Are the days of rock bottom gas prices coming to an end?
Gas prices are starting to rise as we head into summer, and prices projected to be 14% more than last summer. This week’s news that President Trump is reinstating sanctions on Iran could disrupt supply and keep prices higher.
There’s only one way to escape the uncertainty at the pump for good, and that’s to switch to an alternative fuel vehicle. Even though gasoline cars are getting more efficient, the long-term trend still points toward electrification and other alternative fuels as the way of the future. If you’re in the market for a new car, this is a great time to take advantage of available tax credits and start saving on gas.
To help you get started, here is a selection of 10 of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market this year, according to data from fuelconomy.gov. We included a range of sizes and types of vehicles, including small subcompacts to a family-size minivan. For comparison sake, keep in mind that the average 2018 vehicle gets 27 MPG. Fuel economy for electric vehicles is measured in MPGe, which measures how far a vehicle can go electrically on the amount of energy in 1 gallon of gasoline.
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
136 MPGe/$29,500
Hyundai’s all-electric midsize car tops the list right now as the most efficient passenger car, but the company is currently facing a battery shortage so it may be difficult to find.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
119 MPGe/$36,620
With a 238-mile range and room for four, Car & Driver magazine calls this small station wagon “a groundbreaking vehicle leading the charge against the automotive world’s dependence on internal-combustion engines.”
Volkswagen e-Golf
119 MPGe/$31,315
The e-Golf is the most fuel-efficient compact electric car on the market right now, and is often compared to the Nissan Leaf, which gets 112 MPGe.
BMW i3 (94Ah)
118 MPGe/$48,850
With the range extender option, this small and sporty subcompact EV will save $5,250 in fuel costs over five years compared to the average new car.
Fiat 500e
112 MPGe/$32,995
Only on sale in California and Oregon, Fiat’s electric mini compact car is known for being peppy and fun to drive.
Tesla Model X 75D
93 MPGe/$79,500
Tesla’s SUV dominates AAA’s newly released Green Car Guide, winning the “Overall” award, as well as the “SUV/Minivan” and “Best Over $50k” categories.
Hyundai Ioniq Blue Hybrid
58 MPG/$22,200
This hybrid hatchback holds five passengers and has an estimated annual fuel cost of $750 compared to $1,300 for a 2018 gas-powered Honda Accord.
Toyota Prius Eco Hybrid
56 MPG/$26,165
Toyota’s pioneering midsize hybrid has ample cargo space; the “Eco” model features reduced weight, which helps it get an extra 4 mpg in the city and 3 mpg on the highway over the other Prius models.
Kia Niro FE Hybrid
50 MPG/$23,340
The FE is the Kia Niro hybrid’s base model, which includes features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and a rearview camera. Other models of this hybrid SUV add more features but sacrifice fuel efficiency.
Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid
52 MPGe/$33,995
The only plug-in hybrid minivan on the market, the Chrysler Pacifica has a 33-mile electric range before the gas engine takes over.
