The Most Fuel Efficient Cars of 2012
The Top Fuel Efficient Cars of 2012
Even in tough economic times, the price of fuel has hovered above $3 per gallon. And should the economy rebound, those prices could skyrocket. Youll wish you had found a fuel efficient car sooner than later.
Automakers are stepping up their game. Back in August, I was excited to see the Obama administration and automakers agree to set a fleet-wide fuel efficiency average standard of 54.5 mpg by 2025. We have a long way to go to get there, but you can already see signs of progress. As evidence, there are three new 2012 model year vehicles to make this years list.
There are some big differences versus last years list of the most fuel efficient cars. First, I decided to included the top fuel sippers, regardless of their price. In the past, I focused only on cars that retailed under $30,000. I also ranked by combined mpg instead of highway mpg. Power (fuel) source is now also listed.
Not all of these cars will be economical, despite their fuel efficiency, as some are luxury and targeted to the guilty-rich. Only 2 made my cheapest new cars of 2012 list the Scion IQ and Smart FourTwo. They, and a few others could end up saving you $500-$1,000 per year at todays fuel prices vs. similar vehicles. Over the life of a car, that can really add up.
Electric Car Tax Credits
There is presently a federal electric car tax credit available to Energy Star approved electric vehicles. It is worth noting because it is a whopping $7,500. Some states match all or a portion of that credit. It can take a pricey electric down to a competitive price level, and when you look at the fuel cost savings, it could result in a very frugal purchase. Three electrics made this list. The tax credit phases out for an automaker when they have produced their 200,000th electric vehicle.
What Cars were Excluded from the List?
For this list, I decided to focus on cars that have been or will be mass-produced for the 2012 model year.
Sadly, I had to drop the electric Azure Dynamics Transit Connect from the list, despite it achieving 62 city and hwy effective mpgs, because I could not find the price publicly anywhere. It is a van that is built for stop & go, on-the-road businesses. This led me to believe that it is too low-volume in production and not a vehicle for the masses even though a van that got 62 effective mpgs would be awesome.
I also had to drop the Tesla Roadster and Tesla Model S because they did not have EPA tested effective mpgs for the 2012 year as of yet (even though they surely would have made the list).
Obscure electric start-up or other limited run alternative energy models also did not make the list.
Where did these Fuel Efficiency Metrics Come from?
EPA combined, city, and highway mpg metrics, as well as annual fuel costs were grabbed from the U.S. Department of Energys fueleconomy.gov site.
With electrics, there are obviously no gallons to speak of. The effective mpgs are calculated by calculating that cars required energy output to drive a mile and an electricity price of $0.12 kWh.
Annual fuel costs are based on 45% highway, 55% city driving, 15,000 annual miles and a fuel price of $ 3.30 per gallon for gas, $3.78 for diesel, and $0.12 kWh for electrics. If your driving profile is different, you can modify that on the site for each vehicle to find your specific annual fuel costs.
Without further ado, here are the top 15 most fuel efficient cars of 2012:
15. Volkswagen Golf TDI
Price: $26,105 Powered by: Diesel Combined MPG: 34 City MPG: 30 Highway MPG: 42 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,668 Annual CO2 Produced: 6.3 tons Comments: The VW Golf TDI is the only diesel to make this years list. The last few years have really dampened the excitement around diesels becoming a truly legitimate money-saving alternative.
14. Lexus HS 250H
Price: $37,905 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 35 City MPG: 35 Highway MPG: 34 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,414 Annual CO2 Produced: 5.1 tons Comments: If youre guilty-rich, youll love it. If youre not, nothing to see here. Look away!
13. Smart ForTwo
Price: $13,240 Powered by: Gasoline Combined MPG: 36 City MPG: 33 Highway MPG: 41 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,488 Annual CO2 Produced: 5.1 tons Comments: How does the smallest car to make the list come in at #13?
12. Scion IQ
Price: $15,995 Powered by: Gas Combined MPG: 37 City MPG: 36 Highway MPG: 37 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,338 Annual CO2 Produced: 5.0 tons Comments: This newcomer from Scion has launched in California and will in the Midwest in March. It, sadly, is one of only two gasoline models to make the list. The IQ is tiny, but looks like a blast to drive. It came in at #5 on my list of the cheapest vehicles of 2012.
