Top Ten Lists

Fueleconomy.gov's Top Ten EPA-Rated Fuel Sippers (2011)

2011 vehicles are ranked by city, then highway MPG. In the event of a tie, multiple vehicles may share the same ranking. Electric vehicles are not considered for this list.

1.		2011 Toyota Prius	City 51	Highway 48
		4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular
2.		2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD	City 41	Highway 36
		4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular
		2011 Mercury Milan Hybrid FWD	City 41	Highway 36
		4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular
		2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid FWD	City 41	Highway 36
		4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular
3.		2011 Honda Civic Hybrid	City 40	Highway 43
		4 cyl, 1.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular
		2011 Honda Insight Hybrid	City 40	Highway 43
		4 cyl, 1.3 L, Auto (variable gear ratios and AV-S7), Regular
4		2011 Honda CR-Z	City 35	Highway 39
		4 cyl, 1.5 L, Auto(AV-S7), Regular
5.		2011 Lexus HS 250h	City 35	Highway 34
		4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular
6.		2011 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD	City 34	Highway 31
		4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)
		2011 Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD	City 34	Highway 31
		4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)
		2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD	City 34	Highway 31
		4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)
7.		2011 smart fortwo cabriolet	City 33	Highway 41
		3 cyl, 1.0 L, Auto(AM5)
		2011 smart fortwo coupe	City 33	Highway 41
		3 cyl, 1.0 L, Auto(AM5)
8		Nissan Altima Hybrid	City 33	Highway 33
		4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)
9.		2011 Lexus RX 450h	City 32	Highway 28
		6 cyl, 3.5 L, Auto(AV-S6)
10.		2011 Honda CR-Z	City 31	Highway 37
		4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 6-spd, Regular

Fueleconomy.gov's Top Ten EPA-Rated Fuel Sippers (1984 to present)

Vehicles are ranked based on EPA's unrounded combined rating. In the event of a tie, multiple vehicles may share the same ranking. Electric vehicles are not considered for this list.

1.		Honda Insight Model Year 2000	Combined 53
		3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 49	Highway 61
2.		Toyota Prius Model Years 2010-2011	Combined 50
		4 cyl, 1.8L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 51	Highway 48
3.		Chevrolet Sprint ER Model Year 1986	Combined 48
		3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 44	Highway 53
4.		Geo Metro XFI Model Years 1990-1994	Combined 47
		3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 43	Highway 52
5.		Honda Civic CRX HF Model Years 1986-1987	Combined 46
		4 cyl, 1.5L, Manual 5-spd, Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 42	Highway 51
6.		Honda Civic HB VX Model Years 1994-1995	Combined 43
		4 cyl, 1.5L, Manual 5-spd, Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 39	Highway 50
7.		Honda Civic Hybrid Model Years 2006-2010	Combined 42
		4 cyl, 1.3L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 40	Highway 45
8.		Honda Insight Model Years 2010-2011	Combined 41
		4 cyl, 1.3L, Auto(AV-S7), Regular • Similar models that qualify...	City 40	Highway 43
9.		Toyota Prius Model Years 2001-2003	Combined 41
		4 cyl, 1.5L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular	City 42	Highway 41
10.		Chevrolet Sprint Model Year 1989	Combined 41
		3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	City 38	Highway 45
		Suzuki Swift Model Year 1989	Combined 41
		3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	City 38	Highway 45

Vehicles are ranked based on EPA's unrounded combined rating. In the event of a tie, multiple vehicles may share the same ranking. Only the most efficient configuration of a particular model is presented for a given rank — variants of a ranked model are listed as "similar models" if they would have otherwise made the list. Models classified under different EPA size classes, however, are ranked separately.

Fueleconomy.gov's Top Ten Real-World Fuel Sippers (1984 to present)

1.		Honda Insight Model Years 2004-2006	User Average 71.4 (based on 12 Your MPG users)
		3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular • Similar models that qualify...	EPA Combined 52
2.		Geo Metro XFI Model Years 1990-1994	User Average 50.1 (based on 13 Your MPG users)
		3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	EPA Combined 47
3.		Honda Insight Model Year 2010	User Average 49.7 (based on 15 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.3L, Auto(AV-S7), Regular • Similar models that qualify...	EPA Combined 41
4.		Toyota Prius Model Years 2010-2011	User Average 48.6 (based on 130 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.8L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular • Similar models that qualify...	EPA Combined 50
5.		Volkswagen Jetta Wagon Model Years 2002-2003	User Average 48.2 (based on 22 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.9L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	EPA Combined 39
6.		Honda Civic Hybrid Model Years 2003-2005	User Average 47.9 (based on 20 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.3L, Manual 5-spd, Regular • Similar models that qualify...	EPA Combined 41
7.		Volkswagen Golf Model Years 2000-2003	User Average 47.2 (based on 52 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.9L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	EPA Combined 38
8.		Honda Civic HB VX Model Years 1992-1995	User Average 46.6 (based on 13 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.5L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	EPA Combined 43
9.		Volkswagen Jetta Model Years 1985-1991	User Average 46.4 (based on 13 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.6L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel • Similar models that qualify...	EPA Combined 34
10.		Volkswagen New Beetle Model Years 1998-2003	User Average 46.2 (based on 47 Your MPG users)
		4 cyl, 1.9L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	EPA Combined 38

