The Best 2012 Gas Mileage Vehicles

Most drivers today are seeking way to reduce their fuel consumption and thus the costs of using their vehicles. With fuel costs climbing ever higher, it’s critical that consumers are well educated about fuel economy standards and ways to reduce consumption. To do that, consumers must have access to information that will allow them to make conscientious choices about their vehicle purchases. Vehicle gas mileage is a prime driver of choice among consumers shopping for a new car, truck, SUV or van. Resources for consumers seeking the best vehicle gas mileage are highly sought-after and provide an invaluable service to those persons intending to make a vehicle purchase as well as those who wish to improve the performance of their current vehicle.

NHTSA: Vehicle Gas Mileage Standards

The U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the governmental agency tasked with research about transportation safety in addition to providing consumers with detailed information about a range of safety issues. NHTSA maintains an extensive resource section dedicated to fuel economy issues and the history and purpose of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), which drives national vehicle gas mileage standards. Established in the 1970s to “reduce energy consumption by increasing the fuel economy of cars and light trucks,” CAFE is a framework that brings together multiple governmental agencies under a single mission umbrella: improving vehicle fuel efficiency and reducing fuel consumption through measures dedicated to efficiency that also protect the environment.

To accomplish this goal, the NHTSA works in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): the former agency administers the CAFE program, and the latter agency provides the fuel economy data. A major responsibility tasked to NHTSA is the determination of fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. The EPA then calculates average fuel economy for each manufacturer and together they provide this data to the public. The cooperative effort of these agencies is necessary for automakers to continue to make forward progress on fuel economy and vehicle gas mileage standards. The NHTSA, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation, makes this information easy for consumers to digest and use. Discover more about this engrossing topic at the website, http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.

Understanding Vehicle Gas Mileage: FuelEconomy.gov

A mutual endeavor of both the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this sister site to the NHTSA hosts encyclopedic information about a myriad of topics including vehicle gas mileage standards and fuel economy estimates. This site provides a wealth of comparison and research tools that are easy to use.

One standout comparison tool is the Top 10 EPA-Rated Vehicles, a list that shows the estimated mileage per gallon for the best vehicles of that model year. Vehicles are ranked first using a weighted performance rating (55% for city mileage and 45% for highway mileage), then by city rating; those that end up with the same rating will share the same position on the list.

For comparison, consumers can search past years’ EPA rankings for a variety of vehicles; the website also features a page with comprehensive data on real-world MPG performance of vehicles for the past 27 years. A helpful section addresses common misconceptions surrounding vehicle gas mileage ratings. The page offers tips on ways that drivers can enjoy the best vehicle gas mileage possible. Interested consumers can compare statistics and become more familiar with other fuel economy topics at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/topten.jsp.

Best Vehicle Gas Mileage Ratings: 2012

According to the current list at FuelEconomy.gov, the 2012 Top Ten vehicles with the best vehicle gas mileage, in ascending order are: Honda CR-Z, with a combined MPG rating of 37; Scion iQ; Lincoln MKZ Hybrid/Ford Fusion Hybrid; Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE; Toyota Camry Hybrid LE; 2012 Honda Insight (2 transmission models); Lexus CT 200h; Toyota Prius V; Honda Civic Hybrid; and the Toyota Prius, topping out at a combined 50 mpg.

If one chooses to include electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles in the search, then the 2012 Top Ten vehicles in ascending order are: Toyota Camry Hybrid LE, with a combined MPG rating of 41; Honda Insight; Lexus CT 200h; Toyota Prius V; Honda Civic Hybrid; Toyota Prius; Chevrolet Volt; Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Wagon/Transit Connect Van; Nissan Leaf; and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, topping out at a amazing combined 112 MPG.

Edmunds: Understanding True Mileage Costs

Edmunds, a venerable and trusted name in the automotive world, has an incredibly detailed website that includes articles on fuel economy, “green cars,” and vehicle gas mileage ratings. A unique set of tools available on the website are specific calculators, such as the “Gas Guzzler Trade-In Calculator,” designed to show consumers how much money they could save by trading up from an inefficient vehicle. Equally impressive is the wealth of information on offer discussing the history of fuel economy regulation in the U.S. and the creation of CAFE, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy that drives the standards of vehicle gas mileage. Edmunds has created a visual aid, T\the CAFE Timeline, which is a concise history showing the interaction of pressures that made the pursuit of ever more fuel-efficient vehicles inevitable. To start exploring, visit the website, at http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/faq-new-corporate-average-fuel-economy-standards.html.

Edmunds’ website features a library of articles with titles such as “Your Fuel Economy Gauge Is Fibbing,” “Survival Strategies for Steeper Gas Prices,” and a regular feature titled “Fuel-Sipper Smackdown,” where a robust discussion about the fuel economy issues is being moderated. The Edmunds library is at http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/?mktcat=fueleconomy&kw=gas+mileage+
comparison&mktid=ga377593.

Learn About Better Mileage: KBB

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is an independent consumer advocate organization that exists to provide consumers with a trusted source of information about a variety of vehicle related topics. Each year, Kelley Blue Book publishes what it calls its “Green Cars” list. A vehicle’s features as well as performance metrics are weighted to determine a vehicle’s ranking, providing a well-rounded assessment. While KBB has not yet ranked the Top 10 Green Cars for 2012, last year’s rankings can be found for at http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/top-10-green-cars-for-2011/.

Also See: Car Models 2009 With Best Gas Mileage