11. Honda CR-Z
Price: $20,135 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 37 City MPG: 35 Highway MPG: 39 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,338 Annual CO2 Produced: 5.0 tons Comments: A damn fine looking, economical, and sporty hybrid that I cant ever recall seeing on the road for some reason.
10. Ford Fusion Hybrid
Price: $29,495 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 39 City MPG: 41 Highway MPG: 36 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,269 Annual CO2 Produced: 4.7 tons Comments: This car is almost identical to the Lincoln MKZ hybrid, at a lesser price.
9. Toyota Camry Hybrid LE
Price: $26,660 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 41 City MPG: 43 Highway MPG: 39 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,207 Annual CO2 Produced: 4.5 tons Comments: At this price, both the Prius and Prius V seem like extreme bargains.
8. Toyota Prius V
Price: $27,160 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 42 City MPG: 44 Highway MPG: 40 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,179 Annual CO2 Produced: 4.4 tons Comments: The Prius was so popular it has multiplied! The Prius V is a larger, more expensive version of the original Prius. Brand new in 2012.
7. Lexus CT 200H
Price: $29,995 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 42 City MPG: 43 Highway MPG: 40 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,179 Annual CO2 Produced: 4.4 tons Comments: A hybrid Lexus for under $30,000? Still too much for my blood
6. Honda Insight
Price: $19,120 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 42 City MPG: 41 Highway MPG: 44 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,179 Annual CO2 Produced: 4.4 tons Comments: 2012 brings improved fuel economy. At its price, it almost made my list of the cheapest new cars of 2012. Yet it is large enough for a family to get around and has incredible fuel efficiency.
5. Honda Civic Hybrid
Price: $24,820 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 44 City MPG: 44 Highway MPG: 44 Annual Fuel Cost: $1,125 Annual CO2 Produced: 4.1 tons Comments: The hybrid of this classic economical car is not quite as economical as its Insight cousin.
4. Toyota Prius
Price: $22,880 Powered by: Gas-Electric Hybrid Combined MPG: 50 City MPG: 51 Highway MPG: 48 Annual Fuel Cost: $990 Annual CO2 Produced: 3.6 tons Comments: In its 3rd generation, the hybrid that started it all, the Prius is still the most popular fuel sipper out there. It is a great value for the price.
3. Chevy Volt
Price: $32,495 Powered by: Electric Combined MPG: 94 (electric only) City MPG: 95 Highway MPG: 93 Annual Fuel Cost: $648 (electric only) Annual CO2 Produced: 0 Comments: The Volt is a plug-in electric hybrid that runs on electric and switches to gas if the battery is depleted. Its MSRP is $39,995 without federal tax credit it is primarily an electric and does qualify for the federal tax credit. Note that gas only would make it 40 highway, 35 city, and 37 combined, with an annual fuel cost of $1,447.
2. Nissan Leaf
Price: $21,625 Powered by: Electric Combined MPG: 99 City MPG: 106 Highway MPG: 92 Annual Fuel Cost: $612 Annual CO2 Produced: 0 Comments: A re-starting problem really lowered the excitement around the launch of the Leaf. It also falls from the top to the 2nd most fuel efficient car spot as it is displaced by the cheaper Mitsubishi i.
1. Mitsubishi i
Price: $21,625 Powered by: Electric Combined MPG: 112 City MPG: 129 Highway MPG: 99 Annual Fuel Cost: $540 Annual CO2 Produced: 0 Comments: Not yet released, but coming in early 2012, this will be the cheapest electric car on the market. Its MSRP is $29,125, but a $7,500 hybrid tax credit brings that down to $21,625. State tax credits could bring it down further.
Best Fuel Efficient Car of 2012
Being in Michigan, I am bummed there are no electric tax credits in my state to match the $7,500 federal credit. If there were, Id pre-order the Mitsubishi i or Nissan Leaf. The i (Jobs would roll in his grave) could be had for around $14k putting it in third place of the cheapest vehicles for 2012. And with years of $1,000+ fuel savings ahead, it would be extremely economical. Unfortunately, only two states offer a credit of $6,000 or more, so reality must prevail.
Despite a strong first-year showing from the Mitsubishi i, the Honda Insight repeats for my pick of the best fuel efficient car. Its cheapest model can be had for around $18,000, and that gets you a larger, highly functional car with an automatic transmission, 40+ mpgs on the highway and in the city, a hybrid engine, and a nice set of features. It even slightly bumped its economy up by 1 mpg vs. last year for good measure.
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