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*Below are the top 10 hybrid vehicle fuel economy leaders currently
available to consumers
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1.) The Toyota Prius Hybrid
A gas-electric hybrid that continues to set the standard for environmentally-friendly transportation.
One million cars have been sold in the U.S. as of April 2011. 51 city; 48 hwy-mpg |
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2.) The Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD
Ford has high hopes for the Fusion hybrid, which can operate on the electric power at up to 47 miles per hour.
It features a 2.5-liter inline-four with 155 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque bolted up to a CVT transmission.
41 city; 36 hwy-mpg
The Mercury Milan Hybrid FWD
Unique SmartGauge with EcoGuide provides multiple categories of information in real-time, reacting to how the car
is being driven. Regenerative braking captures 94% of the energy used under braking and applies it to charging the
system's nickel-metal hydride battery.
41 city; 36 hwy-mpg
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid FWD
Has a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and two electric motors, which combined produce 191 horsepower.
41 city; 36 hwy-mpg
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3.) The Honda Civic Hybrid
Combines a 1.3 liter iVTEC 4-cylinder engine with a 20-hp electric motor to deliver a total of 110 hp.
The nickel metal hydride battery pack has a 158 volt output. In addition to turning the engine off at stops,
the Civic can save fuel by de-activating all of its cylinders and cruise under electric motor power
alone in some circumstances. 40 city; 43 hwy-mpg
The Honda Insight Hybrid
The hybrid heart of the system is the fifth generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system.
The lightweight, ultra-thin electric motor between the engine and transmission puts out 10 kilowatts
(13 horsepower). It is powered by a flat nickel metal hydride battery pack that sits below the cargo
floor between the rear wheels. 40 city; 43 hwy-mpg
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4.) The Honda CR-Z Hybrid (automatic)
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) consists of a drive pulley and driven pulley that are linked by a steel belt,
and operates sort of like a 10-speed bicycle. It combines the fuel economy of a high-gear ratio manual transmission,
the performance of a low-gear manual with the smooth, stepless shifting of a conventional geared automatic transmission.
35 city; 39 hwy-mpg
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5.) The Lexus HS 250h Hybrid
The front-drive HS, which stands for “harmonious sedan,” is Lexus’s first dedicated hybrid.
The complete hybrid system in the Lexus is fully 40 percent more powerful than that of the Prius:
187 horsepower compared to 134. Lexus says the powertrain enables the HS to hit 60 mph from stop
in 8.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 112 mph.
35 city; 34 hwy-mpg
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(CLICK HERE to compare the most and least
fuel efficient hybrid vehicles!)
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6.) The Ford Escape Hybrid FWD
Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine linked to an electric motor,
the net result is acceleration similar to that of a V6, and can run solely on electric power in low-load conditions.
34 city; 31 hwy-mpg
The Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD
Combines two electric motors, one to drive the wheels, the other to turn over the 2.3-liter four-cylinder gas engine,
improving fuel economy in city driving by allowing the vehicle to be powered by electric power only.
34 city; 30 hwy-mpg
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD
Combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine alongside an electric motor that delivers 177 horsepower. Beyond the
high fuel economy for its class, the Mariner has a responsive hybrid drive train and excellent crash safety features.
34 city; 31 hwy-mpg
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7.) The Smart ForTwo Hybrid (Cabriolet)
Ranked one of the most fuel efficient vehicles of the year, under the hood the 70 horsepower 1-liter three-cylinder engine
and Smart’s “automated manual” five-speed transmission remain unchanged. It's great for urban areas in that a person can get
in between the traffic and can park in smaller spaces easily which in some cities has a great advantage.
33 city; 41 hwy-mpg
The Smart ForTwo Hybrid (Coupe)
The Smart Fortwo is so small that it has its own classification: a runabout. It is a two seater designed for city driving
and great gas mileage, trading cabin space and trunk space for gas mileage.
33 city; 41 hwy-mpg
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8.) The Nissan Altima Hybrid
An ideal hybrid sedan, it has the gasoline version’s stylish exterior, a quality interior, good handling and impressive fuel economy,
carrying a 2.5-liter engine that provides 158 horsepower and an electric motor capable of providing an extra 40 horses
for a total of 198 horsepower.
33 city; 33 hwy-mpg
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9.) The Lexus RX 450h Hybrid 2WD
The combination of a 3.5-liter V6 engine and rear-mounted electric motor-generator gives it the performance of a 4.5-liter engine.
The RX 450h features a cooled exhaust-gas recirculation system which boosts fuel economy by reducing engine pumping losses.
32 city; 28 hwy-mpg
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10.) The Honda CR-Z Hybrid (manual)
Powered by a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain which carries a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, 16-valve i-VTEC gas engine
and 10-kilowatt Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack. That makes for an output of 122-hp at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque
of 128 lb-ft at 1,000 rpm when mated to the 6-speed manual.
31 city; 37 hwy-mpg
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