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Toyota, Honda leaders in fuel economy
Automakers combine for total of seven
vehicles in government's annual top-10
efficiency ratings.
Ken Thomas / Associated Press
WASHINGTON
-- The hybrid-electric Toyota Prius leads the
government's annual top-10 fuel economy list of
vehicles that can make living with high gas
prices a little more tolerable.
The 2007 Prius, with 60 miles per gallon in the
city and 51 mpg on the highway, ranked first
while the Honda Civic Hybrid was second with 49
mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway, the
Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Energy said Tuesday.
Honda and Toyota made seven of the 12 vehicles
listed in the top 10. Twelve vehicles were
listed because two of them, the Mercury Mariner
Hybrid four-wheel drive and the Kia Rio, are the
corporate twins of vehicles made by Ford and
Hyundai, respectively. The new Toyota Camry
Hybrid made its debut at No. 3, with 40 mpg in
the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
Ford Motor Co. had the most fuel-efficient sport
utility vehicle, the Escape Hybrid front-wheel
drive, which was fourth with 36 mpg in the city
and 31 mpg on the highway.
The four-wheel drive version of the Escape
Hybrid, along with its corporate twin, the
Mariner Hybrid, were tied for 10th place with 32
mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
Six gas-only vehicles made the top 10: manual
and automatic versions of the Toyota Yaris, the
manual version of the Honda Fit, the manual
Toyota Corolla and manual versions of the
Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio.
The government compiles the list based on
information from manufacturers. Fuel economy
estimates are determined by averaging numbers
from a specific set of tests.
Hybrids comprise about 2 percent of the U.S.
sales market but they have benefited from a
federal tax incentive meant to help consumers
recover part of the $3,000 to $4,000 premium for
a hybrid.
Last summer's $3 gas prices made fuel economy a
larger selling point in the industry. For
example, Toyota has said it's looking to make
hybrids available across virtually its entire
lineup in the future. General Motors Corp. has
stressed in advertising the number of its
vehicles getting 30 mpg or better.
Environmentalists said the list offered more
evidence of a wide gap between top-performing
models and average vehicles.
An EPA report last summer said the average fuel
economy for 2006 vehicles was 21 mpg, lower than
the peak in 1987-88.
Automakers said more fuel-efficient vehicles are
available than ever before, driven by demand.
"Every model
is available with some sort of fuel efficient
technology and as consumers continue to demand
fuel-efficient vehicles, manufacturers will
continue to offer more choices," said Charles
Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers.
Among classes of vehicles, the Ford Ranger
two-wheel drive was the most fuel-efficient
pickup, with 24 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on
the highway.
The Hyundai Sonata manual version was the top
large car, with 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on
the highway, while the Dodge Caravan two-wheel
drive was the top minivan, with 20 mpg in the
city and 26 mpg on the highway.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee four-wheel drive was the
least fuel-efficient SUV with 12 mpg in the city
and 15 mpg on the highway.
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