| Over the coming weeks, the fuel economy numbers | | | | Hybrid to retain its best in class honors of 41 mpg |
| will be updated to reflect the release of the | | | | city, 36 mph highway until the Sonata Hybrid debuts |
| remaining 2011 model year vehicles. | | | | later this year. That car may get 40 mpg on the |
| I say "updated" because the 2011 models have been | | | | highway! |
| released throughout 2010, with the last of them | | | | Toyota Avalon -- For 2011, the Avalon gets 20 mpg |
| expected to roll out in December. Automakers can | | | | city, 29 mpg highway edging out the Chevrolet |
| call whatever comes out in a calendar year the | | | | Impala which gets 19 mpg city, 29 mpg highway. |
| following year's model year, even if the car goes on | | | | Breaking the 30 mpg threshold may be a year of so |
| sale on January 1. | | | | away unless Ford figures out a way of sticking in a |
| The top fuel efficient cars will once again be hybrid | | | | 2.0-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder engine under the hood |
| models with the Toyota Prius retaining its position for | | | | of its Ford Taurus. |
| a few more months. Come December, the pure | | | | Mazda 5 -- By offering one of the smallest minivans, |
| electric Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt will debut, | | | | Mazda has enjoyed an edge no one else can touch. |
| with the former expected to dethrone the Prius. | | | | Powered by a 2.3-liter four cylinder engine the Mazda |
| Figure that the Leaf's equivalent fuel economy | | | | 5 gets 28 mpg on the highway, 22 around town. |
| numbers will be in excess of 100 mpg when the | | | | Ford Ranger -- A 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine will likely |
| calculation methods have been finalized. The Volt | | | | allow the Ranger to retain best in class fuel economy |
| may also edge out the Prius although it is an electric | | | | for small pickup trucks -- 27 mpg on the highway. Not |
| car with a supplemental gas engine. | | | | far behind is the full-size Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, |
| Other winners are likely to be as follows: | | | | getting 23 mpg on the highway. |
| Ford Fiesta -- Its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine already | | | | Among sport utility vehicles, there is a three way tie |
| provides best in class (subcompact) fuel economy, | | | | thanks to the Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner and |
| 40 mpg on the highway or 33 mpg combined. | | | | Mazda Tribute sharing the same hybrid system. |
| Chevy Cruze -- Its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder | | | | Getting 34 mpg city, 31 highway isn't likely to be |
| is lighter and more powerful than the Fiesta and it, | | | | challenged although gas powered Chevrolet Equinox |
| too, should deliver 40 mpg on the highway, clearly | | | | and GMC Terrain get 32 mpg on the highway, 22 |
| the leading vehicle in the compact class. | | | | around on town. |
| Hyundai Sonata -- Relying exclusively on four cylinder | | | | As far as diesel powered vehicles go, Volkswagen |
| engines hasn't hurt the Hyundai Sonata which gets a | | | | continues to lead all comers. Its diesel Golf and Jetta |
| class-leading (midsize) highway fuel economy rating of | | | | models get 30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway by far the |
| 35 mpg on the highway. Expect the Ford Fusion | | | | best in class fuel economy for any diesel models. |