Fuel Efficiency

The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has called for the EPA to test whether the Hyundai Elantra lives up to its EPA gas-mileage ratings in real-world use; owners have complained that it doesn't.

We get asked a lot about hybrids with seven seats. The answer is simple: There's only one, the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. But the question is really more about fuel efficiency: What family vehicles with a third row of seats that can carry seven people get the best gas mileage? It's a major...

One of the best ways to improve fuel economy is to keep a car's engine operating at its most efficient speed, regardless of how fast the vehicle is traveling. That's the principle behind continuously variable transmissions, or CVTs, which use belts and variable pulleys to match road speed to an...

Honda's aim with its CR-Z hybrid sports coupe was to inject a bit of much-needed excitement into a market that viewed traditional hybrids as a bit dull, a bit vanilla. Unfortunately for some, the CR-Z was neither a tire-burning machine nor a particularly parsimonious runabout. Maybe vanilla was the...

With new corporate average fuel economy rules now taking us to 54.5 mpg by 2025, gas mileage will be the focus of new-car development for years to come. With its 15 years of experience in hybrid-electric vehicles, Toyota seems well positioned for steady improvements. Now, there's a chance that...

Have you ever bought a product solely because it was advertised by someone you find attractive? It's okay, you're among friends - you can tell us. If you answered yes, then you'd better get saving for that energy-efficient vehicle, as a new yearly calendar called Pump Rebels (via the mynissanleaf...

While certain parts of the automotive industry might not be feeling the love towards the tough new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards announced yesterday, it turns out that 93 percent of car owners are want to buy greener, cleaner cars. In a study conducted by Consumer Reports, 86...

While much of the auto industry is focused on the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, a handful of folks are looking in the opposite direction, toward Washington, D.C. There, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation are expected to announce new fuel economy regulations that...

Ford has an image problem. Not to the average punter of course - cars like the Fiesta and Focus are at the top of the class and the Mustang undoubtedly casts a halo over the brand. No, Ford's image problem is one of gas mileage. According to Automotive News, Ford says only 32 percent of U.S...

One week ago we brought you news of British brothers David and Alexander Madgwick, who'd set out on a tour across North America at the wheel of a Jaguar XF diesel. 2,884 miles later, they've made it from New York to Los Angeles in the most efficient model Jaguar has ever produced. The economy over...

We all know the way in which we drive can change our car’s fuel economy, but one of the biggest keys to getting great gas mileage is often overlooked: your car’s tires. According to Mark Chung, director of corporate strategy at Yokohama Tire Corporation, most consumers don’t know...

If you're not in the market for clean, green supercar like Tesla's Roadster but you've still got a few hundred thousand lying around and you need a speed fix, then the McLaren MP4-12C supercar might be on your shopping list. However, you could be forgiven for wondering what actually powers the...

In an effort to meet future fuel economy requirements, more manufacturers than ever are considering selling diesel models in North America. The next carmaker considering diesel sales could well be British sports and luxury car maker Jaguar. According to Motor Authority, a British-registered...

Chevy has announced sales of the one millionth Cruze on the day that marks the automaker's 100th birthday.

Car companies are taking several different directions towards making their cars of the future more efficient. Some are going down the hybrid route, using electric motors to assist and occasionally take over from gasoline engines. GM is taking a two-pronged approach, with the range-extended Volt and...

Sometime next month, the EPA and NHTSA will release final draft rules that increase corporate average fuel economy standards to 54.5 mpg by 2025. Most--although not all--carmakers have signed off on the standards, but opposition has hardly died down. The latest group to take up the fight against...

It's autumn, so what better way to highlight the changing leaves than a tomato-soup red Chevy Sonic subcompact? Three weeks ago, we drove our first new Sonic: a high-end 2012 Sonic LTZ sedan with the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. We liked the little turbo, and found the sedan roomy and comfortable...

Producing a vehicle that can accommodate a high number of passengers whilst retaining great gas mileage is becoming a much-prized target in the automakers, with increasingly clever methods being used to squeeze high gas mileage out of mid to large-sized cars, minivans and SUVs. Cramming 16 people...

Given the recent spate of recalls for clean diesel cars, the public might be a little distrustful of the fuel right now. Both Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have recently issued recalls for fuel leaks in their diesel models. However, diesel may still yet have its day, according to the U.S. Coalition...

There's been a fair amount of commentary in politics of late about "American exceptionalism," the notion that the U.S. is qualitatively different from any other country in the world. It is occasionally interpreted to mean "We're the best, damnit, and if you don't say that a whole lot on the...