- In this report
- Overview
- Best new cars for fuel economy
- Gas-sipping used cars
- Reading between the ‘40 mpg’ ad lines
Reading between the '40 mpg' ad lines
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The auto industry's latest buzzword is "40 mpg." Automakers are touting it as a new fuel-efficiency milestone in ads and videos for a number of new nonhybrid models, including the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Fiesta and Focus, Honda Civic, and Hyundai Accent and Elantra. It's an attention-getting stat for drivers weary of high gasoline prices. But you have to read the fine print to get the full picture.
First, 40 mpg refers only to the EPA-estimated highway fuel economy. The estimate for city driving is usually less than 30 mpg, which puts the combined fuel economy in the low to mid-30s. Unless you spend most of your time cruising on freeways and interstates, you probably won't see anything close to 40 mpg.
Playing the numbers game
With several models, you have to opt for a special trim level to get your shot at 40 mpg, with some type of extra cost built in. With the Cruze, for example, you need to buy the manual-transmission Eco version (42 mpg), which is priced the same as the 1LT with an automatic. Ford specifies the midlevel Fiesta SE with the optional $695 Super Fuel Economy (SFE) package (40 mpg) or the Focus SE with the $495 SFE package (40 mpg). With Honda, you need to get the $19,455 Civic HF (41 mpg), which is priced about $800 higher than the widely sold LX trim line. Those versions include various fuel-efficiency tweaks, such as a lower ride height, aerodynamic body modifications, lightweight wheels, and/or lower-rolling-resistance tires. If you get a regular Cruze, Fiesta, Focus, or Civic sedan, EPA highway estimates range from 36 to 39 mpg, depending on the drivetrain. But we got 45 mpg in our highway tests on a Fiesta SE without the SFE package. So, as they say, your mileage will vary.
Hyundai boasts 40 mpg highway for its Accent and Elantra, with no special edition needed. In our tests of the Elantra, we got 39 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg overall, which is still commendable. Other cars we've tested that hit the big 4-0 on the highway include the Mazda3 (40), and Toyota Yaris (41) and Corolla (40).
