Best Mileage Models for Your New-Car Money

Sporty Cars
Most of the time, a penalty must be paid for driving a sporty model. But there are exceptions, starting with the popular MINI Cooper. Offered as a coupe or convertible, the basic Cooper with manual shift turns in an estimate of 25 mpg city/33 mpg highway. Runner-up may be the Volkswagen GTI, which promises 21/31 mpg with a six-speed gearbox and 22/29 mpg with dual-clutch automatic.


Dodge won no fuel-economy plaudits with the new retro-style Challenger, which debuted during the 2008 model year. That's because the only version was an action-packed SRT8, with a potent 425-horsepower V-8 and a guzzling 13/16 mpg EPA estimate. Milder-mannered Challengers are arriving for 2009. Mazda's MX-5 (Miata) roadster takes the frugality prize among sports cars, with a 22/27 mpg estimate for the five-speed manual model (20/27 mpg with automatic).

Small SUVs and Crossovers
Except for the Jeep Liberty, Nissan Xterra, and Suzuki Grand Vitara, two-wheel-drive versions of each small SUV and crossover get estimates of at least 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg for highway driving. Toyota's RAV4 promises only 19 mpg in the city, but 27 mpg on the highway. Both the Jeep Compass and Patriot warrant a 23 mpg city estimate and 27 mpg on the highway, while the Ford Escape scores 28 mpg on the highway with either manual or automatic shift. Nissan's Rogue wagon earns a 22/27 mpg estimate.

Midsize SUVs and Crossovers
When V-6 and V-8 engines are offered, the V-6 nearly always wins the gas-mileage race; and a four-cylinder consumes even less. Two-wheel-drive models inevitably beat those with 4WD. Thriftiest of this lot are the four-cylinder Saturn Vue and manual-shift Volkswagen Tiguan, with an EPA estimate of 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. The four-cylinder Dodge Journey is almost as frugal at 19 mpg city/25 mpg highway–just ahead of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Murano. Several models manage 17/24 mpg, including the new Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Flex, Suzuki XL7, plus the GM quartet: Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn Outlook, and GMC Acadia.

Traditional Full-Size SUVs
Buyers of big SUVs cannot expect tempting gas mileage, but the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe with two-wheel drive and a 5.3-liter V-8 head the pack with a 14/20 mpg estimate. The Ford Expedition and Nissan Armada promise a distressing 12 mpg in city driving, and only 18 mpg on the highway.

Hybrid SUVs
Ford took the lead in hybrid-SUV production with the Escape Hybrid, which leads by far at 34 mpg city/31 mpg highway. A little larger in size, the Saturn Vue Hybrid gets a 25/32 mpg estimate. Even with GM's 2Mode system, the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is rated at only 21/22 mpg–not so bad for a vehicle of that size. Dodge has recently launched a Durango Hybrid, but EPA estimates are not yet available. Toyota's Highlander Hybrid gets a 27 mpg/25 mpg score.

Minivans
No big winners are found among minivans. Each model gets 16 or 17 mpg in city driving and 23-24 on the highway, according to the EPA.

Compact Pickup Trucks
Among smaller pickups, the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma take the fuel-efficiency prize, with up to 21/26 and 20/26 mpg estimates, respectively (for manual-shift 2WD models).

Full-Size Pickups
In some form, the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ford F-150 manage a highway estimate of 20 mpg, but 14 mpg is all they achieve in city driving. Toyota's six-cylinder Tundra earns a 15/19 mpg estimate. Trailing is the Nissan Titan, at a fuel-slurping 13/17 miles per gallon.

Hybrid Pickups
Choices are simple among hybrid-powertrain pickups. Only the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and similar GMC Sierra are on sale, with EPA estimates of 21 mpg city and a slightly better 22 mpg on the highway.

What About Diesel?
Running on "clean" fuel, the latest diesels deliver impressive mileage. Volkswagen's Jetta sedan and wagon earn an estimate of up to 30 mpg city/41 mpg highway.

About the Author
James M. Flammang is an auto journalist and author, and the editor of Tirekicking Today (www.tirekick.com).