toyota lineup, the Prius C compact hybrid probably wouldn't be your first choice for turning into a sports car. Toyota itself might disagree though, and will display just such a vehicle at the upcoming 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. It's called the Aqua Air, and as you might know already...