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| The Basics | 2006's most fuel-efficient cars
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Hybrids and diesels returning as much as 66 mpg on the highway top the EPA's annual list of the best and worst. Plus, the best in every class from SUV to pickup.
By MSN Money staff and wire reports
The manual version of the hybrid Honda Insight tops the latest government auto fuel economy list, with 60 miles per gallon in the city and 66 mpg on the highway.
The competitor hybrid Toyota Prius was second with 60 mpg in the city and 51 on the highway, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy said Wednesday.
Ford, with its hybrid SUVs, was the only American carmaker to crack the top-10 list for 2006 vehicles.
Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen make eight of the top 10 cars, mostly hybrid electric-gas or diesel-powered. Ford Escape hybrid SUVs, two-wheel and four-wheel drive, round out the list.
The only gas-only vehicle to make the top 10 is the manual Toyota Corolla.
The best and the worst
By classes of vehicles, the most fuel-efficient SUV is the Ford Escape hybrid, with 36 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. The most fuel efficient pickup is the Ford Ranger, 24 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway.
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Among station wagons, the manual Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Corolla Matrix are tops, each with 30 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. The most fuel efficient minivan is the Honda Odyssey, 20 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway.
Cargo and passenger vans are led by Chevrolet and GMC, each with 15 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway.
The automatic version of the Dodge Ram pickup, which gets 9 mpg in the city and 12 mpg on the highway, was the least fuel efficient vehicle in this year's survey. Luxury cars, including models from Bentley and Ferrari, completed the list of the 10 least fuel-efficient vehicles.
The Dodge Durango, which gets 12 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway, had the worst fuel economy among SUVs.
The government compiles the annual list based on information from manufacturers. The fuel economy estimates are determined by averaging numbers from a specific set of tests.
The list excludes some of the largest vehicles, such as the Hummer H2 and the Ford Excursion, because the law exempts vehicles that weigh more than 8,500 pounds from fuel economy standards.
EPA Administrator Steve Johnson said the list is designed to help consumers choose more wisely. "This year's fleet offers a wider variety of cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles for car buyers to select from," he said.
| 2006s most efficient cars and trucks | | Model | transmission | City/hwy. | Model | transmission | City/hwy. | | TWO-SEATER CARS | | | MIDSIZE STATION WAGONS | | | | Honda Insight (hybrid) | manual | 60/66 | Ford Focus Station Wagon | automatic | 26/32 | | automatic | 57/56 | | manual | 26/34 | | MINICOMPACT CARS | | | STANDARD PICKUP TRUCKS | | | | Mini Cooper | manual | 28/36 | Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD | manual | 24/29 | | automatic | 26/34 | | automatic | 21/26 | | SUBCOMPACT CARS | | | Mazda B2300 2WD | manual | 24/29 | | Volkswagen New Beetle (diesel) | .manual | 37/44 | | automatic | 21/26 | | automatic | 35/42 | Toyota Tacoma 2WD | automatic | 21/26 | | COMPACT CARS | | | CARGO VANS | | | | Volkswagen Golf (diesel) | manual | 37/44 | Chevrolet G1500/2500 Chevy Express 2WD | automatic | 15/20 | | Volkswagen Jetta (diesel) | automatic | 35/42 | GMC G1500/2500 Savana 2WD | automatic | 15/20 | | MIDSIZE CARS | | | PASSENGER VANS | | | | Toyota Prius (hybrid) | automatic | 60/51 | Chevrolet G1500/2500 Chevy 2WD | automatic | 15/19 | | Hyundai Elantra | manual | 27/34 | GMC G1500/2500 Savana 2WD | automatic | 15/19 | | LARGE CARS | | | MINIVANS | | | | Hyundai Sonata | manual | 24/34 | Honda Odyssey 2WD | automatic | 20/28 | | automatic | 24/33 | SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES | | | | SMALL STATION WAGONS | | | Ford Escape Hybrid FWD | automatic | 36/31 | | Pontiac Vibe | manual | 30/36 | Ford Escape FWD | manual | 24/29 | | Toyota Matrix | manual | 30/36 | Mazda Tribute 2WD | manual | 24/29 | | Scion xB | automatic | 30/34 | | | |
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More hybrids on the way
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the Bush administration is working to get more fuel-efficient vehicles on the road through consumer education and with tax credits for hybrids. The newly passed energy bill offers tax credits a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes of up to $3,400 on the purchase of the most fuel-efficient vehicles, beginning on Jan. 1.
Environmentalists said the government's list shows the administration and carmakers aren't doing enough to help consumers deal with high gasoline prices.
"The biggest single step to saving money at the gas pump, curbing global warming, and cutting America's oil dependence is to make our cars, SUVs and other trucks go farther on a gallon of gas," said Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's global warming program.
"Automakers shouldn't try to fool consumers by pretending their vehicles get good fuel economy," he said. "They should put gas-saving technology into their cars so that they actually get good fuel economy."
Hybrid owners especially have complained that the EPA estimates are unrealistic. The EPA has created a site that lets owners of all cars, not just hybrids -- share their real-world mileage numbers.
Despite the complaints, hybrids remain the fastest-growing segment of the auto industry. Heres a look at additional hybrids coming soon.
| On the way | | Lexus GS 450h | Midsize Car | Spring 2006 | | Nissan Altima Hybrid | Midsize Car | 2006 | | Saturn VUE | SUV | Mid to Late 2006 | | Toyota Camry Hybrid | Midsize Car | Late 2006 | | Chevrolet Equinox | SUV | 2007 | | Chevrolet Malibu | Midsize Car | 2007 | | Chevrolet Tahoe (AHS II) | SUV | 2007 | | GMC Yukon Hybrid (AHS II) | SUV | 2007 | | Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid (AHS II) | Fullsize Pickup | 2008 | | Ford Fusion | Midsize Car | 2008 | | GMC Sierra Hybrid (AHS II) | Fullsize Pickup | 2008 | | Mercury Milan Hybrid | Midsize Car | 2008 |
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Sources: J.D. Power-LMC; Energy & Environmental Analysis (EEA), Inc.; manufacturer web sites. Updated 9/2/2005
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