Gas Mileage Comparison

The escalating price of fuel has forced many owners to take a really hard look in the performance of their cars in relation to gas mileage and fuel economy.  One of the first concerns would actually be the car model.  EPA has a method of estimating fuel economy and has made their findings available to the public.  Some car models outshine others in this particular aspect but experts caution on relying purely on such data with total disregard for other factors.

The miles per gallon (MPG) is affected by at least five (5) factors including where and how the car is driven, the over-all condition and maintenance of the vehicle, fuel variations, engine break-in, and vehicle variation.  The last factor has everything to do about individual car manufacturers.  Their respective offerings in the market represent the product of their own research and testing efforts towards the end of having the most economic car in terms of fuel consumption.

The manner of driving has a lot to do with the MPG.  Fuel economy is greatly reduced with quick acceleration and heavy braking, excessive idling, driving at higher speeds, cold weather, frequent short-trips, cargo racks that increase aerodynamic drag, excessive weight of a towed trailer, and running electrical accessories such as the air conditioner.  A hilly or mountainous terrain can reduce fuel economy as well like an unpaved road.  Four-wheel drives typically affect fuel economy since engines have to work harder.

A number of seemingly minor details can affect the fuel economy performance of vehicles such as improperly aligned or inflated tires, poorly tuned engine, brake drag and a dirty air filter.  Optimal fuel economy of new vehicles is only attained at three (3) to five (5) thousand miles when the engine has broken in.  The smallest variation in vehicle manufacturing can cause a big difference in MPG thus it is important for car buyers to determine the purpose of the vehicle so that an appropriate model can be used.  EPA estimates would reveal big differences in vehicle ratings depending on whether it will be used for city driving or highway driving.  Most often than not, car owners fail to maximize full potential by making purchase decisions based on what they like instead of what they need.  Gas mileage comparisons are regularly published by EPA as well as car manufacturers themselves.

There is a critical need for consumers to prefer cars that offer the most fuel economy since oil is a commodity that can possibly run-out, being a non-renewable resource.  Vehicles boasting of highly improved gas mileage are typically supported by alternative fuels and technologies.  This means a conscious effort for decreasing oil dependency toward supporting a more sustainable fuel resource.  Improved fuel economy equates to big savings particularly over a period of time.

Environmental concerns have also a lot to do with the preference for cars with better fuel economy.  It is one way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to make sure that future generations will not be compromised by using energy that is cleaner and more efficient.  This is one of the reasons as well why electric vehicles, hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are the subject of interest, research and development efforts.

Fuel consumption ratings as determined by EPA can usually be found attached to car displays on show rooms.  Buyers should know that these ratings are only estimates and in no way exact in spite of highly improved methods of deriving such estimates.  The estimates however provide important information is for typical car use.

Below is a table of more than 100 – 2011 model year vehicles and their estimated overall gas mileage according to Consumer Reports.