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In the not so distant past, a fuel economy rating in the 100 miles per gallon range was the stuff of science fiction. Today, science fiction is science fact as six of the ten most fuel efficient cars for 2014 exceed that mark in terms of combined fuel economy ratings.
Four of them actually get better than 100 miles per gallon in highway driving.
As you might well expect, a number of the cars on this list are hybrids. However, the vast majority of models represented here are full electric. That’s right, the electric car has proliferated to the point to where a list of the ten most fuel efficient cars is absolutely dominated by electric cars (seven of them to be exact). With that said, we need to explain the “fuel economy” rating. After all, cars that run on electricity don’t actually use “gallons”. Thus, the electric vehicles listed are measured in terms of their miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) where 33.7 kWh (kilowatt hours) of power consumption = 1 gallon of gasoline.
One more thing; the prices quoted do not take into consideration government rebates currently offered for the purchase of electric vehicles. (The average is $7,500.) For federal rebate information visit FuelEconomy.gov.
Currently offered only in California and Oregon, the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV is a four-door hatchback capable of seating four people. The front-wheel drive Chevrolet offers 82 miles of range and a seven-hour recharge time from full depletion using a 240v charger. While this is definitely on the long side, the optional DC quick charger will get the Spark’s 21 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to 80 percent of capacity in 20 minutes. The Chevrolet is powered by a 105 kW electric motor capable of producing the equivalent of 140 horsepower and 400 ft-lbs of torque. This is good for a zero to 60 run of just over seven seconds. Standard equipment includes keyless entry and start, cruise control, air conditioning, a full complement of power accessories, a seven-inch touch screen video interface, smartphone app integration, Bluetooth connectivity, OnStar, and voice recognition. Cargo capacity is 23.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Safety features include ABS, traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags for the driver and passenger, a pair of side curtain airbags, rear-seat side airbags for both passengers, and a set of front-seat knee airbags. Pricing for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV starts at $27,495.
The Honda of EVs comes with a couple of caveats. First of all, it can only be leased—and to get one you have to go to California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or New York. Powering the front-wheel drive 2014 Fit EV is a 92 kWh electric motor capable of generating the equivalent of 123 horsepower and 189 ft-lbs of torque. A 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack stores electricity for the Honda and gives it an estimated range of 82 miles. The battery pack can be recharged from depletion in three hours from a 240-volt charger. However, that figure mushrooms to 15 hours if all you have available to you is a 120-volt electrical outlet. The Fit EVs zero to 60 time is quoted at nine seconds. Standard equipment includes an automatic climate control system, a pair of heated front seats, and a full complement of power accessories. Cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, voice activation, navigation, and a rearview camera are also included. A six-speaker audio system supporting a CD player, an iPod/USB interface, and an auxiliary audio input port are included as well. Cargo capacity is 50 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Safety features include ABS, stability and traction control, a set of front side airbags, a pair of side curtain airbags, and active head restraints for both the driver and the front passenger. Pricing for the 2014 Honda Fit EV starts at $37,415.
While Fiat will gladly sell you a copy of the 2014 500e, California residency is a requirement for ownership of the two-door hatchback. The Fiat’s front-drive powertrain uses an 83 kWh electric motor capable of generating the equivalent of 111 horsepower and 147 ft-lbs of torque. Power is stored in a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is capable of a full recharge in four hours using a 240-volt charging solution. Perhaps intentionally cagey, recharge time using a 120-volt outlet is quoted as being “less than 24 hours”. Meanwhile, the electric Fiat’s range is quoted at 87 miles and its zero to 60 acceleration time is quoted at nine seconds. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, a pair of heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors, an automatic climate control system, Bluetooth, a full complement of power accessories, a trip computer, parking sensors, navigation, and a leather wrapped steering wheel. Cargo capacity is just over 26 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Safety gear includes ABS, stability and traction control, a pair of front side airbags, a pair of side curtain airbags, a knee airbag for the driver, and a set of active front head restraints. Pricing starts at $32,600 for the 2014 FIAT 500e.
