GM makes 9 of the 10 most efficient American cars
Hey, always thinking that only Japanese and Europeans have a lot of fuel-efficient vehicle choices? American automakers also have fuel-efficient models in their lineup, usually based on "global" models designed for other markets, like GM does with its Opel/Vauxhall European subsidiary or its Daewoo operations in South Korea. In fact, in a new list compiled by Forbes, GM models took nine of the ten fuel miser models, with only a Ford Focus stealing a spot away from the General.
However, U.S. automakers still have homework to do. While the top three models in the Forbes list get an average EPA estimate of 28 mpg (45 percent highway and 55 percent city driving), these best-performing American vehicles are still behind their Asian-made counterparts, such as the Toyota Yaris (31 mpg) and Honda Fit (30 mpg). The list only includes automatic transmissions, because they're America's favorite.
So follow us after the jump to see America's fuel savers.
[Source: Forbes]
| Model | Engine size | Average mpg | l/100 km |
| Chevrolet HHR | 2.2 liter | 25 | 9.4 |
| Saturn Aura | 2.4 liter | 26 | 9.0 |
| Pontiac G6 | 2.4 liter | 26 | 9.0 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2.4 liter | 26 | 9.0 |
| Pontiac G6 | 2.4 liter | 27(a) 30(m) | 8.7(a) 7.8(m) |
| Chevrolet Cobalt | 2.2 liter | 27(a) 30(m) | 8.7(a) 7.8(m) |
| Saturn Astra | 1.8 liter | 27 | 8.7 |
| Pontiac Vibe | 1.8 liter | 28 | 8.4 |
| Pontiac Vibe | 1.8 liter | 28 | 8.4 |
| Chevrolet Aveo | 1.6 liter | 28(a) 30(m) | 8.4(a) 7.8(m) |
| Ford Focus | 2.0 liter | 28 | 8.4 |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BillySharps 6:34PM (9/03/2008)
Did they use the XFE version of the Cobalt? That could help push the numbers up.
Reply
Bill 6:41PM (9/03/2008)
So, the real winner is the Focus. The Aveo is Korean (Daewoo Kalos) and the Vibe is Japanese (Toyota Matrix)...
--Bill
Reply
MikeW 8:34PM (9/03/2008)
So the only thing worth driving is the 2.4 + 6t40 combination in the (G6, Aura, Malibu)
Reply
mrbell 8:54PM (9/03/2008)
So... 9 of the top 10 american cars for fuel efficiency come from GM. Wow... shocker... considering they make almost 2x as many vehicles as Ford, and Ford makes 2x as many as Chrysler, and that is pretty much the entire American car industry...
Reply
tankd0g 9:36PM (9/03/2008)
It's unfortunate that 8.4L/100km is the cutting edge of fuel economy in 2008. My 1993 Celica can do that.
Reply
BlackbirdHighway 9:45PM (9/03/2008)
Well, this is one other American car. Final assembly point is in California, although the foreign components are significant (just like many on this list). It's a bit higher than the others, at about 256 mpg (equivalent).
Reply
Jeremy B 10:25PM (9/03/2008)
Hmm. The Saturns are both European cars (Vauxhall), the Vibes are Toyota, the Aveo is Korean or something. Way to go GM!
Reply
Holden Miecranc 9:55AM (9/04/2008)
It's a shame that the Toyota uses one more litre per 100km than the "all GM" HHR. The Aura is also not a rebadged Vauxhall, either. Same platform, yes, but other than that, the Aura is a NA product.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:17PM (9/03/2008)
Say... How do the "top 3 models get 28mpg" when there are 3 listed at 30 in that list?
Reply
Tom Wilkinson at GM 9:30AM (9/04/2008)
It was great to see this story, as it validates all the hard work going on behind the scenes at GM to continue to improve fuel economy of the high-volume vehicles that most people drive every day. While breakthroughs like the Volt and are critical, carmakers can't ignore these bread-and-butter vehicles if they want to please customers and meet new CAFE standards.
To a couple of the above points -- keep in mind these are combined ratings -- highway ratings are higher, and particularly meaningful if you do freeway commuting or long trips. Also keep in mind these newer vehicles have a lot of body structure and safety features that older vehicles lacked. Many of us fondly recall past vehicles that got spectacular mileage. (I have owned both an Austin Mini Minor and 1988 Honda Civic that were champs -- showing my age there.) But neither would fare well in a crash compared with a Cobalt or Aura.
Reply
ner 12:57PM (9/05/2008)
to comment on some of the above comments.... the vibe is not a toyota vehicle, it is assembled at a gm-toyota joint venture plant. and the Aura powertrain is made in NA and it's assembled here too. Saturn is a GM brand. GM is a global company, cars we make here may be worked on in Europe or vice-versa.
Reply