whats the most fuel efficient gasoline car i can buy
 

i'm driving a 2006 malibu auto i'm averaging about 39 miles to gallon driving about 61 mph on highway! i'm interested in buying a new vehicle and i want the most fuel efficient,non hybrid,non diesel new car i can buy in the united states! what car do i need to buy? thanks for any advice!

New car, eh? I think that's a tall order as far as finding something efficient, the yaris, fit, and corolla are all good there, though...

If I would you I'd wait until 2009/2010 when honda/toyota release their new lines of cool stuff. I know honda is planning on releasing the fit hybrid for cheap.

i drive very long distances so it really wouldn't help to buy a hybrid and with the price of diesel about 1.00 more than gas thats not an option either

My friend has the Fit and its pretty nice but mileage is not even close to my Yaris, his roommate's '08 Civic does better. We live down the street from each other and work together so the commute is the same.

Almost forgot I rented a Versa for about 3 1/2 weeks (some lady hit my car) and I liked the power but was unhappy with the mpg.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/best/bestworstNF.shtml

Wait a year and you'll be able to buy an electric car. Wait two more years and you'll have a good variety to pick from.

Can you clarify your "long distances" comment and why a hybrid won't work?
A Prius would return excellent fuel economy - probably around 55-60 mpg - at the speeds you're driving your Malibu.

PS - 41 highway mpg in your Malibu is excellent.

Look into the new Malibu XFE or Cobalt XFE - it's one of the highest-rated non-hybrids these days. It's a new variant this year.

While hybrids do get better mileage in the city usually, they also blow away the competition on the highway. Just try to find a conventional gasoline car that gets as good of highway mileage (EPA rated) as the Prius does. Sorry, you just can't. The highest EPA rated vehicle for sale currently in the US without going with a hybrid is the Smart ForTwo rated at 33 city 41 highway. The Prius beats that very nicely with 48 city and 45 highway and is massive compared to the ForTwo. The same goes for the Civic Hybrid at 40 city 45 highway. Nothing can touch these cars (when talking brand new vehicles). Just for kicks I'll mention the Yaris EPA ratings of 29 city 36 highway. The point here is, even if the hybrid isn't getting its best mileage on the highway, it still kicks everything elses butt. Now, if you really want a high mileage highway car you'll get yourself a used Honda Insight (stopped making them in 06) rated at 48 city 58 highway.

Cobalt XFE is rated 25 / 36.

You're right about the hybrids, although a TDI can match them in highway driving. Of course, nobody does only highway driving, and a Prius will knock it down in the city. There's the higher diesel cost, too.

almost all highway
 

i'm a union electrician and i drive sometimes up to 1500 miles to get to my next job and most of the time weekly drives of 400-600 miles one way i need a fuel efficient vehicle that i can put 200,000 miles on! size really doesn't matter because most of the time its just me in the car!

Wow. With those miles, get the most efficient hybrid available. It'll easily pay off. I know of one Prius that went 350,000 miles with no replacement parts, until it died in a wreck. Also a taxi driver in Vancouver whose prius went 200,000 before Toyota traded him a new one so they could analyze the first one.

Hey Joe ... seems like you are getting some pretty impressive numbers already out of that car considering the numbers of that vehicle..

Fuel Type Regular
MPG (city) 21
MPG (highway) 29
MPG (combined) 24

What mods do you currently have done to the Malibu?

get a Mercedes Benz 190D 2.2 with the 5 speed manual. They yield 40mpg + on the highway.

to trikkconceptz
 

i have a k&n air filter, my tires aired up to 41lbs,use synthetic motor oil and drive 60 mph on interstate, my record mpg's is 47 on a 300 mile trip. i normally get between 40-44 on interstate if its fairly flat i get between 28-34 in the city ,but i baby the car and coast as much as possible! its a fun game to me to chrunch fuel mileage numbers!

Wow. Thats great mileage out of a Malibu. Kudos to you. I can't even get that out of a 2.0 5spd Civic!

Great mileage! I really like the previous generation Malibu (I've rented many over the years). The gearing is setup well and it's comfortable and efficient -- definitely a nice setup. Best domestic mid-size I can think of.

Welcome, enjoy the site, and best FE to ya...:thumbup:

RH77

An Insight would be a perfect highway runner for you. Get it in its lean burn sweet spot and keep it 60-70MPG

If you don't want to pay a lot of money but still have the gas mileage and the functionality of the malibu, get a 2003 - 2008 corrolla 5spd. They get upto 40 mpg hwy. I have a co-worker who claims to get 37 in mixed city/hwy driving. She doesn't do any sort of hypermiling. A lot of people on this board also get great gas mileage out of the corolla. Only problem is corolla with 5spd is hard to find. Don't get the XRS btw, that one is sporty and not for gas mileage. :D

An Insight would likely be around the same price as an 03 Corolla.

I'd still hold out for the Volt, if a new car is necessary. The worst specs to date have it at 50mpg highway when running off of the tank. In the city, no hybrid could touch it, since it won't use gas the first 40 or so miles. Of course, I'm in love with the Aptera, but how's that gonna work in the snow? :eek: