Jun 15, 2010
"It was only a couple of years ago that gasoline prices peaked at more than $4 a gallon. Even though prices receded, few doubt that high-priced gas could eventually be with us again. In light of that, you'd think that the landscape would be filled today with 40-mile-per-gallon cars. Well, it isn't."
"The surprise comes from a list the Environmental Protection Agency put together of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the past 25 years. Few are from today. Most are from many years ago. For all the talk today about hybrids, electrics and greater fuel efficiency from conventional engines, the list underscores how little progress we've actually made toward weaning ourselves off oil."
"Here's what EPA's fueleconomy.gov website lists as the top 10 most fuel-efficient cars of the past 25 years:"
1. 2000 Honda Insight: 49/61/53 mpg city/highway/combined
2. 2010 Toyota Prius: 51/48/50 mpg city/highway/combined
3. 1986 Chevy Sprint: 44/53/48 mpg city/highway/combined
4. 1990-1994 Geo Metro: 43/52/47 mpg city/highway/combined
5. 1986-1987 Honda Civic CR-X: 42/51/46 mpg city/highway/combined
6. 1994-1995 Honda Civic HB: 39/50/43 mpg city/highway/combined
7. 2006-2010 Honda Civic hybrid: 40/45/42 mpg city/highway/combined
8. 1985 Pontiac Firefly: 39/47/42 mpg city/highway/combined
9. 1985 Suzuki SA310: 39/47/42 mpg city/highway/combined
10. 2010 Honda Insight: 40/43/41 mpg city/highway/combined
What’s more interesting is that list is from before the clamp down on emissions.