honda

Honda Fit Gas Mileage: 2007 – 2013

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While the subcompact Honda Fit was first introduced to the US in the 2007 model year, it was first released in Japan way back in 2001. The Fit produces solid gas mileage figures, with highway ratings in the mid-thirty mile per gallon (MPG) range. The diminutive five door is remarkably popular in the UK and Europe, where it’s known as the Honda Jazz. The Fit ably fills the entry-level niche in the Honda lineup, long held by the Civic.

The 2013 Honda Fit is equipped with a 1.5 liter four cylinder VTEC engine that produces 117 horsepower and 106 foot pounds of torque. The Fit can be configured with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. In Fit Sport trim, the automatic tranny is controlled via steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. An all-wheel-drive version of the Fit is available in Japan. There’s no word if or when an AWD Fit will become available here in the States.

The big news for 2013 is the arrival of the 100% Electric Fit EV. The Fit EV’s 20kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged in as little as three hours from a 240V charger. The Fit EV’s electric motor produces a whopping 189 foot-pounds of torque … a 77 percent increase over the conventionally-powered Fit.

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Best Gas Mileage Four Wheel Drive

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Need a four wheel drive with the best gas mileage? Get ready to downsize. None of the best gas mileage four wheel drives (4WDs) are jumbo-sized sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

Simply put, the aerodynamics and vehicle weight of the bulkiest SUVs cause gas mileage to suffer, leading to many a painful transaction at the pump. The trick is to get small(er), lighter, and more slippery. Credit Subaru for getting the ball rolling with popularizing economical 4WD drive passenger cars in the early days. Since 1997, every vehicle Subaru’s offered in America has been all wheel drive.

These days, it’s not just Subaru. There are plenty of four wheel drive choices that are neither truck nor SUV. And forget the notion of pint-sized economy cars. You’ll find a generous helping of 4WD luxury from manufacturers including Audi, Volvo, Cadillac, and Lexus … in fact, you’ll find many of their offerings in the 2008 list of best gas mileage four wheel drives.

Purists will gladly share that there’s a difference between four wheel drive and all wheel drive (AWD). And surely there is … but for a great many folks, it comes down to two simple questions: will it go in the snow and will I go broke feeding it?

At the other end of the spectrum, the little Suzuki SX4 delivers plenty of bang for the buck, by combining the best four wheel drive gas mileage with a low sticker price (for those who don’t just think miles per gallon … but miles per dollar.)

Along with its corporate cousins, the Ford Escape Hybrid proves the exception to the rule as the highest all around mile per gallon (MPG) four wheel drive vehicle. If you can’t get a great deal on an Escape Hybrid at your local Ford dealer, take a look at the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. And if you happen to live in Southern California, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid HEV might be an option … as long as you’re able to snag one of the 350 Tribute HEVs built for this test market.)

2008 Best Gas Mileage Four Wheel Drives

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Honda Odyssey Gas Mileage: 1995 – 2013

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Although Honda’s popular Odyssey was first introduced in 1995, it didn’t hit its stride until a 1999 redesign. Over the years, the Odyssey’s solid reputation for quality and good gas mileage ratings have enabled it to become one of the best-selling minivans in America.

The Odyssey was redesigned for the 2011 model year. All 2011 Odysseys are fitted with the 3.5-liter 24-Valve SOHC i-VTEC V6 engine, rated at 248 HP. The LX, EX, and EX-L models use a five-speed automatic, while the Touring Edition uses a six-speed. Fuel economy figures have improved over previous years, with the LX, EX, and EX-L rated at 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined and the Touring Edition rated at 19 / 28 / 22.

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30 MPG Cars

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Thirty miles per gallon (MPG) on the highway isn’t too much to ask. As the chart below shows, the 30 MPG car isn’t a rarity in America these days. Alas, it’s not nearly as common as it was 25 years ago. Looking back at the lists of high MPG cars built in the early 1980s might be a surprise to some, for the lists were long and the fuel efficiency ratings were high. The 30 MPG car was not an oddity back then … it was more part of our nation’s mindset.

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Honda Pilot Gas Mileage: 2003 – 2013

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The mid-size Honda Pilot SUV was introduced in the 2003 model year. While the Pilot’s gas mileage may not seem impressive at first glance – highway gas mileage ratings of twenty or so miles per gallon (MPG) in 4WD trim – it’s good to keep in mind that it’s an eight-passenger SUV.

The Pilot was redesigned for the 2009 model year and is propelled by a 3.5 liter V-6 producing 250 horsepower (up from 244 HP in earlier models). All models use a five-speed automatic transmission. Although the Pilot is often criticized for being thirsty, the automatic transmission can reward light-footed drivers with higher than expected fuel-efficiency. The trick is to maximize inertia and drive with your foot off the throttle, whenever practical.

We’ve tested extensively with a 2003 Pilot that now has over 170,000 miles on the odometer. By using a ScanGaugeII, we were able to make significantly improve our gas mileage by changing our driving style.

If our high-mileage Pilot continues to hold up (fingers crossed), we plan to install low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tires and swap out all the fluids (engine oil, transmission fluid, differential) for synthetics. LRR tires in the Pilot’s 235/70R16 stock size include the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia, Continental CrossContact, Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max, Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season, and General Grabber HTS.

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