| According to the United Sates Department of Energy, | | | | regular Civic and makes it even more efficient. With |
| these are the most fuelefficient vehicles in their | | | | atotal output of 110hp, the Civic hybrid is very |
| respective classes. | | | | competitive for its class. The hybridversion of the Civic |
| Most fuel-efficient vehicle overall - Honda Insight hybrid | | | | costs about $5000 more than basic sedan but it |
| (60 mpg city / 66 mpg highway) | | | | includes manymore standard features, and some |
| Once again the Honda Insight hybrid has taken top | | | | features (like automatic climate control) that arenot |
| honors as being North | | | | available on the regular Civic for any price. |
| America's most fuel-efficient vehicle. With a 1.0 gas | | | | Most fuel-efficient subcompact car - Volkswagen |
| engine mated to an electricmotor, the Insight produces | | | | New Beetle diesel |
| 71 horsepower. The Insight was designed to make | | | | (37 mpg city / 44 mpg highway) |
| themost of that power using low resistance tires and | | | | The New Beetle diesel stays on the list even in the |
| by having a co-efficient of drag of | | | | face of an onslaught ofhybrid offerings. Making 100hp, |
| .25 (the lower the number the better a vehicle is able | | | | the New Beetle diesel may not sound all thatpowerful |
| to cut through the wind. Atypical family sedan has a | | | | but the 177 lb-ft of torque will shame every other |
| co-efficient of drag of about .31). The | | | | vehicle on the list. Ofcourse diesels still pollute more |
| Insight'sshortcomings include a cramped interior, seating | | | | than hybrids but they offer few compromises andtheir |
| for two, and oddball styling. | | | | long-term reliability and durability is rock solid, something |
| Most fuel-efficient mid-size car - Toyota Prius hybrid | | | | that cannot yet besaid for hybrid vehicles. |
| (60 mpg city / 51 mpg highway) | | | | Most fuel-efficient small station wagon - Pontiac Vibe |
| Unlike the Honda Insight, the Prius is capable of carrying | | | | and Toyota Matrix |
| 5 people plus theirgear. The Prius generates a total of | | | | (30 mpg city / 36 mpg highway) |
| 110hp from its gasoline engine and its electricmotor. | | | | The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are the result of |
| Now in its second generation, the Prius makes few | | | | a joint venture of Toyotaand General Motors. Both |
| compromises topassenger comfort. The sleek shape | | | | vehicles come equipped with Toyota engines but |
| yields a low co-efficient of drag (.26) but | | | | much ofthe design and engineering came from |
| Toyota has managed to do this with a larger, more | | | | General Motors. The Matrix and Vibe areversatile |
| driver friendly vehicle than the | | | | vehicles suited to adventurous, active lifestyles. With a |
| Honda Insight. | | | | fuel-efficient 1.8L |
| Most fuel-efficient compact car - Honda Civic hybrid | | | | 4-cylinder producing 126hp, the Matrix and Vibe are not |
| (49 mpg city, 51 mpg highway) | | | | going to win many streetraces but they make up for it |
| Touted as being North America's cheapest hybrid, the | | | | in smoothness, efficiency, and refinement. |
| Honda Civic Hybridtakes the great design of the | | | | |