Vehicles are ranked based on fuel economy records provided by our users through Your MPG. Vehicles are only ranked if ten or more drivers submitted fuel economy estimates. If a model has variants that are nearly identical (e.g., same number of cylinders, engine displacement, transmission, fuel type, and EPA combined fuel economy rating), those records are combined and averaged. Variants that are not similar enough to be combined are included under "similar models" if they would have otherwise made the list. Only the most efficient configuration of a particular model is presented for a given rank. This list is updated weekly as new data are submitted by Your MPG members. Electric vehicles are not considered for this list.

Top Ten Misconceptions About Fuel Economy

1.	You have to drive a small car to get good fuel economy. Advanced technologies like hybrid drivetrains, diesel engines, direct fuel injection, turbocharging, advanced transmissions, low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic designs are allowing standard-sized vehicles to be very fuel efficient. For the 2010 model year, five of the top ten most efficient vehicles are midsized cars, with a midsized car taking the top spot.
2.	Manual transmissions always get better fuel economy than automatics. Advances in automatic transmissions have improved their efficiency to the point that the automatic version of a vehicle often gets the same or better fuel economy than the version with a manual transmission. For vehicles offered in both automatic and manual transmissions, consumers can easily compare fuel economy at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm.
3.	It takes more fuel to start a vehicle than it does to let it idle. Modern fuel injected engines start very efficiently, especially when warmed up. Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour — depending on your vehicle's engine size — costing you about 1 to 2 cents per minute. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is sitting still, except when you are waiting in traffic or waiting in a line where you would need to turn it on and off frequently. Restarting your engine too frequently can wear out your starter.
4.	Vehicles need to warm up before they can be driven. Modern vehicles can be driven within seconds of being started, though the engine should not be subjected to extreme loads until it has reached its normal operating temperature. Plus, the quickest way to warm up a vehicle's engine is to drive it.
5.	As a vehicle ages, its fuel economy decreases significantly. A vehicle that is properly maintained will retain its efficiency for many years. The EPA tests vehicles with about 5,000 miles on the odometer to account for the break-in period since a vehicle's fuel economy will typically continue to improve over the first several years of ownership. Vehicles that are 10 or even 15 years old will experience little decrease in fuel economy if properly maintained.
6.	Replacing your air filter will help your car run more efficiently. This is true for older vehicles with carbureted engines, but modern fuel-injected engines have onboard computers that automatically adjust the fuel-air ratio to the proper level. Changing a dirty air filter won't increase your fuel economy, but it might improve your engine's performance.
7.	Aftermarket additives and devices can dramatically improve your fuel economy. Excluding full conversions that meet all EPA certification standards, tests have shown that such devices and additives do not improve fuel economy and may damage your engine and/or increase your tailpipe emissions. For further information, see "Gas-Saving Products: Fact or Fuelishness?" by the Federal Trade Commission.
8.	Using premium fuel improves fuel economy. Unless your vehicle was specifically designed for premium fuel or knocks severly with regular fuel, you will probably experience no benefit from using premium fuel over regular. Consult your owner's manual to see whether premium is recommended and under what conditions (e.g., towing).
9.	The EPA fuel economy estimates are a government guarantee on what fuel economy each vehicle will deliver. The primary purpose of EPA fuel economy estimates is to provide consumers with a uniform, unbiased way of comparing the relative efficiency of vehicles. Even though the EPA's test procedures are designed to reflect real-world driving conditions, no single test can accurately model all driving styles and environments. Differing fuel blends will also affect fuel economy. The use of gasoline with 10% ethanol can decrease fuel economy by about 3% due to its lower energy density.
10.	All vehicles are tested for fuel economy. Current testing regulations only require light-duty vehicles of 8,500 lbs or less to be tested for fuel economy. Several popular models, such as the Ford F250/350, Chevrolet/GMC 2500/3500, and Dodge 2500/3500 vehicles, exceed this weight limit and are therefore not tested and have no official fuel economy rating. The EPA also does not test motorcycles or four wheel vehicles that are not legal for highway driving like neighborhood vehicles. Beginning with the 2011 model year, passenger vehicles (vans and SUVs but NOT pickup trucks) up to 10,000 lbs will be required to have fuel economy labels.

These misconceptions are based on user feedback to www.fueleconomy.gov and are listed in no particular order.