The Nissan LEAF’s 80 kWh electric motor produces the equivalent of 107 horsepower and 187 ft-lbs of torque. The Nissan stores its electricity in a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which can be fully recharged in about four hours with its optional onboard 6.6 kW charger when fed by a 220-volt electrical source. The LEAF also has an optional quick charge port, which will get the battery to within 80 percent of its capacity in 30 minutes using a high voltage public recharging station. The Nissan is estimated to be capable of traveling 75 miles on a full charge and its zero to 60 time is quoted at just over 10 seconds. Standard equipment includes a pair of heated exterior mirrors, a battery heater, keyless entry and start, a full complement of power accessories, an automatic climate control system, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, Bluetooth, and a four-speaker audio system supporting a CD player, satellite radio, a USB/iPod interface, and an auxiliary audio input port. Standard safety gear includes ABS, stability and traction control, a pair of front side airbags, and a pair of side curtain airbags. Pricing for the 2014 Nissan LEAF starts at $29,830.
As its nomenclature suggests, the smart fortwo Electric Drive is powered by a 55-kilowatt water-cooled three-phase AC electric motor capable of producing 35 watts of continuous power. If you hit the go-pedal hard, 55 kilowatts will be generated for about two minutes. For those of you better acquainted with horsepower and torque than volts and kilowatts, this means the Smart’s electric motor is capable of producing 74 peak horsepower and 47 steady-state horsepower. A lithium-ion battery pack stores the charge for the Electric Drive For Two. A full charge consists of 17.6 kilowatts. According to the EPA, the 2013 smart fortwo electric drive is capable of traveling 76 miles on a full charge. From a 240-volt charger the battery pack can be fully recharged from depletion in six hours. It takes about 3.25 hours to charge the battery from 20 percent to 80 percent of its capacity. Standard features include a full complement of power accessories; automatic climate control, keyless entry, navigation, and heated exterior mirrors, Cargo capacity is 12 cubic feet. Available as both a closed coupe and a convertible, standard safety gear includes ABS, traction and stability control, a driver’s knee airbag, dual front side impact airbags, an overhead airbag, brake assist, and an occupant-sensing passenger side airbag. Pricing starts at $25,720 for the 2014 Smart For Two Electric Drive.
Powered by a 107 kW electric motor, the 2014 Ford Focus Electric boasts the equivalent of 143 horsepower. A 23 kWh lithium-ion battery pack stores the Ford’s electricity supply. Range is quoted at 76 miles, and the recharge time is quoted at four hours when using a 240-volt home charger. Ford says you can expect the Focus EV to accelerate to 60 miles per hour from zero in just under 10 seconds. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, air-conditioning, power door locks and mirrors, a height-adjustable driver seat, and a six-speaker audio system supporting a CD player and an auxiliary audio input jack. You’ll also find automatic headlights, cruise control, power windows, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming connectivity, Ford's Sync voice-activated phone and audio player interface, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Further, a power driver’s seat, leather upholstery, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, and a rearview camera are included within the base price. Cargo capacity is just under 34 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Safety features include ABS, stability control, a pair of front side airbags, and a pair of side curtain airbags. Pricing for the 2014 Ford Focus Electric starts at $35,995.
Thanks to its 115 kWh electric motor, the 2014 Toyota Rav4 EV offers the equivalent of 154 horsepower and 273 ft-lbs of torque. A 41.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack endows the Toyota with a range of 103 miles. It takes approximately six hours to recharge the RAV4 EV’s battery pack using a 240-volt charging system. The front-drive electric SUV will run from zero to 60 in just over seven seconds. Standard equipment includes keyless entry/ignition, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a pair of heated front seats, cruise control, full power accessories, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. There is also Bluetooth phone and audio streaming connectivity, a rearview camera, an eight-inch touchscreen video display interface, and a navigation system. Toyota's Entune smartphone app integration is also included, along with a six-speaker sound system supporting satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input jack, and an iPod/USB connectivity interface. Cargo capacity is 73 cubic feet. The suite of standard safety items includes dual front airbags, a pair of front-seat-mounted side airbags, and a pair of full-length side curtain airbags. The RAV4 EV also comes with ABS, stability control, a rear camera, and Toyota’s Safety Connect services. These incorporate both emergency and roadside assistance, along with stolen vehicle tracking and automatic collision notification. MSRP for the 2014 RAV4 EV starts at $50,660.
