Only two 40+ mpg models available in the U.S., 113 overseas
We reported the general outlines of 40mpg's survey that was released this week before the news was officially out. And it took a reader to remind me that we never then followed up with the official details. Allow me to rectify that. The headline is that there are only two vehicles (but the study doesn't include hybrid vehicles, as far as I can tell) sold in the U.S. that "achieved combined gas mileage of at least 40 miles per gallon," down from five two years ago. Is that progress? Certainly not. 40mpg says "America is now stuck in reverse when it comes to fuel-efficient vehicles." Especially when compared to 40mpg+ vehicles for sale outside the U.S., when the numbers rose from 86 to 113 in the same time period. 40mpg deftly points out that it's not life American manufacturers don't know how to make these kinds of cars: "Adding insult to injury, nearly two thirds (74 or 65 percent) of the 113 highly fuel-efficient car models that are unavailable to American consumers are either made by U.S. auto manufacturers (e.g., Ford and GM) or foreign manufacturers with substantial U.S. sales operations (e.g., Volkswagen, Nissan and Toyota)." These are the cars you so often hear pine for.
40mpg and Civil Society Institute worked on the joint study, which also found overwhelming evidence that Americans want to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles. You can read all the details - and download a spreadsheet with automobile fuel efficiency data over at 40mpg - but I just wish we could stop seeing these types of studies, and start seeing cleaner cars on Route 66.
Related:
[Source: 40mpg.org, h/t to Stedwoo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FJ 1:09PM (2/01/2008)
People are slowly moving back to cars, but they still like a Suv in the family fleet. People have good intentions but when they go on a test drive and see chrome wheels and big bumpers rolling by face high they get another opinion real fast. Plus at $3.OO a gallon I can still buy alot of gas compared to the cost factor of a hybrid, especially since thier so called,cool status has waned!
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Bill M. Tracer 1:17PM (2/18/2009)
It is the auto makers fault! They are capable of making cars that can get 80 MPG or even better, but they refuse to do it. I'm an American, and I refuse to buy another car until they do offer a car that gets a proper MPG. I'd consider 40 MPG below the minimum of what I'd think proper.
Now the Aptera, that's the way to go, a 300 MPG hybrid. And it's about the coolest looking car I've ever seen in my life! Check it out: http://www.aptera.com/look.php
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Phil L. 9:10AM (2/16/2007)
Sadly, the typical American consumer complains about fuel economy to the folks who conduct opinion polls - but then shuns smalls cars with small engines when in the dealership.
The automakers aren't dummies. They see what sells, where it sells - and where it doesn't.
Europeans have shown their willingness to pay a premium price for a small, quality car. Given the choice, Americans traditionally opt for a larger, spartanly-appointed car over a well-optioned small car. High fuel prices haven't yet overcome this factor.
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Carney 2:37PM (2/18/2009)
There are good reasons for the differences you site.
First, Europe is much more urban and densely populated than the US, which has suburbs distant from worksites (to avoid slum schools and crime) and long stretches of near-empty rural areas. It stands to reason that small cars designed to travel short distances and find scarce cramped parking spaces would sell better there than here.
Second, Europeans tax gasoline even more heavily than we do, making bigger cars more uneconomical. Combine that with a lower standard of living and purchasing power after taxes, and the barriers to an average German or Frenchman buying a US style automobile climb even higher.
Third, Americans have bigger incomes, homes (thus, stuff), and families. We prefer a family size vehicle able to hold wife, kids, maybe a retriever sized dog, sports equipment, picnic stuff, beach stuff, that sort of thing. No FIAT or Smartfortwo can handle that! It's a cultural and lifestyle difference. The family vacation trip in the family station wagon / minivan / SUV is an American staple. Europeans by contrast shuffle onto their high speed trains and airlines.
Fourth, Americans are more individualistic and cherish their freedom of movement, chafing at being forced to conform to the schedules and routes devised by others, whereas Europeans tend to be more passively accepting of such dictates and limits.
