35.5 mpg by 2016? Meet the Super 99 today

[xcel]

A quick sort reveals 99 vehicles that meet the 2016 CAFÉ spec today…

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - April 3, 2010

2010 BMW 335d, North America’s most fuel efficient performance sedan, starts at $43,950, runs 0 to 60 in 6.0 seconds and is rated at 27 mpg combined per the EPA (36 mpg per CAFE’).

With the DOT/EPA’s recent announcement that the US light duty fleet will need to achieve 35.5 mpg by 2016, we were offered the opportunity to see what this actually means to the American consumer. While most CleanMPG’ers know CAFÉ’ standards are based on unadjusted pre-1985 Fuel Economy ratings which vastly overstate Fuel Economy ratings displayed and required on every new automobile sold within the US, how does the US automobile fleet actually fare?

What we did was sort the entire list of vehicles available within the US that meet this mythical 35.5 mpg CAFÉ’ standard today. The result? 99 different makes and models of today’s, safest and most fuel efficient automobiles not only meet the standard but in one case, actually doubles it! If you believe this means just subcompact fuel misers, think again as there is one performance sedan, a number of 2 and 4WD SUV’s and mid-sized sedans with conventional, hybrid and diesel power trains. If your needs cannot be met by the light duty vehicles listed below, consider the consequences.

While our politicians continue with the edict that they are fighting for the “American People”, the reality of today’s automobiles from a number of US, European and Asian manufacturers alike appears to be far beyond these politico’s basic understanding. What it shows is the men and woman within our executive and legislative branches are “pulling the wool over your eyes” when it comes to meaningful fuel economy increases and the need to stop funding “the terrorist” we have spent $Trillions of dollars to stop.

“Just the facts, Ma'am. Nothing but the facts”

In 2008, we (the US) consumed 19.5 Million Barrels of Crude oil per day to sustain our lifestyle and economy. Unfortunately, the US lost its ability to self support its oil consumption habit back in the midst of WWII and since then, has only slid further back into the abyss of oil dependence. Given US domestic oil production peaked in 1970, the problem has only got worse. As of 2008, the US imported 57% of its (our) daily needs. Of the 19.5 Million barrels we consume on a daily basis, 11.1 Million of those barrels are imported.

At the time of this write-up, Crude Oil costs as much as $85 per barrel which means we are paying upwards of $900 Million dollars per day to “others”. Some sour crudes are less costly to import but we can expect to see a lot higher than $85 per barrel as time passes. Over a year’s time, $85 per barrel equates to over One-third of a Trillion US Dollars or $1,100 for each man, woman and child who are citizens of the United States heading across our borders so that we can drive whatever meets our wants of the moment.

Maybe it is time to “take the message” to the streets in our own standard fashion with a standard guide. Let the consumer decide if he or she wants to continue to fund those that want to kill us, our friends, our families and US citizens everywhere, expedite our demise with a balance of payment crisis as we send that third of a $Trillion US Dollars to others in order to support “our drug habit” and finally emit whatever amount of CO2 we want simply because we can.

May we present to you, the Super 99!

While the 2010 list contains a number of vehicles that may not be available today including Pontiac’s and Saturn’s, a number of near equivalent vehicles with different drivetrains and vehicles that have yet to be included in the list including the available 11 Hyundai Sonata and future 2011 models that will easily break 35.5 mpg per CAFE, the fact that today’s list contains exactly 99 vehicles that meet the 2016 - 35.5 mpg standard per the DOT’s CAFE’ standards is quite interesting.

