Originally published November 27 2005
Honda and Toyota head EPA list for fuel-efficient vehicles
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Honda's Insight and Toyota's Prius, both gasoline-electric hybrids, top the list of fuel-efficient cars, with the VW AG diesel finishing close behind.
Honda Motor Co.'s Insight and Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius, the first two gasoline-electric cars, again led a U.S. government list of the most fuel-efficient 2006 vehicles, ahead of Volkswagen AG diesel cars.
Insight coupes with manual transmission had the highest rating, at 60 miles per gallon of gasoline in city driving and 66 mpg on highways, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement.
The Honda two-seater car has held the top spot since it went on sale in 1999.
Prius was second, averaging 60 mpg in city driving and 51 mpg on highways.
Volkswagen's diesel New Beetle and Golf models with manual transmission were third, followed by VW's diesel Jetta with manual transmission and Ford Motor Co.'s gasoline-electric Escape sport-utility vehicle with two-wheel drive.
Sales of smaller cars and hybrids have risen in the past two months amid U.S. average retail gasoline prices that reached a record $3.06 a gallon Sept. 5, according to AAA's fuel-price Web site.
Honda's 2006 Civic Hybrid wasn't included among the 10 most fuel-efficient models because the company submitted details of the model after the EPA's evaluation period, agency spokesman John Millett said.
The government agency this week told Honda the new Civic, which goes on sale Oct. 19, averages 49 city mpg/51 mpg highway, Honda spokesman Sage Marie said yesterday.
That would be third on the EPA list, behind the Toyota Prius.
Volkswagen's diesel New Beetle and Jetta with automatic transmission were sixth on the EPA list, with VW's diesel Golf with automatic transmission seventh.
Ford's Escape hybrid, along with the similar Mercury Mariner and Mazda Motor Corp. Tribute SUVs that use the same gasoline-electric system, was eighth.
The ninth spot was held by Toyota's Lexus RX 400h hybrid sport-utility and its Highlander SUV that uses the same gasoline- electric system.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml