25 Fuel Efficient Cars That Are Not Hybrids

MPG-O-Matic ^ | January 1, 2014

[2ndDivisionVet]

Are you thinking about buying a new fuel efficient car but are wary of hybrid technology? Fear not! There are dozens of cars on the market today that deliver great fuel economy without resorting to heavy and expensive battery packs. While most of these vehicles are designed to run on petroleum products (either conventional gasoline or diesel fuel), the Ford Focus SFE is a FlexFuel vehicle that can run on 100% domestic E85 ethanol fuel as well as conventional unleaded gasoline.

2014 Ford Focus five-door E85 holds a significant price advantage over regular unleaded gas in some parts of the country. It comes as no surprise that the top of the list is dominated by Volkswagen TDI models, as clean diesels are renown for their excellent highway MPGs. While this list is primarily 2013 models, we’ve included the remarkable 2014 Chevy Cruze Diesel … (continued)

[BwanaNdege]

This list is strictly alphabetical.

Anyone have one sorted by MPG?

How about the cost premium of the high mph model over the normal ones?

[2ndDivisionVet]

I’m surrounded by Mexicans, so no problem, I imagine.

[nascarnation]

It makes perfect sense at that price point.

I'm VERY dubious on the pricing as compared to motorcycles and ATVs of similar powertrain size.

[nascarnation]

They do work cheap, LOL.
Around here they are very much attracted to ChryCo minivans of 90s and 00s.
I think because they have a lot of kids.

[2ndDivisionVet]

They're having a government-sponsored competition to solve that.

[OneWingedShark]

Your regular automatic transmission with a lockup torque converter will probably be more efficient than a variable hydraulic one.

Maybe; I was thinking of power/weight ratio. The transmission and drive train are pretty heavy.
The other thing that a infinitely-variable transmission would have on a regular auto is the ability to always be at the most efficient 'gearing'.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Point taken. I see it as a covered motorcycle, so even at that price range, it should fill a niche.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

transmission

Never mind the batteries, I'm impressed with the idea of hybrids using an electric motor as the transmission. Talk about no maintenance.

[Dawggie]

I drove 1L 3 bangers for 25 years.

I am enjoying my 4L V6 quite nicely thank you.

[UnwashedPeasant]

Concept vehicle from 2000 that still looks good:

[Koracan]

But this is really a second or third car and commuting vehicle

..It is not uncommon for Americans to drive more than an hour each way to work, and 77 percent of Americans drive alone to their jobs, while an additional 11 percent carpool.....

[HarleyD]

Comparison:

Honda SUV at 25 miles per gallon traveling 12,000 for a year would use 480 gallons of gas.

A economic car getting 35 miles per gallon traveling 12,000 for a year would use 343 gallons of gas.

This is a savings of 137 gallons per year.

Gas, at $3.60 per gallon, would result in a dollar savings of $493 per year.

Things that would make a difference is if one drove farther than 12,000 miles per year or gas prices went up. I have a Ford Explorer V8 and get terrible gas mileage (20 mile per gallon). However, since I really don't drive that much, my gas bill is less than others.

[thackney]

E85 holds a significant price advantage over regular unleaded gas in some parts of the country.

Price per gallon or price per mile? They are not the same for the energy is not the same.

Some folks will save a little per gallon and spend more for the miles they drive.

[thackney]

Some of this will be offset by a move by heavier trucks using more LNG over diesel.

[The Antiyuppie]

I’m not so sure that diesel will go up if autos use them. Firstly, I’d bet that automotive diesel is a drop in the bucket compared to heating, trucking usage, and so on. Secondly, as I understand it, you can ship diesel overseas, but gasoline is usually not viable. And, if you want to make a lot of diesel to ship overseas (like from fracking), you have to also make gasoline (this can be tailored to a degree).

What has made diesel very expensive compared to the old days is the “low sulfur” requirement and the additional requirements of the EPA on the fuel and on the autos that use them.

[The Antiyuppie]

“E85 is a great low buck racing fuel (assuming you have the compression and tuning to take advantage of the high octane) but as you say for the on road consumer it’s a loser.”

True, and keep in mind that some of the NEW showroom cars have 11-12:1 compression already, which is incredible by 70’s/80’s standards. So, the economy hit on e85 is a lot less on a newer, high-compression engine than an older lower one. But even considering my proximity to corn-producing states, E85 isn’t worth it here even if I had a car to take advantage of it. Also, in this area, E85 isn’t exactly a “hot seller”, and I wonder how long it’s been sitting in the gas station underground tank.

[2ndDivisionVet]

There’re only about 30 E85 gas stations in the whole state of Texas.

http://www.e85locator.net/State%20Pages/TexasE85stationlocations.html

[thackney]

That is out of date. There 87.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/data/10367

[thackney]

you can ship diesel overseas, but gasoline is usually not viable

Not true. We import gasoline from overseas, and sometimes ship it out that way.

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epm0f_im0_mbbl_m.htm

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epobg_im0_mbblpd_m.htm

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_expc_a_EPM0F_EEX_mbbl_m.htm

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_expc_a_EPOBG_EEX_mbbl_m.htm

[SunkenCiv]

Wow, reg gas under $3, a little jealous...