Top 5 New Honda Cars for Fuel Efficiency
Eco-conscious drivers have long loved Honda. Ever since the Japanese automaker first introduced hybrid technology to America with the Honda Insight, it has been clear that fuel efficiency has been a top priority for the company. With a 2010 vehicle fleet that posts a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) rating of nearly 30 mpg, this commitment seems as strong as ever. Keep reading to learn about the five most fuel-efficient Honda new cars and SUVs for the 2010 model year and how each one compares against the competition.
2010 Honda Civic Hybrid (42 mpg combined)
With an estimated 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, the Honda Civic Hybrid is one of only three cars on the road for the 2010 year that earn more than 40 mpg combined. The Civic Hybrid will inevitably be compared to the Toyota Prius, which beats out the compact Honda with an estimated 50 mpg combined. However, the Honda Civic Hybrid delivers a more luxurious interior and sportier exterior styling. Add in the fact that the Civic is priced competitively with the Prius (base price is ,800), and it's easy to see why some drivers are willing to compromise a few mpgs for the total package offered up by Honda.
2010 Honda Insight (41 mpg combined)
The 2010 Honda Insight brings home the bronze medal for most fuel-efficient 2010 vehicle with an estimated 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway. Bigger than the Civic Hybrid, the Insight is intended to be a more direct competitor to the Toyota Prius. The Insight boasts good acceleration for a hybrid vehicle and is officially the most affordable hybrid vehicle on the market (base MSRP is ,800). As such, the Honda Insight is worth a test drive if you're looking to bring home a hybrid on a budget. Compared to the Civic Hybrid, the Insight offers a more family-friendly interior, as well as a more powerful engine.
2010 Honda Fit (31 mpg combined)
An impressive 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway make the Honda Fit a top competitor in the non-hybrid compact vehicle class. Despite these stellar figures, the 2010 Fit impresses with zippy handling and good acceleration. Upgrade this performance with the help of a five-speed manual transmission or automatic transmission with manual shift control, and you'll forfeit a few mpgs (27 mpg city and 33 mpg highway).
Only a handful of compact 2010 models beat the Fit in terms of fuel efficiency. These superior fuel sippers include the Toyota Yaris and MINI Cooper. Still, the sporty handling, versatile storage options and $14,900 price tag all come together to help make the Honda Fit one of the best 2010 cars for the money.
2010 Honda Civic (29 mpg combined)
For those who can't afford the fuel efficiency of the Civic Hybrid, the standard 2010 Honda Civic serves as a good alternative. The EPA estimates gas mileage for the Civic at 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Choosing an automatic transmission mixes up the numbers by offering 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway (still 29 mpg combined). The Civic Si model takes a more performance-oriented slant, exchanging a significant boost in horsepower for EPA ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
Regardless of which model you prefer, the 2010 Civic is considered one of the best cars in the compact vehicle class. Base price for the Honda Civic comes in around $15,500.
2010 Honda Accord (25 mpg combined)
The mid-size Honda Accord offers an excellent balance of fuel efficiency, engine power and family-friendly interior comfort. The base 2010 Accord model comes in coupe or sedan form and earns an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The convenience of an automatic transmission results in a one-mpg loss for city driving. A more powerful V6 engine is also available, which further fritters away gas mileage (19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway).
Several other midsize vehicles beat out the Honda Accord when it comes to fuel efficiency. Slight fuel savings can be earned by investing in a Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima. Despite this, the Honda Accord is a perennial favorite that does just about everything right. Base price for the 2010 Accord is just over $21,000.