2011 Toyota Prius is EPA fuel economy leader for one more year
11-08-10 | 08:31 PM
#1
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2011 Toyota Prius is EPA fuel economy leader for one more year
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/08/2...one-more-year/
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have released the latest Fuel Economy Guide, listing the most fuel-efficient vehicles available in the States. Once again, the Toyota Prius tops this chart, besting the competition with its EPA ratings of 51/48 miles per gallon city/highway.
Beyond the Prius, the list of fuel economy leaders is rounded out with the usual cast of characters, including the Ford Fusion Hybrid (as well as its Milan and MKZ counterparts), Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus HS 250h and more. You won't find Volkswagen's oil-burning Golf TDI or Jetta TDI on the list, though, even though their 30/42 mpg is immensely respectable.
As for newcomer EVs like the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, the EPA states that "no 2011 model year electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have completed testing as of publication of this list." Once the EPA decides how it is going to rate electric vehicle fuel economy, we'll see these vehicles included in the list of fuel economy leaders, and the Toyota Prius will likely lose its first place crown.
Beyond the Prius, the list of fuel economy leaders is rounded out with the usual cast of characters, including the Ford Fusion Hybrid (as well as its Milan and MKZ counterparts), Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus HS 250h and more. You won't find Volkswagen's oil-burning Golf TDI or Jetta TDI on the list, though, even though their 30/42 mpg is immensely respectable.
As for newcomer EVs like the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, the EPA states that "no 2011 model year electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have completed testing as of publication of this list." Once the EPA decides how it is going to rate electric vehicle fuel economy, we'll see these vehicles included in the list of fuel economy leaders, and the Toyota Prius will likely lose its first place crown.
11-08-10 | 08:45 PM
#2
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Once the EPA decides how it is going to rate electric vehicle fuel economy, we'll see these vehicles included in the list of fuel economy leaders, and the Toyota Prius will likely lose its first place crown.
It's also a shame we don't get some of the truly high-mileage European diesels, like VW's Lupo, here in America. The Lupo's small 1.2L TDI diesel routinely does 70-80 MPG on the highway. Hybrids are not the only answers for high MPG.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-08-10 at 09:00 PM.
11-09-10 | 12:16 AM
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Actually, without a doubt the Prius will lose its crown. The Leaf uses no gas whatsoever, so it will ultimately be the fuel economy leader almost by default.
11-09-10 | 01:20 AM
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funny thing is that in some parts of usa, due to electricity prices and driving habits, driving Volt might be actually more expensive than Prius.... They have to find formula that somehow incorporates price into the mix, because it doesnt make sense for car to get "200 MPG" rating, which leads to impression that it might be free to drive, while it is actually quite expensive.
11-09-10 | 01:21 AM
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Europe is very different story as our petrol is 3x more expensive, and quite few countries have cheaper electricity so it becomes trully cheap.
I always said how hybrids (and not PHEVs and EVs) made a lot more sense in Europe...
I always said how hybrids (and not PHEVs and EVs) made a lot more sense in Europe...
11-09-10 | 04:51 AM
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It's interesting, having read reviews of the Plug in Prius that claim a 60 MPG avg. whereas a just read one about a highway trip in the Volt (and who knows how they drove it) that netted 39 MPG. Toyota and Ford seem to really have the hybrid thing down.
11-09-10 | 06:09 AM
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and electricity rates go thru the roof you can just go on gas alone.+1, the Volt, Leaf, and Prius plug-in should be huge hits in Europe....but is the Volt ever going to make it over there>??
Last edited by bagwell; 11-09-10 at 06:14 AM.
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11-09-10 | 06:31 AM
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There should be a different rating system for the Volt/Leaf so its easier for consumers to see the difference.
spwolf brings up a good point that based on your electric rates, your "MPG" or whatever will be different.
Also range should come into play. The Leaf is well done but only has a 100-120 mile range (not sure of the Volts). The Prius can be driven what 400-500 miles on a tank of gas and it has a SMALL tank.
spwolf brings up a good point that based on your electric rates, your "MPG" or whatever will be different.
Also range should come into play. The Leaf is well done but only has a 100-120 mile range (not sure of the Volts). The Prius can be driven what 400-500 miles on a tank of gas and it has a SMALL tank.
11-09-10 | 07:33 AM
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IMO. they shouldn't even compare a full EV to any gas vehicle in this sense. That leaves the Nissan Leaf, currently, as the exclusion. The Volt may still be compared because it is still a hybrid by definition and uses gas.
For the Prius to lose it's crown to the Nissan Leaf doesn't make too much sense.
We're talking about fuel economy, and traditionally that means gas used. Sure, electricity is a "fuel" but is impossible to quantify against gasoline. The Leaf doesn't even have an MPG rating so how can it beat the Prius' MPG rating?
Electric cars simply require a separate category. You can tell people it has "infinite mpg", but then see what they say when they can only go 100 miles until they're left on the side of the road.
For the Prius to lose it's crown to the Nissan Leaf doesn't make too much sense.
We're talking about fuel economy, and traditionally that means gas used. Sure, electricity is a "fuel" but is impossible to quantify against gasoline. The Leaf doesn't even have an MPG rating so how can it beat the Prius' MPG rating?
Electric cars simply require a separate category. You can tell people it has "infinite mpg", but then see what they say when they can only go 100 miles until they're left on the side of the road.
11-09-10 | 08:22 AM
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but remember, you don't ever HAVE to plug in the Volt if you don't want to.....so if gas goes down to .25 per gallon and electricity rates go thru the roof you can just go on gas alone.
+1, the Volt, Leaf, and Prius plug-in should be huge hits in Europe....but is the Volt ever going to make it over there>??
and electricity rates go thru the roof you can just go on gas alone.+1, the Volt, Leaf, and Prius plug-in should be huge hits in Europe....but is the Volt ever going to make it over there>??
11-10-10 | 09:02 AM
#11
when the heck is it going to be available in the u.s.?!
11-11-10 | 01:24 PM
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