New EPA Fuel Economy Guide Reveals Ten Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles For 2009 [I Feel Gassy]

The Environmental Protection Agency just released their 2009 EPA Fuel Economy Guide and we've pored through the hot-off-the-presses data to pull out this list of the ten most fuel efficient cars for sale in the US next year. Not surprisingly, the Toyota Prius once again tops the list with a combined 48 mpg city/45 mpg highway performance. Though hybrids take four of the top five spots, the Volkswagen Jetta/Jetta SportWagen Diesels cracked the top ten with a 30/41 mpg rating. Also showing up in the lineup for the first time is the new Chevy Cobalt XFE with a fuel economy rating of 25/37 mpg. The rest of the list and the top performers in each category below.

The Ten Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles For 2009

We've provided you two lists, one of the top ten vehicles ranked by highest fuel economy in city driving, the other, by highest fuel economy on the highway

Make Model: City or Highway

By City:
1.) Toyota Prius: 48
2.) Honda Civic Hybrid: 40
3.) Nissan Altima Hybrid: 35
4.) Ford Escape/Mariner Hybrid 2WD: 34
5.) Smart Fortwo: 33
Toyota Camry Hybrid: 33
7.) Volkswagen Jetta/SportWagen Diesel: 30
8.) Toyota Yaris: 29
9.) Mini Cooper: 28
Honda FIt: 28

By Highway
1.) Toyota Prius: 45
Honda Civic Hybrid: 45
3.) Volkswagen Jetta/SportWagen Diesel: 41
Smart Fortwo: 41
5.) Chevy Cobalt/Pontiac G5 XFE: 37
Mini Cooper: 37
7.) Toyota Yaris: 36
Honda Civic/Civic CNG: 36
9.) Chevy Cobalt/Pontiac G5: 35
Toyota Corolla/Honda Fit: 35
Ford Focus: 35

The Most Fuel Efficient Cars By Category

This list covers the most fuel efficient cars by EPA category.

Two-Seater Cars
Smart ForTwo: 33/41

Minicompact Cars
Mini Cooper: 28/37

Compact Cars
Honda Civic Hybrid: 40/45

Midsize Cars
Toyota Prius Hybrid: 48/45

Small Station Wagons
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Diesel: 30/41

Midsize Station Wagons
Kia Rondo: 20/27

Small Pickup Trucks
Ford Ranger 2WD: 21/26

Standard Pickup Trucks
Chevrolet C15 Silverado/GMC Sierra Hybrid: 21/22

Cargo Vans
Chevrolet/GMC G1500: 15/20

Minivans
Mazda Mazda5: 22/28

Sport Utility Vehicles
Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD: 34/31

[Source: FuelEconomy.gov]

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BY TOM LUDWICK

Mazda releases a few shots of its much-loved compact.

The next Mazda 3 arrives amid lofty expectations. At Car and Driver we’re big fans of the current model. The 3 took second place in a comparison test of sensible four-doors, and the Mazdaspeed 3 has had a position on our 10Best list for the past two years. In fact, the 3 is so popular that the automaker claims it accounts for almost a third of annual Mazda sales.

Mazda has released a handful of pictures in anticipation of the sedan’s debut at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show (the hatchback that will bow later). As we suspected from our latest set of spy shots the 3 has been radically redesigned with styling similar to the new Mazda 6.

Up front the nose is all-new with sharp headlights and large air intake ducts above the slim fog lights. In back, there are new LED taillamps and dual-exhaust outlets. The car’s profile hints that the dimensions have grown slightly although we’re waiting on full specifications.

Power will come from the 168-hp, 2.5-liter four pot from the 6 (replacing the 2.3), while the 2.0-liter carries over. Mazda promises a more refined ride, sporty handling, and top-of-class fuel economy.

No details have been released about the interior, but we expect to see some changes in the cockpit. Nor is there new information on the zoomy Mazdaspeed 3 yet.

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