How to Find a Fuel Efficient Car

As gas prices continue to rise, and concerns about damage to the environment from greenhouses gases drive ever-more-real speculation about the inevitability of an early Armageddon, drivers are looking for more fuel-efficient cars. Here’s how to find one.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Open your eyes to the possibilities. Fuel-efficient cars and trucks come in all shapes and sizes these days, so you will not have to sacrifice utility or size when buying a fuel-efficient car. You can find information about hybrid cars and other fuel-efficient cars on sites like GreenCar.com.
2. When you buy a car or truck, be aware of how much a fuel-efficient vehicle will save you. The difference between a car that gets 20 mpg and one that gets 30 mpg amounts to $837 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving and fuel at $3.35 a gallon). That 10-mile difference translates into a $4,185 saving over 5 years – money that’ll be welcome when you’re paying off your auto loan.
3. Even if you’re keen to buy a fuel-efficient car or truck, make sure you also get the best one for your needs. If you want a safe ride to take the kids to soccer practice, you may feel you need to stick with your heavy-at-the-pump SUV. And there’s not much point buying a Toyota Prius if you’re going to be hauling logs and herding sheep!
4. But ask yourself if you really need 4-wheel drive as it reduces fuel economy. Four-wheel drive vehicles are tested for their fuel efficiency in 2-wheel drive mode. Engaging all four wheels makes the engine work harder.
5. Once you have an idea of what kind of car will suit your needs, the best one-stop-shop for the latest information about fuel efficient cars is the fuel economy Web site (a link is provided in the Resources box), run by US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protections Agency.
6. Go straight to the page that lists “Best and Worst MPG,” which has the newest cars on the market in order of performance – or lack there of. The site also boasts a section where you can compare the fuel efficiency of all makes of cars since 1985.
7. Fuel economy testing at this Web site can be trusted. It is measured in a laboratory using a test procedure specified by federal law. Manufacturers test their vehicles and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them through their own tests.
8. But, if you’re not a fan of the government and distrust their testing criteria, you can also check out car and consumer magazines and Web sites – Consumer Reports is a good one – that regularly publish private testing data about fuel efficiency issues and lists of what vehicles are fuel efficient and not.
9. Your car’s actual fuel efficiency will almost certainly vary from both the government and private ratings. Small variations in the way cars are made and assembled can cause mpg variations, even among vehicles of the same make and model. Usually, however, these differences are small.
10. On the other hand, you car efficiency rating may deviate from the test figures because of your location, your driving habits, and many other factors.
11. See if your new fuel-efficient car comes with a financial incentive. New hybrid, lean-burn, alternative fuel or electric vehicles come with Federal tax credits and incentives to make them more attractive. Also, progressive employers, attempting to reduce their Carbon Footprint, are now offering employees financial incentives to buy alternative fuel cars. Check out what’s on offer before you buy.
12. When you’ve bought your fuel-efficient car, make sure you get the most from it. That means watching how you drive and handle your maintenance. Quick acceleration and heavy braking reduces fuel economy, as does towing a trailer, running the A/C on max all the time, and driving on hilly or mountainous roads. Not maintaining your engine, not checking your tires, filters and oil, will also drag on your car’s efficiency.

Tips & Warnings

• Cold weather and frequent short trips can reduce fuel economy.
• If you’d like to calculate and track your fuel economy, register at the fuel economy Web site, click on “Calculate and share your MPG” where you can save your fuel use information, view, edit and compare it with the lab ratings, and even share your findings with others.
• Letting your car idle to warm-up doesn't help your fuel economy, it actually uses more fuel and creates more pollution.