The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have released the latest Fuel Economy Guide, listing the most fuel-efficient vehicles available in the States. Once again, the Toyota Priustops this chart, besting the competition with its EPA ratings of 51/48 miles per gallon city/highway.
Beyond the Prius, the list of fuel economy leaders is rounded out with the usual cast of characters, including the Ford Fusion Hybrid (as well as its Milan and MKZ counterparts), Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus HS 250h and more. You won’t find Volkswagen’s oil-burning Golf TDI or Jetta TDI on the list, though, even though their 30/42 mpg is immensely respectable.
As for newcomer EVs like the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, the EPA states that “no 2011 model year electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have completed testing as of publication of this list.” Once the EPA decides how it is going to rate electric vehicle fuel economy, we’ll see these vehicles included in the list of fuel economy leaders, and the Toyota Prius will likely lose its first place crown.
