The manual version of the two-seat hybrid Honda Insight wins the battle for the most fuel efficient car with an estimated 66 miles a gallon on the highway. The Toyota Prius came in second with 55 miles per gallon on the highway.
Both cars get an estimated 60 miles per gallon in city driving.
The fuel economy estimates are from new mileage ratings announced by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
The Insight is a gas-electric hybrid car, as is the Prius, a four-seater. Like most hybrids, they deliver better mileage in stop-and-go driving than in steady highway cruising. The EPA's fuel economy figures are based on laboratory tests. Owners of most hybrids report lower actual mileage driving the vehicles.
The Ford hybrid Escape SUVs is the only American vehicle to make the fuel economy list.
The Prius ranks as the most efficient mid-sized sedan. The Hyundai Elantra is listed as the most efficient non-hybrid mid-sized sedan. The Elantra gets an estimated 34 miles per gallon on the highway and 27 in the city.
The list is designed to help consumers choose vehicles and offers a variety of cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles to buyers, according to the EPA. The government compiles the annual list based on information from manufacturers.
The automatic transmission version of the Dodge Ram pickup, which gets 9 mpg in the city and 12 mpg on the highway, is the least fuel efficient vehicle, according to the survey.
Top 10 vehicles overall:
Ranking | Model | City | Highway |
1. | Honda Insight | 60 mpg | 66 mpg |
2. | Toyota Prius | 60 | 51 |
3. | Volkswagen New Beetle/ Golf (diesel, manual) | 37 | 44 |
4. | Volkswagen Jetta (diesel) | 36 | 41 |
5. | Ford Escape Hybrid FWD | 36 | 31 |
6. | Volkswagen New Beetle/Jetta (diesel, automatic) | 35 | 42 |
7. | Volkswagen Golf (diesel, automatic) | 33 | 44 |
8. | Ford Escape 4WD (Also Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner 4WD hybrids) | 33 | 29 |
9. | Lexus RX 400h 2WD, Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD | 33 | 28 |
10. | Toyota Corolla (manual) | 32 | 41 |
