Honda Insight

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Tesla, Toyota Prius among most fuel-thrifty 2014 cars

It’s easy to list the most fuel-efficient cars and truck simply by miles per gallon. But listing the most fuel-sipping vehicles in categories is more comprehensive. Kelley Blue Book assembles a lot of car lists each year, but its most efficient car list for 2014 is arguably its most informative. The list ranges from cars under $20,000 to truck-based SUVs and electric cars to sports cars. Here’s what Kelley Blue Book wrote about the Toyota Prius c One, the most fuel efficient car in the United States with a sticker price of less than $20,000: “The littlest Prius has a strong family resemblance to the full-size Prius and a name that has earned green cred over the years. Delivering 50

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Consumer Reports: 11 Japanese cars best not to buy

Honda and Toyota make cars annually on best-of-the-year lists and perennially among the best-selling automobiles in history. Who’s to argue against the enduring success of the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry? But Consumer Reports knows plenty about cars and the respected publication has a a lot to write about Japanese cars it believes should be avoided. The Consumer Reports list is based on the company’s overall testing criteria the Japanese cars to avoid had total score below 60 and were given “F” grades. Here’s the list of the vehicles, each car’s total and comments why the vehicle is rated so poorly. Vehicle/Overall Road-Test Score/Problems 1. Scion IQ, 29, ride, noise, acceleration, steering, driving position, fit and finish, radio controls, blind

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2013 Chevrolet Volt: Slick, practical, fuel-stingy engineering marvel

The electric-gas 2013 Chevrolet Volt’s electric-only operating range has been extended three miles to an EPA-estimated 38 miles, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature. Many drivers can’t control terrain or temperature, but driving techniques must be altered, which may not be easy for many Volt owners. No, they’re “not in Kansas anymore.” Total Volt range with the help of a small range-extending 84-horsepower gas engine is an estimated 382 miles under good conditions. The twin-overhead-camshaft engine calls for premium fuel and has a 9.3-gallon tank capacity. The Volt’s propulsion system combines pure electric drive and the sophisticated gas engine. Its long-life battery consists of a lithium-ion battery pack that supplies energy to an electric drive unit to propel the

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Kelley Blue Book: 2013 Scion iQ Cheapest U.S. car to own for five-year tenure

Kelley Blue Book, like many other automotive sites, likes car lists. Arguably the enduring site’s most popular list is its annual compilation of the cheapest cars to own. The new list covers 22 categories for 2013 models. The new list is collaboration with Forbes.com and winners of the Kelley Blue Book Total Cost of Ownership Awards. The list considers many factors: depreciation, fuel, insurance costs, registration fees and maintenance. Add up all the factors and the amount is the cost of the vehicle over five years. Here’s the list in 22 categories with the segment vehicle name, Base, MSRP, 5-year cost and cost per mile: Subcompact, Scion iQ, $16,250, $27,011, $0.36 Compact, Hyundai Veloster, $18,395, $30,581, $0.41 Hybrid/Alternative Energy, Honda

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: At less than $20,000 and 53 mpg, it's all the rage

The 2012 Toyota Prius c was destined to attract a lot of attention. And less than a week into its debut, that’s certainly been the case for the smallest car in the Toyota lineup and the most fuel efficient non-plug-in hybrid in the United States. A starting price of less than $20,000 and the dethroning of its older sibling, the original Toyota Prius, as the country’s most efficient fuel-sipping car hasn’t hurt, either. Add it all up and the Prius c, which debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car, is EPA rated at 53 mpg in city driving and 46 mpg in highway driving. Combined, the Prius c is rated at 50 mpg, the same as

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Chevy Volt, Honda Insight top best gas mileage cars in past quarter century

With gas, hybrid, electric and now natural gas vehicles now all vying for better gas mileages averages and the marketing fuel efficiency among manufacturers at its peak, it’s hard to keep track of what carmakers top the list. What might come as a surprise, it’s not all current models make the all-time list of best gas mileage average — at least dating to 1986 — or the last quarter century. Here are the top-10 gas mileage average (internal combustion engines) dating to 1986: 1. Chevrolet Volt (2011–12), Plug-in hybrid, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, auto (variable gear ratios), premium gasoline, 60, city; 58 highway, combined, 62.2. Honda Insight (2000), 3 cyl, 1.0L, manual 5-speed, regular gasoline, 53/49/61.3. Toyota Prius (2010–12), 4

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Mitsubishi i-MiEV top mpg on EPA 2012 list, Nissan Leaf 2nd

As expected, the much-touted 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV has the highest gas mileage of any vehicle available in the United States, according the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new Mitsubishi gets a combined 112 mpg, with the combined mileage weighted via 55 percent city and 45 percent highway mileage calculation. The Mitsubishi attained a 126 mpg average in city driving and 99 mpg on the highway.

