When purchasing a new vehicle, there are many different factors that a car buyer will take into consideration. Over the past decade, the focus on vehicle fuel efficiency has continued to increase. Since 2007, the average sales-weighed fuel efficiency has increased from around 20 mpg on average to over 25 mpg.
There are many reasons why fuel-efficient vehicles are increasing in popularity, which includes consumer focus on being more environmentally friendly, rising oil prices, and the fact that fuel-efficient vehicles are more affordable.
For those that are looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle, there are five vehicles in particular that should be considered.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is one of the longest running vehicle models produced by Honda. The car has been produced and sold by Honda since the 1972 model year and it is currently in its 10th generation. In 2000, Honda made the Civic a little bit bigger by turning it into a compact car, up from a subcompact car. While the Civic is a little bit bigger than it was in the past, it still is very efficient.
Overall, the Civic comes in seven different trims, which have different body styles and engines. The most efficient Civic comes with a four-cylinder 158-horsepower engine that gets about 42 mpg when driving on the highway and 32 mpg when driving in the city. Those that are looking for more power could upgrade all the way to a turbo-charged 306 horsepower engine, although fuel efficiency could decline by as much as 30 percent.
Due to the engine efficiency, safety ratings, and affordable price, the Civic continues to be one of the best-selling cars on the road each year. In 2017 alone, more than 375,000 Civics were sold. Consumers continue to appreciate the great fuel efficiency and amount of trim and engine options that they can choose from.
Jaguar XE 20d
For those that are looking for fuel efficiency, but also want a lot of style and luxury, the Jaguar XE 20d is a great option. The XE 20d is a large sedan that comes standard with a 180-horsepower diesel engine. While this is far from as powerful as engines that come in other Jaguar vehicles, it is considered more than sufficient for drivers that are looking for the style and luxury of a Jaguar vehicle.
One of the main selling points of the Jaguar XE 20d continues to be the amazing fuel efficiency. Overall, this car is one of the most efficient luxury sedans on the road today. It gets an average fuel economy of 36 mpg, including 42 mpg when driving on the highway and 32 mpg when driving in the city. This is very comparable to fuel efficiency provided by some more affordable economy vehicles.
Overall commercial and consumer reaction of the Jaguar XE 20d has been positive. While it does not have the same powerful engine that is found in most Jaguars, it is an ideal option for anyone that wants great fuel efficiency. Consumers also love the amazing luxury and tech features that come standard including the leather seats, eight-inch touchscreen display, strong audio system, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Toyota Prius
Ever since it was first introduced with the 1997 model year, the Toyota Prius has been the face of fuel-efficient vehicles. The Prius, which is currently in its fourth generation, has continued to be one of the most popular hybrid vehicles purchased every year. While the Prius has a lot more competition than it did five years ago, Toyota still sells more than 100,000 each year as consumers consider it a great fuel-efficient vehicle option.
The base option for the Prius today is a hybrid vehicle that produces about 121 horsepower but gets an amazing 58-mpg when driving in the city and 53 mpg when driving on this highway. This makes it one of the few vehicles on the road that actually gets better efficiency when driving in the city.
Overall, the Prius has continued to be a great option for those that are looking for the most potential fuel efficiency. The Prius has also continued to add more luxury and tech features, which includes a new upgradeable 11.6-inch touchscreen display. One complaint that consumers have had is that there tends to be less space for backseat passengers and the lack of the Apple CarPlay audio system also seems to be an issue for some people that want more connectivity.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Another vehicle produced by Toyota that has continued to be very popular with consumers for a long time is the Toyota RAV4. While the RAV4 is already a fairly fuel-efficient vehicle, the hybrid model is one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the road today. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a crossover SUV that comes standard with a four-cylinder hybrid engine that provides a very efficient 32 mpg blended fuel efficiency average. At the same time, it comes with a surprising amount of power as the engine produces about 194 horsepower.
For the past few years, the RAV4 has continued to increase in popularity with consumers. In 2017, Toyota sold more than 407,000 RAV4s in total, which was about a 15 percent increase compared to the prior year. It is also a 100 percent increase since 2013.
Consumers continue to choose the RAV4 over other crossover SUVs due to the strong fuel efficiency, number of upgrades available, and more affordable purchase price. Beyond the fuel efficiency and price, consumers also seem to enjoy the standard tech and safety features that come with some of the upgradeable trim options. These features are very comparable to features that are found in some of the more expensive luxury crossover SUVs, which do not have the same strong fuel efficiency as the RAV4.
Hyundai Elantra
Another compact sedan that is among the most efficient vehicles on the road today is the Hyundai Elantra. The Elantra has been one of the more popular compact sedans on the road ever since it was introduced by Hyundai with the 1990 model year. For the past few years, the Elantra has continued to benefit from a new design that included a more fuel-efficient engine. Today, the base four-cylinder engine provides a very attractive average fuel efficiency of 35 mpg, which includes efficiency of around 40 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg when driving in the city.
The Elantra comes standard with a four-cylinder engine that produces about 128 horsepower. Those that want more engine performance can upgrade it to the turbocharged engine which produces 210 horsepower, which is considered very powerful given the size of the Elantra. However, you will see fuel efficiency drop by more than 20 percent when this occurs.
Overall, the Elantra is a popular option with consumers due to its fuel efficiency and affordable price. The Elantra also comes with a surprising amount of cargo space and backseat passenger room and there are a variety of newer tech features as well. This includes the newer seven-inch display screen and Apple CarPlay connectivity. One downside of the Elantra has been that the safety ratings are lower than some of the other vehicles in its class.