I for one relish these differences and would be saddened by Americans becoming more like Europeans, not that it is likely given geographical and demographic issues.
Fortunately with alcohol fuel we can avoid being stuffed into a cramped, limited, European lifestyle, retaining our expansive American ways while greatly helping the environment and de-funding OPEC.
Phil L. 9:19AM (2/16/2007)
>>> The headline is that there are only two vehicles (but the study doesn't include hybrid vehicles, as far as I can tell)
Actually, the two US-sold vehicles they list are the Prius and Hybrid Civic:
http://www.40mpg.org/comm/modelinfo.cfm?all40=1
But, mysteriously, these two vehicles aren't included in their spreadsheet...
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Tim 9:50AM (2/16/2007)
Americans are simple minded fools addicted to Jerry Springer TV and Status Symbols like Hummers and SUVs. We are greedy, neurotic and petty. We buy what we are told will make us feel better about ourselves by making our neighbors jealous of us. We buy what we are SOLD!
Big Oil has always taken advantage of these character flaws. They sold us the idea that “electric cars are for girls.”
We may never know the true cost of our intentionally manipulated addiction to Oil. http://internalcombustionbook.com
Listen to this mp3…
http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autobloggreen/audiointerviews/edwinblack.mp3.
Europeans have the same faults. The ONLY reason why they have more fuel efficient cars is that their fuel costs more.
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Carney 2:40PM (2/18/2009)
Wow, ease up on the self-loathing. Humans are not vermin whose freedom of movement and aspirations must be crushed in order to preserve a fixed social or natural order. That way lies tyranny.
It's all unnecessary anyway. With alcohol fuel we can greatly help the environment
See my post here where I list the 7 ways ethanol and/or methanol are far better for the environment than gasoline.
http://tinyurl.com/b2xo52
Guilt free driving -is- possible! Really!
Karkus 10:45AM (2/16/2007)
The headline looks bad, but it isn't really the gov't or the automakers' fault (OK, their marketing is at fault, as are the low gas taxes). But the main problem is us. People have always had a few high MPG vehicles to choose from in the US, but they never sold in large numbers, so the automakers didn't bring more over.
By the way, there are several vehicles right around 40 mpg, but they didn't make the 40 mpg combined cut. Also, 2007 represents an anomaly, because VW pulled out their diesels for a ear while the US changes over to ULSD and improved emissions standards. We'll get more choices again in 2008. (If they had taken the survey in 2006 or 2008, I think they would have found the # of high mileage cars is staying about constant.)
I applaud the aims of the 40mpg.org, but it seems they are more interested in showing how bad things are and showing cars we can't get, rather than showing the good cars we can get TODAY.
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Paul 11:55AM (2/16/2007)
Being born in Europe and then moving to North America, I can tell you why there aren't more smaller efficient cars on the road here. In Europe, people buy more efficient cars because gas is nearly double the price it is here. Secondly, the roads are often smaller and driving a big car is a pain in the butt. The cost perspective has also driven the popularity of diesel for larger cars (my parents have had diesels for about 15 years). On the whole, it has nothing to do with how environmentally friendly people are over there.
I guess another observation is that people here are on average a lot bigger and have a harder time fitting into small cars.
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Mat 1:52PM (2/16/2007)
Tim, don't you think you're selling us a little short? I'm not saying there haven't been wrongs, but I do feel there is hope.
As for 40mpg's findings, aren't they forgetting about all of the 08 diesels that are supposed to be coming out this summer? The VW TDI will be in the Jetta, and probably the Bug, Rabbit, and Passat. I imagine Audi will grab it soon too. Subaru is supposed to announce a diesel boxter in two weeks...
It doesn't get us to where Europe is, but it's something.
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George Krpan 8:19PM (2/16/2007)
Yeah, well, the trouble is that you can't buy a Suburban that gets 40 mpg.
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