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If your wallet is taking a beating from high gas prices and all this talk of green energy has inspired you to shop around for a hybrid car, new fuel-efficiency ratings may help you.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked 10 hybrid vehicles. Topping the list: the Toyota Prius, which gets 48 miles (77 kilometers) per gallon on city streets and 45 mpg (72 km) on the highway.

The Honda Civic Hybrid is next, racking up 40 mpg (64 km) for city driving and the same as the Prius on the freeway. No. 3 is the Nissan Altima Hybrid, which takes you 35 miles (56 kilometers) per gallon in the city, 33 miles (53 kilometers) per gallon on the expressway.

• Tied at fourth for providing 31 to 34 mpg (50 to 54 km) per gallon are three cars: the Ford Escape Hybrid FWD, Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD and Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD

• Two Smart Fortwo models — the Convertible and Coupe — rank fifth, offering 33 to 41 mpg (53 to 66 km)

• At sixth is the Toyota Camry Hybrid, at 33 to 34 mpg (53 to 54 km) 

• The Volkswagon Jetta and the Jetta Sportswagon, both stick shifts, are seventh, at 30 to 41 mpg (48 to 66 km)

• The companion automatic Jettas are eighth, at 29 to 40 mpg (47 to 64 km)

• The Toyota Yaris stick shift is ninth, with 29 to 36 mpg (47 to 58 km)

• Rounding out the list: the automatic transmission Toyota Yaris, which gets 29 mpg (47 km) in stop-and-go traffic, and 35 mpg (56 km) on the highway. Most hybrids are automatic, but a few manufacturers offer stick-shift versions.

The EPA didn't rank the efficiency of other alt-energy cars, such as those powered by hydrogen fuel cells. But you can check out their mileage — as well as their "greenhouse gas score," here. The hydrogen-fueled Chevy Equinox, test driven for a Scientific American article, received a 5 out of 10 on the EPA's greenhouse gas scale (and got 17 to 24 miles, or 27 to 39 kilometers per gallon). The EPA did not rate another hydro-car, the 2008 Honda FCX Clarity, also featured in that piece.

For more on clean-running cars, see Steven Ashley's take on the Clarity, part of our new in-depth report on green energy.

(Image by iStockphoto/John Bloor)

4 Comments

1. 1. timross 03:15 PM 10/23/08

   There are a few inaccuracies here. First, this list does not concern *only* hybrids, but regular gas cars as well that just happen to be very fuel efficient (ie, the diesel Jetta and the Yaris) -- while the most fuel economic cars on the market right now are hybrids, there are non-hybrids that come pretty close, and kudos to the EPA for making that point crystal clear. This list is actually EPA's top ten fuel efficient cars for 2009 -- but it's incomplete. For example, I remember Mini Cooper making it to that list -- as well as the Ford focus (on the highway side). A far more thorough look at the EPA's calculations is offered at Jalopnik --
   
   http://jalopnik.com/5067156/new-epa-fuel-economy-guide-reveals-ten-most-fuel-efficient-vehicles-for-2009
   
   And, of course, for fuel efficient scoring in general go to www.fueleconomy.gov or www.carfunfootprint.com (for green and "fun" scores).

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2. 2. shopa 10:03 PM 10/31/08

   Many Americans want low cost, fuel efficient cars.
   
   Kei cars are a special class of cars in Japan. They are limited to an engine size of 660cc and have vehicle size, but not weight, restrictions. They are made by many different Japanese car companies and they are mature designs that are reliable, and get up to 60 mpg. They can cost less than $10,000.
   
   If these cars were converted to hybrids, they might get 100 mpg.
   
   However, they can't be driven in the U.S. because they can't meet U.S. crash test requirements.
   
   I believe that adding my crumple box invention to a Kei car will allow it to pass U.S. safety requirements. Then it could be driven in the U.S.
   
   On my website I have calculations that show that my invention can reduce the g forces from side impacts from the current 85 g standard to only 20 g's.
   
   The invention can do better for rear impacts because the rear bumper can stick out farther than a side bumper. The length of a crumple zone is a critical factor in reducing g forces.
   
   Some American auto companies have ties to Kei car manufacture. They could make these cars.
   
   Please help me promote this idea.
   
   See my website www.safersmallcars.com
   
   

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