The 10 most fuel-efficient cars according to Consumer Reports

Buying a vehicle with good fuel economy saves drivers money; these 10 hybrids or plug-in hybrids all carry CR’s Green Choice certification.

Jan 24, 2025 - 06:30

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The 10 most fuel-efficient cars according to Consumer Reports

Strangely chilly temperatures non-public created treacherous stipulations for American drivers — no longer simplest enact they've to establish limitless quantities of snow and ice from their windshields and exercise warning on the twin carriageway, however the iciness is additionally taking a toll on their gasoline mileage.

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Vitality, chilly weather negatively impacts gasoline effectivity on powertrains of all sorts. As an illustration, gasoline-powered engines portray 15% decrease gasoline economy in city driving at 20 levels Fahrenheit than they enact at 70 levels Fahrenheit; hybrid autos lose as great as 34%, whereas for EVs it’s even worse — they lose as a lot as 39%.

Why is gasoline effectivity worse in the winter?

Your driving habits non-public a giant originate on gasoline economy, however so enact other factors, like friction and temperature. In accordance with the Vitality Department, chilly weather can wreak havoc on autos in more systems than one:

Frosty engine oil increases friction in engines and transmissions, which is able to abolish it more sturdy on your vehicle to launch.
Frosty weather weather makes it rob longer for vehicle engines to achieve their most gasoline-efficient temperatures.
When drivers and passengers flip on heated seats and window defrosters, they’re additionally the usage of more energy in the heart of.
Frosty air itself acts like a high-tail on a vehicle, main to lowered aerodynamics.
Car batteries lose charge in less warm temperatures, reducing the amount of energy they'll generate. For hybrids and EVs, chilly weather can additionally non-public an ticket on regenerative braking systems.

The ravishing data is that there are a couple of straightforward issues drivers can enact to relieve their vehicle’s gasoline economy in the winter. Simply parking your vehicle in an enclosed place, like a storage, can support you defend the vehicle hotter.

Also, you will seemingly be ready to greater thought out of doors excursions to include more than one actions in notify that you’re no longer continuously exerting stress for your vehicle by turning it on when the engine’s chilly.

Connected: The 10 most legit autos in response to Particular person Experiences

Not like in the previous, most vehicle producers no doubt discourage “idling,” or sitting on your vehicle whereas it warms up, because today time’s engines warmth up faster when they’re in motion, which is able to additionally flip the warmth on faster.

Producers of bolt-in hybrids and EVs additionally suggest the usage of seat heaters as an substitute of heaters to relieve set up on energy.

How does gasoline effectivity set up drivers money?

Simply put, gasoline-efficient autos let drivers travel further the usage of the the same amount of energy, whether or no longer that’s gasoline, electrical energy (thru a battery pack), or a mix of the two (hybrid).

By procuring a hybrid vehicle, you will seemingly be ready to set up 20–35% on gasoline when put next with a combustion-engine-simplest vehicle.

Connected: Best-rated 2025 SUVs below $40k in response to Particular person Experiences

Particular person Experiences, a depended on name in honest car study, testing, and ideas since 1936, estimates that proudly owning a hybrid may set up you over $4,000 over the direction of your vehicle's life.

Some 2025 bolt-in hybrid electrical autos are even eligible for federal tax credits, which is able to relieve offset their greater up-entrance costs.

The 10 most gasoline-efficient autos in response to Particular person Experiences

The 10 hybrids and bolt-in hybrids that made it onto Particular person Experiences’ checklist of gasoline-efficient autos all carry CR’s Green Preference certification. Which methodology they descend within the tip 20% of autos in the marketplace when it comes to “environmental performance,” which is a mix of a vehicle’s gasoline effectivity to boot to producing low emissions.

CR developed its Green Preference certification, which looks on its position as a small inexperienced leaf icon, in partnership with the Environmental Safety Agency’s SmartWay program, and it used to be designed to relieve buyers abolish more urged choices when procuring for his or her new vehicle, truck, or SUV.

Extra on car:

The 10 least fulfilling new autos in response to Particular person Experiences
Particular person Experiences: Most charge-efficient autos to defend over 10 years
Particular person Experiences’ best American autos, autos & SUVs of 2024

Particular person Experiences additionally exams autos on other quantitative metrics like acceleration, braking, and emergency handling at its 327-acre car testing heart, which is the greatest in the enviornment. The org additionally sends surveys to its six million participants for his or her insights on qualitative metrics, like vehicle reliability and proprietor satisfaction.

Those autos that accumulate the best ratings receive Particular person Experiences’ very best ticket, the “CR Advice.”

The 10 best gasoline-efficient autos are additionally all CR Urged picks, so it's comparable to you are getting the suitable of the best doable with this checklist.

Toyota dominates the field, boasting five out of the 10 high gasoline-efficient autos. Here's the plump checklist: