June 2006
Compare mpg and save hundreds of dollars
You don't have to drive a small car or pay extra for a hybrid to save money at the pump
With gas prices high, many drivers want better gas mileage from their next car. According to a Summer 2006 Consumer Reports survey, 37 percent of respondents said they were considering replacing their current vehicle for one with greater fuel economy.
But that doesn't mean buyers have to pay a premium for a hybrid model or cram the kids into a small sedan. There are many vehicles to choose from that offer good mileage for their class,
but there can be a wide range in fuel economy among similar vehicles. A smart shopper can save hundreds of dollars annually by simply comparing fuel economy results before buying.
Our advice is to decide what type of vehicle is best for your needs, then look for the most fuel-efficient models in that category. The savings can be significant.
ConsumerReports.org subscribers can see the real-world fuel economy figures for any vehicle we've tested. We've found that the EPA fuel economy numbers, such as those used on vehicle window stickers, are typically higher than drivers get in real-world driving but can be used to compare vehicles. In our tests, hybrids have gotten the best fuel economy in their respective classes, but they are typically priced thousands of dollars higher than similar all-gas models.
Our advice is to decide what type of vehicle is best for your needs, then look for the most fuel-efficient models in that category. The savings can be significant.
- If shopping for a three-row SUV, for example, you can save more than $1,000 a year by choosing a 17-mpg Honda Pilot instead of a 12-mpg V8 Dodge Durango (assuming that gas costs $2.90 a gallon and you drive 15,000 miles per year).
- Among midsized sedans, the four-cylinder Honda Accord got 24 mpg overall in our testing while the Subaru Legacy GT got only 18. That could save you about $600 a year.
- Buying a seven-passenger minivan such as our top-rated Honda Odyssey, which gets 19 mpg, could save you more than $1,000 a year, compared with a Jeep Commander 5.7-liter V8 SUV that gets 13 mpg.
- An all-wheel-drive Subaru Outback wagon that gets 21 mpg could save you a similar amount, compared with a Jeep Grand Cherokee that gets 14 mpg.
ConsumerReports.org subscribers can see the real-world fuel economy figures for any vehicle we've tested. We've found that the EPA fuel economy numbers, such as those used on vehicle window stickers, are typically higher than drivers get in real-world driving but can be used to compare vehicles. In our tests, hybrids have gotten the best fuel economy in their respective classes, but they are typically priced thousands of dollars higher than similar all-gas models.
