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Joining the Over-40 mpg Club: Overachievers That Can Beat EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

By Tom Mulcher, Consumer Reports

By Exhaust Notes Feb 22, 2012 3:24PM

The Honda Civic. Photo by Honda.





 

Note: Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on MSN.

 

We’ve recently showed that most fuel-efficient cars can beat their EPA highway fuel economy estimates in Consumer Reports measured fuel economy testing. But if you want to hit 40 mpg on the highway, our tests show that you have more options than you might think.


Below is a list of recently tested vehicles that returned 40 mpg or better in our 65-mph highway fuel economy testing, but were officially rated for less.


Information from Consumer Reports.

If getting that magic 40 mpg on the highway is important to you, this list provides more options.


Again, it’s important to emphasize that maximizing fuel economy depends a lot on how and where you drive.


Several years ago we measured fuel economy with a 2005 Toyota Camry four-cylinder sedan in different situations. Driving at 65 mph delivered 35 mpg; speeding up to 75 mph cut that to 30 mpg, while slowing down to 55 mph returned 40 mpg. Hard acceleration and braking reduced the Camry’s mileage by 2 to 3 mpg.

The bottom line

EPA highway fuel economy numbers provide a place to start your comparison shopping, but they’re often over-hyped as advertising claims. The full fuel picture is more complicated than that. We suggest using a variety of sources, including Consumer Reports test data, to determine if you’ll actually get the fuel economy you desire.

Read more at Consumer Reports:
How to get the best gas mileage
Which cars would owners buy again?
Complete Ratings for 200 cars and trucks
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73Comments
cheaper MPG
Feb 26, 2012 5:57AM
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All good Info to know but my Geo Metro achieves 45 mpg city and 52 mpg highway real world driving. While not a fancy package with all of lifes electronic amenities it has gotten be to and from work everyday for numerous year, it is cheap to work on and still passes emissions testing. All from a car that cost $6000 new. COME ON america get smart with your $$$$$ and quite with all the Gotta haves of technology and luxury and get to the basics of life and win the oil war.
Hyperafro
Feb 26, 2012 6:26AM
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Ford is the only one of the big three that didn't take TARP money and has finally figured out how to make a good car once again.  Glad to see an American company finally surpassing the Japanese auto companies.
IICleanerII
Feb 26, 2012 5:40AM
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How unobservant you folks are . . . or did I miss the memo that Ford is now Japanese-owned?  There are four (4) Fords on this list, which is MORE than any other - more than Honda, more than Toyota, more than Nissan.  The Fords from 2010 onward are great vehicles.  I was surprised that there weren't any Chevy's though. 
Rob39
Feb 26, 2012 7:24AM
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About a year ago there was a program on the discovery channel that showed how the auto makers establish the MPG range on their vehicles. All of the MPG numbers were achieved while using 100% gas. Not ethanol enriched gas. Stop and go driving situations were also not apart of the study. It was based on driving 35 to 40 mph straight through a tank full of REAL gas! Unless you are driving cross country you are going to have a hard time achieving the MPG that is listed on the sticker of any vehicle. Let alone trying to find a gas station that sells gas that isn't ethanol enriched. I hope in the future the auto makers are held accountable for the MPG numbers they advertise. My opinion is until realistic studies are done, all the MPG numbers that are advertised are inflated. 
independentvoter999
Feb 26, 2012 1:09PM
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I love my diesel, but I probably won't buy another one unless refineries quit limiting supplies to keep prices high. It's really a shame, because Diesel has several advantages over gasoline.

1. better fuel economy
2. more torque
3. longer engine life

Of course the "Holy Grail" of power would be hydrogen, but it will be many years before it becomes price competitive, unless you factor in the environmental costs. The problem with using electric vehicles and hybrids is that most electric power is generated with coal, a major source of greenhouse gases. Another problem is the disposal of used batteries, which are loaded with toxic chemicals. It looks like the next best thing to hydrogen would be vehicles powered by natural gas.  Natural gas is a lot cheaper than oil, pollutes less, and we have estimated reserves of  about 100 years. 
mg289
Feb 26, 2012 5:37PM
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what about the Jetta Diesel? Did they not send their payment to Consumers Reports?
independentvoter999
Feb 25, 2012 8:19AM
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My 2010 Jetta Sportwagen TDI gets 42mpg at 75 mph, and I actually enjoy diving it.  The only downside is the price of diesel fuel, which has gone up even more than gasoline.  I've read where our refineries are exporting a lot of diesel fuel to Europe, keeping supplies tight in the US.
Multinational
Feb 24, 2012 1:35AM
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My Volkswagen Jetta Diesel gets 42 miles on the gallon. But here's the difference: The 1.9 Liter Diesel engine generates over 250 footpound of torque! In other words, power aplenty! Not comparable to the Priusses, Civics and Smart-for-2s. They may have nice mileage ratings, but they are often anemic.
72degrees
Feb 26, 2012 4:13PM
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2003 VW 1.9 L  TDI  5 speed with a .658 fifth gear set with larger intercooler pipe, and front mount intercooler, hybrid 17/22 tubro, 2.5" exhaust system from the turbo back. A mild tune to the ECM and I get 62 miles per gallon on hwy I-5 @ 70 mph
DoWeGetToPayTheTab
Feb 26, 2012 2:25AM
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I have a Chevy Cruze Eco 2011 that has a rating of 42 mpg and achieves this quite consistently driving 70 mph on cruise control as opposed to 65 mph of the test. In fact after my last oil change with the tires inflated I got 45 mpg. If we list all these foreign cars why not a few of our own? I would like to know what these other cars get when driving 70 mph, which is on the slow side of what most people drive where I live.
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