July 29th, 2011

America’s cars and trucks will average about 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 under the second phase of the Obama Administration’s national vehicle program, which is backed by 13 automakers.

Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo — which represent more than 90 percent of the cars and light trucks sold in the US, all back the plan, which was formally announced today.

“We’ve set an aggressive target and the companies are stepping up to the plate,” said President Obama, who called the plan the single most important step the nation has taken to reduce its oil dependence.

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July 24th, 2009

By Clint Williams
Green Right Now

There is a reason big, gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles continue to crowd parking lots. SUVs are eminently practical – capable of hauling any combination of people and stuff. There is plenty of storage space for snacks and wipes and coloring books and CDs and on and on.

The downside to such handiness: horrific fuel economy.

But there is a new breed of vehicle that offers much of the practicality of a big SUV and boasts 30 mpg, give or take. Can you chauffeur six soccer players to practice? No, but you can shuttle four. And how often are you filling up an SUV cargo hold with lumber or bales of pine straw?

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November 21st, 2008

By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now

It’s been a little over a year since I went to see the smart fortwo at a Dallas stop on the traveling road show that preceded its sales in the U.S. I was wowed by the brightly painted, road-hugging micro cars with their cozy seats, wide-view windshields and buggy like demeanor.

More significantly, I remember the wide range of people in line for the test drive: a neurosurgeon who wanted a commuting car; an avid golfer who wanted to make sure his irons fit in the trunk; a mother shopping for her teenager and a mechanic from the Mercedes service department across the parking lot who was looking on behalf of the entire crew with whom he worked.

The Mercedes mechanic thought the smart fortwo, manufactured by Daimler AG, would be affordable (it is) and reliable (it’s got a track record in 37 countries).

Apparently, Americans agree. A new report on the Smart shows that it sold 20,000 units in its first 10 months on the ground in the United States. Those sales were helped, no doubt, by those who signed up on waiting lists in 2007. And the economic derailment this fall probably didn’t hurt the smart fortwo, which retails for $12.000 to $17,000, the way it kick-boxed expensive SUVs and other gas guzzlers.

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November 19th, 2008

By Clint Williams

With highway fuel economy of 30 mpg, the Suzuki SX4 certainly conserves gasoline. And, more importantly these days, this compact sedan conserves cash. A comfortably well-equipped SX4 – complete with standard touch-screen navigation system – rolls off the dealer lot for less than $16,000. That makes it financially competitive in its class, and as economical as most cars featured in our “30(cars) Over 30(mpg)” gallery.

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