Surprising Eco Heroes
Five diesel and gas cars that are fuel-efficient stars
By: Travis Persaud / 04.10.2011
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2012 Audi A3 TDI 2.0 Progressive
They steal headlines, offer government rebates and seemingly
overshadow anything else that's happening in the automotive world.
Electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and plain ol' hybrids have
captured our attention - and for good reason. They're a picture of
the future, or at the very least, the promised future.
But while hybrids and EVs been garnering front-page coverage,
regular gas and diesel offerings have become cleaner and more
efficient-and remain strong sellers. Here we take a look at the top
five gas and diesel vehicles of 2012 with regards to fuel
efficiency. Many automakers are still in the process of unveiling
their 2012 vehicles, so keep in mind that as new models hit the
road (Chevrolet Spark and Mazda3 SKYACTIV immediately come to
mind) fuel efficiency will be top of mind and they might supplant
one of these five.
2012 Ford Fiesta six-speed automatic transmission
with SFE package
5.
2012 Ford Fiesta six-speed automatic transmission with SFE
package Whew, that's a mouthful. We all know (and love?) the
Fiesta. It re-entered North America in 2010 (for the 2011 model
year), roaring with gusto and helping to revitalize the subcompact
class. Opt for the automatic transmission and Super Fuel Economy
(SFE) package, which is available on the SE trim and higher, to get
these fuel sipping numbers on either the sedan or hatchback.
City: 6.8 L/100 km
Highway: 4.9 L/100 km
Combined: 5.85 L/100 km
2012 Hyundai Accent manual transmission
4. 2012 Hyundai Accent
manual transmission Hyundai continues to refresh its lineup
with eye-catching, fluid designs. The new Accent is the latest to
undergo this transformation. The car that was known for being the
cheapest vehicle available in Canada will soon be spoken about as
one of the best looking subcompacts on the road. Get either the
sedan or hatchback with manual transmission to achieve the best
fuel numbers.
City: 6.7 L/100 km
Highway: 4.9 L/100 km
Combined: 5.8 L/100 km
2012 Audi A3 TDI 2.0 Progressive
3. 2012 Audi
A3 TDI 2.0 Progressive Wait, this is more efficient than the
Honda Civic? Yup. The Chevrolet Cruze? You got it. The Mazda2? Most
certainly. Yes, we were also surprised to see this make the list.
Audi's TDI 2.0 Progressive engine turns this very chic, upscale
hatchback into more than just an attractive four-wheeler. It's a
diesel vehicle that burns clean and keeps you on the road that much
longer.
City: 6.7 L/100 km
Highway: 4.7 L/100 km
Combined: 5.7 L/100 km
2012 Smart fortwo
2. 2012 Smart fortwo The next generation
Smart fortwo doesn't stray far from what's made it a popular city
car: It's small, has enough room for daily commutes and comes in a
very cute package. It'll make you think twice about buying a
hybrid.
City: 5.9 L/100 km
Highway: 4.8 L/100 km
Combined: 5.35 L/100 km
2012 Scion iQ
1. 2012 Scion iQ It doesn't
matter who Toyota is targeting with its "youth oriented" Scion
brand, exceptional fuel numbers cross all age boundaries. Dubbed as
the "world's smallest four-person passenger car," the micro
subcompact iQ is only three metres long. It might be small, but
it's a pretty big deal to have a vehicle that's this
economical.
City: 5.5 L/100 km
Highway: 4.6 L/100 km
Combined: 5.1 L/100 km