There are electric cars, and there are hybrid cars, and then there is the Chevrolet Volt which comes down somewhere in between the two Yes, the Volt has a gasoline-fired internal combustion engine, however that engine is used primarily to generate electricity, so Chevrolet argues the Volt isn’t really a hybrid in the conventional sense. The Volt’s primary motivating mechanism is a 111 kWh electric motor, which generates the equivalent of 149 horsepower and 273 ft-lbs of torque. The Chevy’s four-cylinder internal combustion engine displaces 1.4-liters, and in addition to generating electricity for the motor, will sometimes supplement it. The Volt houses a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which can be recharged from depletion in about three hours using a 240-volt charger. The Volt’s zero to 60 time is quoted at right around nine seconds and the car will travel an EPA estimated 38 miles on the electric motor before the engine starts. Standard features include automatic headlights, heated exterior mirrors, keyless entry and start, remote start, an automatic climate control system, cruise control, Bluetooth, OnStar emergency communications, a seven-inch touchscreen video interface, voice-controlled audio functions, smartphone integration, and a six-speaker audio system supporting a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input port, and iPod/USB connectivity. Cargo capacity is 18 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Safety features include ABS, stability control, a pair of front-seat side-impact airbags, a pair of front knee airbags, and a pair of full-length side curtain airbags. The Volt’s OnStar suite of services include automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, stolen vehicle assistance, and turn-by-turn navigation services. The 2014 Volt starts at $34,995.
Plug-in hybrids like the Ford C-Max Energi offer a larger battery pack than conventional hybrid models, giving them the ability to travel farther on electric power alone. The Ford’s C-Max Energi’s internal combustion engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline-fired powerplant capable of generating 141 horsepower and 129 ft-lbs of torque. It is supplemented by an electric motor fed by a 7.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The C-Max Energi has an electric-only range of 21 miles and the battery pack can be recharged in about 2.5 hours using a 240-volt charger. The zero to 60 time is quoted at 7.8 seconds. Standard equipment includes a pair of heated exterior mirrors, a set of foglights, automatic windshield wipers, a set of rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, and a full complement of power accessories. A dual-zone automatic climate control system, leather upholstery, and a pair of heated front seats are also included. Ford’s “Sync” voice-activation system, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming connectivity, and an eight-inch touchscreen video display interface are also featured. The six-speaker audio system supports a CD player, an auxiliary audio input port, satellite radio, and an iPod/USB connectivity interface. Cargo capacity is just under 43 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, a pair of front side airbags, a pair of full-length side curtain airbags, and a knee airbag for the driver. Pricing starts at $33,745 for the 2014 Ford C-Max Energi.
Plug-in hybrids like the Ford Fusion Energi offer a larger battery pack than conventional hybrid models, giving them the ability to travel farther on electric power alone. The Fusion Energi’s internal combustion engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline-fired powerplant capable of generating 141 horsepower and 129 ft-lbs of torque. It is supplemented by an electric motor fed by a 7.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The Ford has an electric-only range of 21 miles and the battery pack can be recharged in about 2.5 hours using a 240-volt charger. Standard equipment for the 2014 Ford Fusion Energi includes a pair of heated exterior mirrors, a set of foglights, automatic windshield wipers, a set of rear parking sensors, and a full complement of power accessories. A dual-zone automatic climate control system, leather upholstery, and a pair of heated front seats are also included. Ford’s “Sync” voice-activation system, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming connectivity, and an eight-inch touchscreen video display interface are also featured. The Ford’s six-speaker audio system supports a CD player, an auxiliary audio input port, satellite radio, and an iPod/USB connectivity interface. Cargo capacity is just over eight cubic feet. Safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, a pair of front side airbags, a pair of full-length side curtain airbags, and a knee airbag for the driver. Pricing starts at $35,525 for the 2014 Ford Fusion Energi.