Carmakers have dramatically improved the fuel economy of their cars since 2008, the last time we saw gas prices over $4 a gallon. The Audi A3 showed the most improvement of any car. It now gets 29 miles per gallon combined city/highway driving, thanks to a new highly efficient turbocharged diesel engine.Audi
Carmakers have dramatically improved the fuel economy of their cars since 2008, the last time we saw gas prices over $4 a gallon. The Audi A3 showed the most improvement of any car. It now gets 29 miles per gallon combined city/highway driving, thanks to a new highly efficient turbocharged diesel engine.AudiFuel economy for the Chevy Equinox jumped from 19 mpg in 2008 to 25.1 mpg today after GM replaced the standard V6 engine with an equally powerful 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and added an efficient new six-speed transmission.Chevrolet EquinoxKia made a lot of changes to its mid-sized SUV and they paid off in better gas mileage. The Sorrento now rides on a car-like body instead of a truck frame, and a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine is standard (the V6 is an option). EPA mileage jumped 30 percent, from 17 mpg to 22.1 mpg.KiaEven sports cars are more efficient. Mercedes now uses a 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the base SLK convertible. But the 3.5-liter V6 and 5.5-liter V8 are more fuel-efficient too thanks to the addition of direct fuel injection. Overall, the average fuel economy of the SLK jumped from 18 mpg to 23 mpg.Mercedes BenzIf you think it's wrong for a muscle car to have a V6 engine, the new 305-hp V6 in the Dodge Challenger might persuade you. (You can still pick from a couple of more powerful V8s.) For some, the improved fuel economy is worth it: the Challenger jumped from 15 mpg to 19.5 mpg after Chrysler introduced the new engine in 2011Dodge ChallengerThe Ford Explorer was completely reinvented to improve fuel economy. It's now built on a lighter car-like body instead of a truck frame and features an efficient six-speed automatic transmission. engineers incorporated many aerodynamic improvements. A 3.5-liter, 290-horsepower V6 is standard, while a more fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, 240-hp turbocharged four-cylinder is optional. Both engines are hooked up to a six-speed automatic.Ford ExplorerHyundai took a gamble in when it decided to offer only four-cylinder engines on its redesigned 2011 Sonata. But performance hasn't suffered. The 2.4-liter puts out 198 hp, while the turbocharged 2.0-liter cranks out 274 hp. The Sonata dropped some weight, too. Overall, Sonata fuel economy improved to 28 mpg, (up 26% since 2008). A hybrid version gets 40 mpg.Hyundai SonataPorsche's sporty SUV dropped 400 pounds, but the real boost in fuel economy came from the addition of a 380 hp hybrid that gets 21 mpg combined city/highway. Overall, the Cayenne's fuel economy jumped 25 % since 2008.Porsche CayenneFuel economy jumped 24% in the Buick Lacrosse with the introduction of "eAssist," a mild hybrid setup that pairs a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a small electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. A 3.6-liter V6 with 303 hp is also available. Overall mpg is 26, up from 21 mpg in 2008.Buick LaCrosseA newly available turbocharged diesel that gets 43 mpg highway accounts for the VW Passat's appearance on the most-improved list. And the Passat TDI can go up to 800 miles between fill-ups. Overall fuel economy in the Passat is up 24% over 2008.Volkswagen Passat
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Carmakers have dramatically improved the fuel economy of their cars since 2008, the last time we saw gas prices over a gallon. The Audi A3 showed the most improvement of any car. It now gets 29 miles per gallon combined city/highway driving, thanks to a new highly efficient turbocharged diesel engine.Audi
Carmakers have dramatically improved the fuel economy of their cars since 2008, the last time we saw gas prices over a gallon. The Audi A3 showed the most improvement of any car. It now gets 29 miles per gallon combined city/highway driving, thanks to a new highly efficient turbocharged diesel engine.AudiFuel economy for the Chevy Equinox jumped from 19 mpg in 2008 to 25.1 mpg today after GM replaced the standard V6 engine with an equally powerful 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and added an efficient new six-speed transmission.Chevrolet EquinoxKia made a lot of changes to its mid-sized SUV and they paid off in better gas mileage. The Sorrento now rides on a car-like body instead of a truck frame, and a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine is standard (the V6 is an option). EPA mileage jumped 30 percent, from 17 mpg to 22.1 mpg.KiaEven sports cars are more efficient. Mercedes now uses a 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the base SLK convertible. But the 3.5-liter V6 and 5.5-liter V8 are more fuel-efficient too thanks to the addition of direct fuel injection. Overall, the average fuel economy of the SLK jumped from 18 mpg to 23 mpg.Mercedes BenzIf you think it's wrong for a muscle car to have a V6 engine, the new 305-hp V6 in the Dodge Challenger might persuade you. (You can still pick from a couple of more powerful V8s.) For some, the improved fuel economy is worth it: the Challenger jumped from 15 mpg to 19.5 mpg after Chrysler introduced the new engine in 2011Dodge ChallengerThe Ford Explorer was completely reinvented to improve fuel economy. It's now built on a lighter car-like body instead of a truck frame and features an efficient six-speed automatic transmission. engineers incorporated many aerodynamic improvements. A 3.5-liter, 290-horsepower V6 is standard, while a more fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, 240-hp turbocharged four-cylinder is optional. Both engines are hooked up to a six-speed automatic.Ford ExplorerHyundai took a gamble in when it decided to offer only four-cylinder engines on its redesigned 2011 Sonata. But performance hasn't suffered. The 2.4-liter puts out 198 hp, while the turbocharged 2.0-liter cranks out 274 hp. The Sonata dropped some weight, too. Overall, Sonata fuel economy improved to 28 mpg, (up 26% since 2008). A hybrid version gets 40 mpg.Hyundai SonataPorsche's sporty SUV dropped 400 pounds, but the real boost in fuel economy came from the addition of a 380 hp hybrid that gets 21 mpg combined city/highway. Overall, the Cayenne's fuel economy jumped 25 % since 2008.Porsche CayenneFuel economy jumped 24% in the Buick Lacrosse with the introduction of "eAssist," a mild hybrid setup that pairs a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a small electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. A 3.6-liter V6 with 303 hp is also available. Overall mpg is 26, up from 21 mpg in 2008.Buick LaCrosseA newly available turbocharged diesel that gets 43 mpg highway accounts for the VW Passat's appearance on the most-improved list. And the Passat TDI can go up to 800 miles between fill-ups. Overall fuel economy in the Passat is up 24% over 2008.Volkswagen Passat
As fuel prices peak and make holes in our wallet, the decision to purchase a car has become one not just governed by aesthetics and a pretty colour... but also by what goes on under the hood!
Switch to more fuel-effecient cars, without compromising on comfort, safety or the sheer fun of driving!
Check out Forbes' list of the ten most fuel-efficient cars in 2012...
