A few years ago, purchasing a car with anything less than a 1300 cc engine was unheard of, and in fact, it was generally the 1400 cc and 1600 cc entry level models that got most of the attention. However, buying high gas mileage cars is now one of the easiest ways to save gas.
Motor manufacturers have picked up on public need for more fuel-efficient cars and a desire to save money on fuel costs. There is also growing environmental awareness and a need to reduce our carbon footprints. This, along with years of research, has lead to the development of the super mini class of car that i cheap to run.
Engines Smaller Than a Motorcycle
The new super mini class of car is taking this new engine technology to the limit in terms of engine size, with some new models clocking in at 800cc or less. That's smaller by far than many motor cycles!
Combining a smaller engine with a more compact car all round, and paying attention to issues relating to fuel efficiency, such as aerodynamics and drag, these manufacturers have built models that save money on fuel costs with every mile you drive. Yet they still provide impressive performance, with top speeds in the region of 100 miles per hour.
In fact, with one of these new super minis, it’s not even necessary to learn how to save on fuel costs. They give you fuel savings right from the get-go. However, if combine one of these small cars with other fuel saving tactics like driving smoothly to save fuel, car pooling and making sure your car is always in top condition, you would save even more on fuel consumption.
While these little super mini cars may be dominating the conventional engine market, its hybrids, like Toyota’s Prius and Honda’s Civic that are really dominating in the mid sized market!
Both of these have been tested, and had fuel economy scores of over 40, even for town driving! With their hybrid conventional / electric engines, they are able to outperform even some of the tiniest engines out there!
This is the future of automobiles – developing cars that save fuel. Giving customers the choice to buy cars that offer better long-term value for money. In addition, with ongoing research into alternative fuels, prompted by the realization that fossil fuel supplies are not infinite, and that burning them is damaging our planet. Soon, we may be able to choose between a host of other vehicle fuel options, such as solar power, biofuel or even water, in addition to electric hybrid cars.
Ford, Mazda and Mercury are just some of the manufacturers that have released their own hybrid vehicles and models, which, although not outdoing the cars that get 40 mpg or more, these do fall into the most respectable category of vehicles that get more than 30 mpg.
Alternative Transport
However, with consumers becoming more aware of fuel efficiency, either due to economic reasons, where the global recession is forcing commuters to save money on fuel costs, or due to environmental concerns, which leads them to seek out better fuel economy options, with a view to helping save the planet, there are more options out there.
For example, almost any motor cycle or moped out there would offer better fuel efficiency that just about any model of car on the market. In fact, in some countries, where the global economic crisis has hit particularly hard, it’s not unheard of to find professionals trading in their car, or keeping it for weekends. Instead they purchase a motorcycle or moped because they are very light on fuel and very easy to park almost anywhere.
There are many alternatives to high gas mileage cars, but if you have a family to transport, it may be your best option!
Of course, there is always public transport as an option too. If your job or school is on a bus route, or nearby a train station, it may be worth your while to investigate this option. It will certainly save money, and more people using public transport systems means less traffic and congestion, which is better for the environment!
The Hyper-Milers
The Hyper-Miler is a whole new subset of driver that has developed, drivers who know how to save on fuel costs by driving to save fuel. And save they do. While the Prius’s tested fuel efficiency, clocking in at over 40 mpg on average is impressive, it has nothing compared to what a hyper-miler can do knowing how to save money on fuel!
The record for getting more mpg was set in a Prius, which produced an amazing 109 miles per gallon! That is more than double the EPA tested average!
And when you consider that well known hyper-milers like Wayne Gerdes can coax even a Honda Accord to nearly sixty miles per gallon, it becomes clear that it is not only about what car you drive, but also how you drive it that allows you to save money.
There are high gas mileage cars, and there are high gas mileage drivers. One can cancel out the other if not careful... Or, if they work together in harmony, they become an unbeatable combination to save you fuel and money.