2012 FUEL EFFICIENCY CHARTS - compare the MPG & fuel cost of leading makes and models
Gas:
Small Cars, Sedans
Diesel
Hybrid
Electric

Gas Mileage Comparison

by GearHead Jim

To make sure you are getting the most miles out of your hard earned dollars, you should begin by making  gas mileage comparisons between cars. This will allow you to save money on your future daily drives.

Choosing a new car

Choosing a vehicle these days requires more than just looking at the shiny brochures and picking the fanciest options. Cost of maintenance and fuel economy also need to be included. Total cost of ownership has never been on my mind when buying a car but it makes sense to have a good look at the figures before you commit to a vehicle that will have to serve you for many years to come.

The importance of gas mileage comparisons only became apparent in the USA since oil prices went crazy in 2008. Not only will it allow your vehicle to respect the environment, but it will also provide you with a way to save a lot of money.

The rising prices for gas and maintenance is making it increasingly important to make sure that you are able to get the most miles out of every drop.

Calculating your MPG

Starting with calculating how many miles you are getting per gallon will allow you to take the first step in gaining the knowledge needed to drive more efficiently.

You can find your miles per gallon by setting your odometer to zero when you fill up your tank. When after a few days you fill it up again, you will write down the number of miles as well as the number of gallons that you have driven. You then divide the miles by the gallons, which will give you an estimate of how many miles per gallon you are getting on average.

Comparing Gas Mileage

These initial figures are not really helpful if you want to compare your car to others. There are many factors that determine how much gas your vehicle will use. Do you spend more time on the highways or in city traffic?

There is a standardized method of measuring gas mileage, set up by the EPA or environmental protection agency. They publish fuel economy figures for all cars on the US market so you can compare side by side at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm

Most car manufacturers publish these MPG estimates as well and your dealer should be able to share them with you.

There has been a lot of research lately to build cars with better fuel economy. One of them is the famous Toyota Prius. It is a great mid-sizes family car but it will not suit you if you need a small truck of course.

By doing a gas mileage comparison for different car models you are interested in, you will be able to make an informed decision about the fuel economy before your next purchase.

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2012 Sedans – Fuel Efficiency Comparisons

by GearHead Jim

Sedans have been a customer favorite for years – they’re spacious, powerful and small enough to handle well under most conditions. In 2012, car manufacturers have put a premium on fuel efficiency while sticking true to the nature of sedans, family and large versions alike. After tossing the top models into our fuel efficiency equations, the Elantra, Camry, Optima and Sonata came out on top. It’s tough to beat an aggregate (city + highway) MPG of 35-40 and not cut corners on looks and features, but the cream of this crop got pretty darn close.

The rumors out there tout even more efficient sedans come 2013, but if you’re in the market now and want to downsize from a gas-guzzling SUV or large truck and still ride in comfort and luxury, give this crop of sedans a closer look.

Sedan MPG & Cost Analysis

Click any of the headers below to re-sort.

CategoryClassYearMakeModelOptionsCity (MPG)Hwy (MPG)Total (MPG)Fuel cost /mo(1)Fuel cost /yr(1)Save /yr(2)
GasSedans2012HyundaiElantra1.8 L, 4 cyl auto294033$175$2,100$1,365
GasSedans2012HyundaiElantra1.8 L, 4 cyl mnl294033$175$2,100$1,365
GasSedans2012ToyotaCamry2.5 L, 4 cyl auto253528$206$2,475$990
GasSedans2012KiaOptima2.4 L, 4 cyl auto243528$206$2,475$990
GasSedans2012KiaOptima2.4 L, 4 cyl mnl243528$206$2,475$990
GasSedans2012HyundaiSonata2.4 L, 4 cyl auto243528$206$2,475$990
GasSedans2012HyundaiSonata2.4 L, 4 cyl mnl243528$206$2,475$990
GasSedans2012HondaAccord2.4 L, 4 cyl auto233427$214$2,567$898
GasSedans2012HondaAccord2.4 L, 4 cyl mnl233427$214$2,567$898
GasSedans2012NissanAltima2.5 L, 4 cyl auto233227$214$2,567$898
GasSedans2012FordFusion FWD2.5 L, 4 cyl auto233326$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012SuzukiKizashi2.4 L, 4 cyl auto233026$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012SuzukiKizashi S2.4 L, 4 cyl auto233126$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012SubaruLegacy AWD2.5 L, 4 cyl auto233126$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012ChevroletMalibu2.4 L, 4 cyl auto223326$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012KiaOptima2.0 L, 4 cyl auto223426$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012VolkswagenPassat2.5 L, 5 cyl mnl223226$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012HyundaiSonata2.0 L, 4 cyl auto223426$222$2,665$800
GasSedans2012Mazda62.5 L, 4 cyl auto223125$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012ToyotaCamry3.5 L, 6 cyl auto213025$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012VolkswagenCC2.0 L, 4 cyl auto223125$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012FordFusion S FWD2.5 L, 4 cyl mnl223225$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012SuzukiKizashi AWD2.4 L, 4 cyl auto222925$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012SuzukiKizashi S2.4 L, 4 cyl mnl213125$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012SuzukiKizashi S AWD2.4 L, 4 cyl auto233025$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012VolkswagenPassat2.5 L, 5 cyl auto223125$231$2,772$693
GasSedans2012Mazda62.5 L, 4 cyl mnl213024$241$2,888$578
GasSedans2012Chrysler2002.4 L, 4 cyl auto213024$241$2,888$578
GasSedans2012DodgeAvenger2.4 L, 4 cyl auto213024$241$2,888$578
GasSedans2012VolkswagenCC2.0 L, 4 cyl mnl213124$241$2,888$578
GasSedans2012FordFusion FWD2.5 L, 4 cyl mnl222924$241$2,888$578
GasSedans2012MitsubishiGalant2.4 L, 4 cyl auto213024$241$2,888$578
GasSedans2012BuickRegal2.0 L, 4 cyl mnl203224$241$2,888$578

 

1) Estimated with a gas price/gallon of $3.85 and 1,500 miles driven per month.
2) Compared to a 20 MPG vehicle under identical driving conditions.

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2012 Small Car Fuel Efficiency Comparisons

January 31, 2012

Cute and tiny might’ve made them a target for ridicule in the past, but in a recession, no one’s laughing at the fuel efficiency of small cars. Everyone knows the smaller the load, the higher your mileage, but these cars have a lot of other things going for them. For starters, most are much more [...]

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2012 Diesel Fuel Efficiency Comparisons

January 31, 2012

Diesel used to be most known as the fuel of choice for 16-wheelers and big rigs, but its cleaner burning properties (compared to regular gas) has turned the tide in its favor. Don’t let its higher per gallon cost sway you – diesel is 20-40% more fuel efficient, so you’ll fill up less often and, [...]

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2012 Hybrid Fuel Efficiency Comparisons

January 31, 2012

Over the past decade, hybrid vehicles have come a long way.    They used to be slow, eye-sores and just not that fun to drive.   More recently, though, the majority of manufacturers have jumped into the hybrid fray, either with their flagship models or similar iterations.    Among the 2012 models, not surprisingly, the [...]

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2012 Small Cars with the Best Gas Mileage

January 29, 2012

Gas prices don’t appear to be dropping anytime soon, so it’s more important than ever to find a fuel-efficient vehicle. Small cars tend to have the best mileage (due to weight and shape) so if you’re looking to downsize with your next car, here’s a list of the 2012 small cars with the best gas [...]

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