The Super 99

Rank	Make	Model	Engine displacement (Liters)	Cylinders	Transmission	08 EPA Combined (mpg)	CAFÉ standards Combined (mpg)
1	Toyota	PRIUS	1.8	4	Auto	50	70.894
2	Honda	CIVIC HYBRID	1.3	4	Auto	42	58.8362
3	Honda	INSIGHT LX	1.3	4	Auto	41	57.6633
4	Honda	INSIGHT EX	1.3	4	Auto	41	57.4322
5	Ford	FUSION HYBRID	2.5	4	Auto	39	54.1846
6	Mercury	MILAN HYBRID	2.5	4	Auto	39	54.1846
7	Smart	fortwo (CABRIOLET)	1.0	3	Auto	36	49.5029
8	Smart	fortwo (COUPE)	1.0	3	Auto	36	49.5029
9	Lexus	HS 250h	2.4	4	Auto	35	47.273
10	Nissan	ALTIMA HYBRID	2.5	4	Auto	34	46.7098
11	Volkswagen	GOLF TDI	2.0	4	Auto	34	46.1981
12	Volkswagen	JETTA TDI	2.0	4	Auto	34	46.1981
13	Audi	A3 TDI	2.0	4	Auto	34	46.1981
14	Volkswagen	JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI	2.0	4	Auto	34	46.1981
15	Toyota	CAMRY HYBRID	2.4	4	Auto	34	45.9416
16	Volkswagen	GOLF TDI	2.0	4	Manual	34	45.7021
17	Volkswagen	JETTA TDI	2.0	4	Manual	34	45.7021
18	Volkswagen	JETTA SPORTWAGEN TDI	2.0	4	Manual	34	45.7021
19	Ford	ESCAPE HYBRID	2.5	4	Auto	32	44.1352
20	Mazda	TRIBUTE HYBRID FWD	2.5	4	Auto	32	44.135
21	Mercury	MARINER HYBRID FWD	2.5	4	Auto	32	44.1352
22	Toyota	YARIS	1.5	4	Manual	32	42.5938
23	Mini	Cooper	1.6	4	Manual	32	42.5193
24	Mini	Convertible	1.6	4	Manual	31	42.2735
25	Mini	Clubman	1.6	4	Manual	31	42.2735
26	Toyota	YARIS	1.5	4	Auto	31	41.8549
27	Honda	FIT	1.5	4	Auto	31	41.3287
28	Kia	RIO	1.6	4	Manual	31	41.1392
29	Hyundai	ACCENT BLUE	1.6	4	Manual	31	40.8299
30	Hyundai	ACCENT	1.6	4	Manual	30	40.6975
31	Kia	RIO	1.6	4	Auto	30	40.415
32	Lexus	RX 450h	3.5	6	Auto	30	40.3557
33	Nissan	VERSA	1.8	4	Auto	30	40.2628
34	Kia	FORTE	2.0	4	Auto	30	40.2557
35	Hyundai	ACCENT	1.6	4	Auto	30	40.2081
36	Chevrolet	AVEO 5	1.6	4	Manual	30	39.9887
37	Suzuki	SWIFT	1.6	4	Manual	30	39.9887
38	Chevrolet	AVEO	1.6	4	Manual	30	39.9887
39	Pontiac	G3 (5 DOOR)	1.6	4	Manual	30	39.9887
40	Honda	FIT	1.5	4	Auto	30	39.811
41	Toyota	COROLLA	1.8	4	Manual	30	39.7196
42	Honda	FIT	1.5	4	Manual	29	39.6951
43	Toyota	COROLLA	1.8	4	Auto	29	39.402
44	Chevrolet	COBALT COUPE	2.2	4	Manual	29	39.31
45	Chevrolet	COBALT XFE COUPE	2.2	4	Manual	30	39.31
46	Pontiac	G5	2.2	4	Manual	29	39.31
47	Pontiac	G5 GT	2.2	4	Manual	29	39.31
48	Pontiac	G5 XFE	2.2	4	Manual	30	39.31
49	Chevrolet	COBALT SEDAN	2.2	4	Manual	29	39.31
50	Chevrolet	COBALT XFE SEDAN	2.2	4	Manual	30	39.31
51	Scion	xD	1.8	4	Manual	29	39.3004
52	Honda	CIVIC	1.8	4	Auto	29	39.2645
53	Scion	xD	1.8	4	Auto	29	39.2527
54	Honda	CIVIC	1.8	4	Manual	29	39.2412
55	Hyundai	ELANTRA BLUE	2.0	4	Manual	29	39.2326
56	Lexus	RX 450h AWD	3.5	6	Auto	29	39.1515
57	Nissan	SENTRA	2.0	4	Auto	29	39.1051
58	Mini	Cooper S	1.6	4	Manual	29	38.8644
59	Mini	Cooper S Convertible	1.6	4	Manual	29	38.8644
60	Mini	Clubman S	1.6	4	Manual	29	38.8644
61	Ford	ESCAPE HYBRID 4WD	2.5	4	Auto	29	38.8165
62	Mazda	TRIBUTE HYBRID 4WD	2.5	4	Auto	29	38.8165
63	Mercury	MARINER HYBRID 4WD	2.5	4	Auto	29	38.8165
64	Hyundai	ELANTRA	2.0	4	Auto	29	38.7552
65	Chevrolet	MALIBU HYBRID	2.4	4	Auto	29	38.5776
66	Nissan	VERSA	1.6	4	Manual	29	38.2701
67	Hyundai	ELANTRA	2.0	4	Manual	29	37.9306
68	Nissan	VERSA	1.6	4	Auto	28	37.8863
69	Pontiac	VIBE	1.8	4	Manual	28	37.8592
70	Toyota	MATRIX	1.8	4	Manual	28	37.8186
71	Kia	SOUL	1.6	4	Manual	28	37.8026
72	Mini	Convertible	1.6	4	Auto	28	37.6641
73	Mini	Cooper	1.6	4	Auto	28	37.6641
74	Mini	Clubman	1.6	4	Auto	28	37.6641
75	Kia	FORTE	2.0	4	Auto	28	37.5582
76	Honda	CIVIC	1.8	4	Auto	28	37.5195
77	Chevrolet	AVEO 5	1.6	4	Auto	28	37.467
78	Chevrolet	AVEO	1.6	4	Auto	28	37.467
79	Pontiac	G3 (5 DOOR)	1.6	4	Auto	28	37.467
80	Nissan	VERSA	1.8	4	Manual	28	37.3172
81	Suzuki	SX4 SEDAN	2.0	4	Auto	28	37.2125
82	Kia	FORTE	2.0	4	Manual	28	37.1765
83	Ford	FOCUS	2.0	4	Manual	28	37.1373
84	Mazda	MAZDA3	2.0	4	Manual	28	37.1279
85	Mini	John Cooper Works	1.6	4	Manual	28	37.1126
86	Mini	John Cooper Works Clubman	1.6	4	Manual	28	37.1126
87	Mini	John Cooper Works Convertible	1.6	4	Manual	28	37.1126
88	Pontiac	VIBE	1.8	4	Auto	28	37.0863
89	Kia	SOUL	1.6	4	Auto	28	36.952
90	Ford	FOCUS	2.0	4	Auto	28	36.8912
91	Toyota	COROLLA MATRIX	1.8	4	Auto	28	36.8671
92	Saturn	VUE HYBRID	2.4	4	Auto	28	36.725
93	BMW	335d Turbo Diesel	3.0	6	Auto	27	36.0078
94	Mazda	MAZDA3	2.0	4	Auto	27	35.9185
95	Nissan	VERSA	1.8	4	Auto	27	35.8688
96	Chevrolet	COBALT COUPE	2.2	4	Auto	27	35.858
97	Pontiac	G5	2.2	4	Auto	27	35.858
98	Chevrolet	COBALT SEDAN	2.2	4	Auto	27	35.858
99	Pontiac	G5 GT	2.2	4	Auto	26	35.858