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World debuts for Mazda, Ford, Honda at LA Auto Show

World debuts of 20 cars from Chevrolet to Honda and more than 30 North American auto unveilings will comprise a chunky dose of the anticipated start November 16 of the Los Angeles Auto Show. In addition to the 1,000 new vehicles on display at the Los Angeles Convention Center, several manufacturers have upgraded exhibit spaces and added enhanced features with more interactive content and experiences. There will also be more than a half-dozen test drives that put consumers in the seats and on the streets in some new vehicles on select days. Notable this year will be a significant increase in fuel efficiency across the board in all categories. Nearly 20 highly-efficient, 40-mpg-plus vehicles, using internal combustion engines-such as the

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Honda Fit EV, 2013: Another new car joins green car parade

Key Takeaways Unveiled at the 2011 LA Auto Show: The production Fit EV followed its concept debut at the same show one year earlier, marking Honda’s entry into the mass-market battery electric vehicle segment. 90 mph top speed with 70-100 mile range: The concept demonstrated respectable performance limits and a driving range that would cover most daily commutes without needing a mid-day charge. Honda’s challenge to Toyota’s EV dominance: The Fit EV represented Honda’s direct response to Toyota’s leadership in alternative fuel vehicles, joining the FCX Clarity, Civic Natural Gas, and Insight in Honda’s green lineup. Familiar Fit platform with electric powertrain: By using the popular gas-powered Fit as its base, Honda aimed to deliver an EV that felt familiar

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Hybrid market expands in 2012, Toyota Prius v to BMW

Citing impressive statistics, the Auto Channel on MSN.com has a comprehensive listing of 2012 hybrids, from the industry standard Toyota Prius to its new sibling, the Prius v, as well as debuting high-end offerings from Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. MSN.com states as many as 50 hybrids could be on the market by 2015 and that ghe overall hybrid market share has nearly doubled in 2011 to about two percent. Here, for example. is what MSN.com said about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Toyota Prius v: Hyundai Sonata: "This impressive hybrid entry is fast gaining converts, and it's not hard to see why: The Sonata is a fully equipped, smartly designed midsized fuel sipper, comparable to but cheaper than hybrid versions

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Toyota, Honda pace top-10 best gas mileage car list

The 2012 Mitsubishi i, sometimes described as a jellybean, tops the list of the 10 cars with the best gas mileage currently available in the United States. Honda and Toyota each have two cars on the list. The website www.greencarreports compiled the list, which features 2012 and 2011 models and cars rated by MPG (miles per gallon) and MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). The website describes the leader of the list as "Mitsubishi's powered jellybean, the 'i' electric car. The looks might not be to all tastes but with an average of 112 MPGe, it currently ranks top on the EPA's leaderboard of fuel efficiency." Here's the list: 2012 Mitsubishi i, 112 MPGe 2011 Nissan Leaf, 99 MPG 2012 Chevrolet

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LA Auto Show, 2011: BMW i8 Concept to Toyota Prius Plug-in

Fuel Efficiency and Green will be among automakers' key topics at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show — from entry level brands to high performance machines. As the first major North American auto show of the season, the 2011 L.A. Auto Show is scheduled Nov. 18-27 and will host some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts. New entries into this fuel-efficient category include the Hyundai Veloster, the 2012 Kia Rio and the 2012 Mazda3 with SKYACTIV technology. Mazda's new SKYACTIV powertrain and chassis technologies will also be featured in the North American Debut of its all-new CX-5 crossover. BMW will introduce new, more-powerful, four-cylinder engine technology, but placed in popular performance cars-the Z4 and 528. Both boast improved

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Hyundai, Honda lead new decree: 40 mpg the new 30 mpg

If 40 mpg is the new 30 mpg in the automotive world, then more manufacturers —  Hyundai to Volkswagen, Honda to Toyota — have reached the new milestone as car buyers seek more economical options. Hyundai is at the forefront of the influx of 40 mpg with newly designed 2011 Hyundai Elantra. With its base price of $14,830 and fuel economy of 29 in city driving and 40 mpg on the the highway, it costs an estimated $51 for a tank of gas (at $4 per gallon) and will travel an estimated 538 miles per tank. The 2011 Hyundia Sonata (hybrid) is also listed at 40 mpg in highway driving. Here are several other 2011 models averaging at least 40

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BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz on 2011 dubious cars list

In its seemingly endless quest to present car lists, CNNMoney.com’s lastest automotive tabulation is its top-10 most disappointing cars of 2011. The list includes some surprising choices, BMW to Honda, Acura to Mercedes-Benz — manufacturers often on top-10 best car lists. Here’s what Alex Taylor III, a senior editor-at-large for the website, wrote about the 2011 BMW X6 — the surprisingly poor seller: “The X6 is marketed as a ‘sports activity coupe’ that combines the attributes of an SUV (high ground clearance, all wheel drive large wheels and tires) with the stance of a coupé (bold styling, dramatic sloping roof).” “BMW sales are hot, but buyers are apparently confused by the concept, put off by the chunky styling, or deterred

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Nissan Leaf Named Kelley Blue Book Green Car of 2011

Despite its miniscule fleet in the United States, the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle  has been named the top green vehicle of 2011 by Kelley Blue Book because of its “ground-breaking combination of range, room and price.” The Chevy Volt, an electric car with a range-extending gas engine finished second in the voting by the renowned car guide. Although there about 20,000 active reservations in the U.S. for the Nissan Leaf, less than 500 have been delivered via mechanical issues or the recent earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. Kelley Blue Book  labeled the Leaf as “the first electric car for the masses.” Here’s a list of the top 10 electric cars of 2011, according to Kelly Blue Book: 1. 2011 Nissan

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Ferrari, Nissan, BMW chosen on 2011 All-Ugly car list

It’s not often Ferrari and Mazda or Lotus and Nissan are featured in the same car discussion. But all of them, and several other surprising choices, have been selected on the list of the 10 ugliest cars of 2011. John Pearley Huffman, who writes the appropriately titled Taking Blame column for the Inside Line feature on Edmunds.com, has strong and clever opinions. And he has a good share of detractors because of his selections. Huffman believes the Ferrari California is a ugly as the Mazda3 sedan. And he lumps the Dodge Caliber with the BMW6 series. The trio of newfangled electric-gas hybrids, the Chevy Volt, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius are grouped in an all-ugly category Huffman describes as “one

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