19 hybrids, 8 diesels and 72 conventionally powered automobiles that meet tomorrow’s fuel economy requirements today.

[JohnM]

Fantastic list!!!

Very useful for comparing potential gas mileage differences among cars. For example there is a 0.38 mpg difference between a Versa manual and automatic. There is a 3.42 mpg difference between a Cobalt manual and automatic.

Show how superior the Prius design is in comparison to all other cars in the world. They should put this information in one of their ads.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

We're number 1! (And number 54).

To summarize: subcompacts, compacts, compact crossovers, hybrids up to and including mid-size, diesel cars and the Escape Hybrid already meet the standards. I'm guessing the future BEVs will also meet the standards.

However are they going to manage it?

[noflash]

I still think the general population has no idea about the difference between the epa and cafe mileage. From that perspective a lot of people could be disappointed.

Still it's a positive step forward.

Cheers, nf

[etcgreen]

Hypermiling is just nuts and will soon be outlawed in most states. End of discussion.

Interesting selection on the Super 99 list. People should consider the EPA just approved E15 to be sold as gasoline in the US. The energy density of ethanol is considerably less than gasoline so your mileage is about to drop.

I will suggest you remove all the non-diesel engine powered cars on the Super 99 list and start thinking biodiesel as the only viable transportation future for the US. When we achieve B100 in the coming years, MPG really doesn't make that much difference.

Are you driving your last gasoline powered car?

[xcel]

Hi etcgreen:

Following the speed limits will be outlawed in most states? You are both misinformed and nuts at the same time. Please look up the definition of hypermiling as I coined and defined it. Once you do, you will find that you are the one running around like a chicken missing a head or possibly worse, head in the sand.

Since you are new here, maybe you need to begin with a read of the hundreds to thousands of stories on Ethanol in all its forms to “catch up” as we know a little bit more about it than the EPA’s recent tentative approval of E15.

And then the B100 question… Not in any diesel made today. In addition, most B100 certified producers are barely surviving due to cost to produce. B100 is not the answer either but diesel can extend the period before we reach peak oil so that the electrification of the automobile can be achieved in mass.

PS: Welcome to CleanMPG but you stumbled severely when introducing yourself in post #1. I hope you hang around and learn a few things before going off half cocked and looking “uninformed” to put it mildly.

Good Luck

Wayne

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by etcgreen

Hypermiling is just nuts and will soon be outlawed in most states. End of discussion.

Interesting selection on the Super 99 list. People should consider the EPA just approved E15 to be sold as gasoline in the US. The energy density of ethanol is considerably less than gasoline so your mileage is about to drop.

I will suggest you remove all the non-diesel engine powered cars on the Super 99 list and start thinking biodiesel as the only viable transportation future for the US. When we achieve B100 in the coming years, MPG really doesn't make that much difference.

Are you driving your last gasoline powered car?

So this is how you make friends and influence people - by coming in as a complete stranger and attacking? Is that what salesmen, PR professionals, etc do?

I'd suggest you elevate your tact well beyond spammers and trollers if you hope to win people to your point of view.